Hongdae, Seoul brunch spot for banana brûlée French toast: MELA

Today I'm bringing you a review of MELA, a brunch spot near Hongdae that I visited not long ago.

It's a brunch café I already visit sometimes since it's near my house, and once again I had a really satisfying meal there! 🥰

Where is MELA Hongdae, and what are the hours?

MELA Hongdae 📍 41 World Cup buk-ro 5-gil, 1st floor, Unit 105, Mapo-gu, Seoul (7-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 1 or Mangwon Station Exit 1) ⏱️ Daily 9:00–18:30 (last order 18:00) Group seating, takeout, delivery, reservations, Wi-Fi, separate restrooms, high chairs, waiting area, parking

MELA Hongdae sits in an alley between Hongik University Station and Mangwon Station — it's easiest to find by looking for a place called 'Nudite Hongdae' haha.

Inside MELA Hongdae: wood tones and plants everywhere

I feel this every time I go, but the interior is just so pretty 🤎 There are flowers and plants everywhere, and the wood-tone and green furniture makes it feel like your eyes get a little cleanse haha.

You can feel how warm and cozy the atmosphere is, right? haha The little decorative pieces scattered around are so cute too 🧸

I always think the MELA logo and lettering are so cute whenever I see them. The staff are always kind too, so it's a Hongdae brunch café I'm satisfied with every time I go 🍎

MELA Hongdae menu and what we ordered

The menu is quite varied — there are brunch items like French toast, eggs Benedict, and sandwiches, plus full meal options like steak, pasta, gnocchi, and pizza, so there's plenty of choice haha. They even have ragù tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and kimchi fried rice! I'll have to try those next time haha 😋

• Baby Potato Basil Cream Gnocchi (₩22,000)
• Victoria French Toast (₩21,000)
• Homemade Lemonade (₩7,500)

Last time I mostly ordered brunch items, but today I tried the gnocchi too. The Victoria French Toast is something I always order whenever I come, so I couldn't resist it today either haha 🤤

First up, the homemade lemonade 🍋 Made with a homemade syrup, it wasn't too sweet and was wonderfully refreshing and cool to drink...

Victoria French Toast: the banana brûlée is the best part

MELA's signature brunch item — the Victoria French Toast A moist brioche toast topped with mango, blueberries, and banana brûlée, enjoyed with sweet syrup. The visual is honestly insane haha, I'm amazed every time I see it 😍 so pretty, so pretty haha.

The brioche was moist and fluffy, with the outside lightly toasted and nutty 😊

With raspberry jam and whipped cream on top of the bread... eaten together with the fruit, it's a tangy, sweet flavor that makes you go 'wow' 😘 That's why I can never skip the Victoria French Toast whenever I come.

The banana brûlée was especially delicious 🍌 The surface is caramelized so you get a crunchy sugar coating, while the banana inside stays warm and soft, making the sweetness feel even richer. Paired with the tangy berry sauce and cream, the sweetness never felt overwhelming.

Baby potato basil cream gnocchi: how big is the portion?

The next dish turned out to be more filling than expected — the Baby Potato Basil Cream Gnocchi. At first the portion didn't look like much, but as I ate, I realized the chewy gnocchi was packed in more generously than expected, so one plate alone was pretty satisfying.

The gnocchi's soft, chewy texture paired with the nicely browned baby potatoes gave it varied texture too, and above all, the basil cream sauce was genuinely delicious 🤍

It was creamy with a fragrant basil aroma that cut the richness, leaving a deep, nutty flavor, and the sauce was served generously so there was plenty to coat the gnocchi in.

By the end, I was practically scooping up the leftover sauce with a spoon haha. I'd especially recommend this to anyone who likes thick cream sauces but doesn't want it to feel too heavy. The gnocchi portion was generous and the sauce was plentiful too, so it was satisfying in both taste and quantity — I fully recommend this dish 🤗

Is MELA Hongdae better for a date or a group?

If you're looking for a great-atmosphere brunch spot in Hongdae, I'd really recommend MELA Hongdae. The overall warm, sentimental mood combined with the pretty interior means you can get some great photos too haha 😉

It would work well for a weekend brunch date, of course, but also for meeting friends or as a gathering spot for a bigger group. Above all, it wasn't just about a pretty atmosphere — every dish we ordered was genuinely delicious too, which was satisfying.

Given the atmosphere and quality of the food, the prices weren't too burdensome either, which made it even more satisfying. With a good balance of atmosphere, taste, visuals, and price, this is a place I strongly recommend as a Hongdae brunch spot :)