Weekday 4pm sold-out salt bread run at a Seochon café: Respire Bakery

Today I went to Respire Bakery Cafe, famous as a salt bread spot in Seochon~! The weather's turned cool and nice, so walking through the Seochon alleys was so lovely haha. I found this café while wandering around looking for Seochon's hot spots!

Deep in a Seochon alley, right in front of Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae

Seochon's charm is that every little alley is so full of character and quietly old-fashioned. Respire Bakery Cafe sits at the end of a path through alleys like these, so it made a perfect little walking course too. Walking through the alleys got me a bit warm, so I stopped by! Respire Bakery Seochon!! I'd heard it was famous as a Seochon brunch spot, so I rushed right over.

Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon is located right in front of Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae. Maybe that's why there are so many police officers around!! And since you have to walk deep into the Seochon alleys to reach it, it felt quieter and more private, which made the place even better.

Where do you park?

There is a parking lot in front of Respire Bakery Cafe, but it's reserved for government employees, so you'll need to use a nearby public lot instead.

For parking at Respire Bakery Cafe, use Hyoja Public Parking Lot, about a 5-minute walk away!!

Wood-toned atmosphere and terrace seating

Respire Bakery Cafe has an overall wood-toned atmosphere with a quietly charming vibe. It's also famous for brunch. From salt bread to house-made sandwiches and French toast, they sell a wide variety of brunch dishes.

Respire Bakery Cafe also has terrace seating, which was the perfect spot to sit when the cool autumn breeze picked up. The windows are all full-height glass too, so you can see all the greenery outside.

There's even a cute little bear at the shop entrance.

At 4pm on a weekday, both brunch and bread were sold out

I visited Respire Bakery Cafe around 4pm on a weekday, and since it's such a popular bakery, most of the breads were already sold out! I'd come for brunch, but sadly that was sold out too, TT. It's apparently so famous for brunch that if you're going on a weekend, go early!!! Still, thankfully the signature salt bread (soguembbang) was still left. Since Respire Bakery Cafe is so famous for its salt bread, I was really relieved there was still some left haha.

How to pick a good salt bread

Respire Bakery Cafe's signature salt bread!! If you pick one with a deep brown, crispy-looking bottom, that means it's been properly fried in butter — crispy outside, soft inside!!

The sweet pumpkin ciabatta and potato gim (dried laver) salt bread look so good!!

I picked the last remaining mentaiko potato gim salt bread, sweet pumpkin cream cheese ciabatta, and a plain salt bread.

A large two-floor café in Seochon

Respire Bakery Cafe is a large Seochon café with very spacious indoor seating, an outdoor terrace, and even a second floor.

The little decorative touches around the place were so pretty too.

Even the ordering counter area at Respire Bakery Cafe is so pretty.

Iced matcha latte and salt bread, taken home to eat the next day

I decided to eat the salt bread there and ordered an iced matcha latte!! I packed the pumpkin ciabatta and mentaiko gim salt bread to take home, and even eaten the next day after reheating, they tasted as good as freshly baked!! Respire Bakery Cafe really is a Seochon brunch spot to remember.

This salt bread has a soft, chewy style.

Just as the sign instructed, I made sure to pick one with a deep brown, crispy-looking bottom.

One bite in and there's a butter cave right there!! Respire Bakery really does live up to its reputation as a salt bread spot.

With such pretty interiors and delicious bread, Respire Bakery Cafe is a great stop on a Seochon bakery tour!! You all should definitely try the salt bread here.