Hongdae brunch café for French toast with syrup on the side: MELA

I was looking for a brunch café with good vibes in Hongdae and ended up visiting MELA Hongdae.

It's within walking distance of Hongik University Station, but it sits in a quiet alley just off the busy Hongdae streets, which made it nice to enjoy brunch at a relaxed pace.

The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere was so distinct that I briefly forgot I was in the middle of Hongdae. Warm wood tones, natural light pouring in through the windows, and an exotic interior combined to make it feel, to me at least, like a brunch café I'd stumbled onto in a back alley while traveling in Spain or Europe.

It'd suit a date or brunch with friends, and it's also a great spot for anyone who wants to spend a relaxed afternoon taking photos.

Where MELA Hongdae is, plus hours and parking

MELA Hongdae is located at 41 World Cup buk-ro 5-gil, 1F #105, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and is open daily from 9 AM to 6:30 PM (last order 18:00). Parking is free for the first hour, then ₩800 per 10 minutes.

• 📍 41 World Cup buk-ro 5-gil, 1F #105, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Daily 09:00–18:30
• ⏰ Last order 18:00
• 🚗 1 hour free parking / ₩800 per 10 min after

It sits between Hongik University Station and Mangwon Station, about a 7-minute walk from Exit 1 of Hongik University Station. You'll find it tucked inside the alley of World Cup buk-ro 5-gil.

Since it opens at 9 AM, it's also a good option for an early brunch meetup. They also run a separate Morning Special menu from 9 to 11 AM.

What's on the menu at MELA Hongdae

Looking at the menu, this felt less like a café serving just coffee and desserts and more like proper brunch dining.

Alongside French toast and brunch plates, there's eggs Benedict, shakshuka, and salads, plus a wide range of options like gnocchi, pasta, steak, and pizza.

This time I ordered the classic French toast (₩22,000), the mushroom poached egg avocado salad (₩19,000), and a coffee.

Classic French toast, 22,000 won: syrup comes on the side

MELA Hongdae's classic French toast is ₩22,000, and the syrup is served separately so you can adjust the sweetness however much you like. The generous portion won me over the moment it arrived.

The thick French toast comes on one plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, and baby potatoes — this felt less like a sweet dessert-style French toast and more like a hearty brunch that balances sweet and savory.

The French toast itself was thick with a soft, fluffy inside, and the tangy-sweet blueberry compote on top was the highlight. Paired with the salty grilled bacon, the sweet-and-salty combo worked really well.

The roasted baby potatoes added textural variety too, and the scrambled eggs weren't overcooked — soft and moist. But the best part was that the syrup came separately!

You might expect French toast to be too sweet, but the base flavor wasn't overly sugary, and you could add as much syrup as you wanted to suit your own taste. I think this would especially suit people like me who aren't fans of overly sweet brunch.

Piling a bit of the blueberry compote, bacon, and scrambled eggs onto a bite of French toast brought the sweetness, saltiness, and soft texture all together — even tastier that way.

Mushroom poached egg avocado salad, 19,000 won: filling enough for a meal?

The dish I ended up liking more than expected was the mushroom poached egg avocado salad. Fresh salad greens topped generously with avocado, red onion, roasted tomato, mushrooms, and a poached egg — it looked appetizing just from the colors.

I especially liked how the mushrooms were grilled with a salty edge, adding savory depth to the otherwise light salad. Breaking the poached egg let the soft yolk spill out and blend naturally with the vegetables.

The avocado was well-ripened too, and really smooth — the kind of creamy texture that melts in your mouth, which paired well with the mushrooms and greens.

On top of that, the balsamic dressing and olive oil added a bright, nutty flavor, and there were crunchy toppings scattered throughout, giving the dish some textural contrast among all the softness.

Despite being a salad, this isn't a light few-bites dish — with so many ingredients packed in, it's filling enough to count as a full brunch, and I think it'd be great for anyone watching their diet.

Getting vegetables, avocado, mushrooms, and egg all in one plate makes it a good fit for anyone who prefers a light-but-filling meal or is managing their diet.

Looking at the menu, you can also add smoked salmon as a side, 3 pieces for ₩6,000. Next time I'd like to try this salad with salmon added — avocado, poached egg, and smoked salmon together sounds even more satisfying.

Coffee and the atmosphere inside MELA Hongdae

The coffee I had alongside brunch was good too.

The coffee cleanly cut through the sweetness of the French toast and the saltiness of the bacon, making it a great pairing with the food. It wasn't just that the brunch dishes looked pretty — being able to enjoy good coffee too was satisfying.

What stuck with me most about MELA Hongdae wasn't just the food but the atmosphere of the space itself. Sitting there at ease, a little removed from Hongdae's usual bustle, felt almost like a brief trip somewhere else.

A relaxed brunch meal in the middle of Hongdae

Of the two dishes I tried, the classic French toast would especially suit anyone who prefers brunch that isn't too sweet, while the mushroom poached egg avocado salad is great for anyone who wants a hearty serving of vegetables and avocado.

From the sweet, fluffy French toast with salty bacon and soft scrambled eggs, to the salad loaded with mushrooms, poached egg, and avocado — the two dishes were different enough in style that ordering both to share worked well.

If you're looking for a date spot in Hongdae, or want a relaxed brunch with a friend plus a cup of coffee all in one place, this is a solid Hongdae brunch café to keep in mind.

Next time I'll visit in the morning to try the Morning menu, and I'll add smoked salmon to the salad. :)