Café near Metasequoia Road in Damyang, trying 5 croissant pastries

Frank Coffin Bar: a successful date drunk on the smell of coffee at lunchtime

Monday morning, lunch made of coffee and bread

I visited Frank Coffin Bar Damyang with a reservation at 11:50am on a Monday. I planned it for my husband, who said he wanted coffee and bread for lunch that day.

This was my second visit to Frank Coffin Bar, and I still haven't forgotten the Frank Coffee I had the first time. Today's Frank Coffin Bar has that same exotic feel that gets my heart racing all over again.

Between Metasequoia Road and Juknokwon, easy to reach

Metasequoia Road and Gwanbangjerim Forest are right in front, Metaprovence is right behind, and Juknokwon is a 7-minute drive straight down the road. Frank Coffin Bar, a Damyang café at the center of all of Damyang's attractions, is this accessible in every direction.

There were outdoor tables, and even though it was a little cool that day, my husband said it was still warm enough that he wanted to eat inside. Fine — I respect that.

Counter, dessert showroom, table area: the interior mood

The inside of Frank Coffin Bar is divided into three parts: the counter, the dessert showroom, and the table area. Dark wood-toned interior, vintage style, and classic-feeling solid wood furniture. Speakers set on the display shelves, retro lighting, rattan chairs, antique chairs, an arched passageway — not a single piece felt out of place.

Walking through the arched passageway leads to another interior space.

Floor-to-ceiling windows pour in the outdoor scenery and sunlight. The plants and wood tones blend naturally, and the open feel makes it a space many customers seek out.

Bakery menu at Frank Coffin Bar Damyang

What we ordered, and the busy hours

• Frank Coffee
• Iced Americano
• Bakery: kouign-amann, pistachio kouign-amann, crookie, vanilla cruffin, vanilla pain suisse

Even at noon it can still feel a little relaxed, but the crowds are about to arrive. This is a famous café among Damyang locals, so after meals people gather here. If you like quiet, it's best to avoid mealtimes.

My husband and I took our time. The wood-toned café, the green plants, the coolness of the sky-blue color, even the cars slowly passing and the people walking by. Drunk on the smell of coffee and baked goods, our time briefly stopped.

The Frank Coffee is as cute as ever. This time I picked completely different bakery items than before (except the kouign-amann). It felt a bit like checking items off a Frank Coffin Bar list.

How did the five bakery flavors taste?

In order: kouign-amann, pistachio kouign-amann, crookie, vanilla cruffin, vanilla pain suisse.

Crookie

The crookie is a croissant-cookie hybrid, where crispiness meets sweetness.

The cookie part wasn't hard but a little soft, almost chewy — and it went really well with the croissant.

Vanilla pain suisse

The vanilla pain suisse (pain suisse, a Swiss-style layered pastry) had custard cream and red bean paste inside. Thin layers were stacked one after another; the inside was moist while the outside was crisp — similar to a croissant but with its own distinct feel.

Pistachio kouign-amann

Pistachio kouign-amann (kouign-amann, a caramelized French pastry). Inside the crispy kouign-amann was something chewy — pistachio. It seemed like it wouldn't work, but it really did: sweet and nutty, with a fun texture that kept my hand reaching back for more at this Damyang dessert café.

Kouign-amann

Finally, time for the kouign-amann. Like the Frank Coffee, it's an unforgettable taste.

Nothing can match its crispiness. The kouign-amann is crispiness itself. Dusted with powdered sugar and coated in syrup, it paired perfectly with the Americano.

Vanilla cruffin

The vanilla cruffin (croissant-muffin hybrid) seemed quite popular with other customers. Inside the long-shaped pastry was custard cream. The air pockets between the layers kept it from feeling dense, and it melted softly — really delicious.

Signature Frank Coffee and iced Americano

If you're planning a Damyang date, here's the reason you absolutely have to visit Frank Coffin Bar: this adorable Frank Coffee. It's the café's signature coffee, and it's not just cute — the taste is milky and sweet, rich and creamy all the way through, and it just makes you feel good.

The Americano is the most basic of the basics, but it's neither bitter nor heavy. Just the clean taste of the beans themselves. Nutty.

What coffee goes with kouign-amann? Any coffee pairs well with kouign-amann, but I tried it with an iced Americano. Because once you take a sip of the Frank Coffee, you just keep drinking it.

The drawing on the receipt

Another fun detail at this Damyang café: a drawing on the receipt. It looks hand-drawn, and it's so cute it puts you in a good mood.

Even after just one sip, the Frank Coffee's creaminess stays. It's impossible not to fall for it. It keeps crossing my mind.

Sip after sip, the creaminess carries through to the very end. Frank Coffin Bar completely won me over.

With kids, or just the two of you

Could a third round finally knock out the whole menu? There are so many desserts, and some, like the kouign-amann, are simply unforgettable. Last time I came with my two kids, and the high chair made it easy to spend time comfortably. This time, on a date with my husband, it felt completely different again. A date really is healing. If you need some healing, come to Frank Coffin Bar, a Damyang dessert café!