Jongno café for brûléed apple baumkuchen and tea: The Baum

A baumkuchen specialist near Gyeongbokgung Station

I had plans near Gyeongbokgung Station and got a recommendation for a place with seriously delicious desserts, so I went. It is a fantastic dessert spot specializing in baumkuchen, the traditional German dessert.

The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch (더바움 경복궁점)

It is so close to Gyeongbokgung Station that it is incredibly easy to find, and the location is excellent.

A spotless space with second-floor group seating

From the exterior to the interior, everything was incredibly neat and comfortable. The café has two floors in total, with plenty of room to spread out. There is group seating on the second floor in particular, so it looked perfect for meeting up with friends or stopping by for coffee with a group after visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace. The clean interior is great for photos, and the atmosphere feels relaxed too.

The drinks and baumkuchen I finally chose

There were so many kinds of desserts on the menu that I spent ages deciding what to get. For drinks, I chose an iced Americano and Cheonggyul Rose Island tea, then made a proper dessert order of Spitzen Dark, Cheese Baum, and brûléed apple baumkuchen.

While choosing, I also noticed Dubai pistachio soft-serve ice cream for sale by the counter. It looked unbelievably good from the visuals alone, so I promised myself I would definitely try it next time.

Baumkuchen with a celebratory meaning

Baumkuchen itself is a traditional German layered cake shaped like tree rings, and I heard it symbolizes success, prosperity, celebration, health, and longevity.

Maybe that is why the gift packaging in the café was so polished and luxurious. I thought it would be absolutely perfect as a gift for someone on an important day, a return gift, or an anniversary present. The boxes are pretty too, so I think whoever receives one would feel happy.

Americano and Cheonggyul Rose Island tea

Our drinks and desserts arrived, and the presentation was amazing from the start.

Iced Americano

This is an essential menu item that can never be left out when eating dessert. Its acidity was not overly strong; it was clean and nutty, and the match with the sweet baumkuchen was just insane. It cleanses the palate so nicely that it makes the desserts taste even better.

Cheonggyul Rose Island

This is a charming tea drink where the citrusy flavor of green tangerine blends intriguingly with a subtle rose fragrance. It does not taste like artificial syrup; it is fragrant and refreshing, so every sip puts me in a good mood. It is not too sweet and finishes cleanly, making it easy to enjoy alongside sweet desserts.

The deep chocolate flavor of Spitzen Dark

Spitzen Dark is a menu item that chocolate lovers simply cannot help but like.

The rich, deep flavor of dark chocolate fills your mouth. It is not cheap-tasting chocolate; sophisticated bitterness and sweetness are in harmony.

The distinctive layers of baumkuchen were still there, while the chocolate had soaked in beautifully to keep it moist. I gasped as soon as I took a bite. It is absolutely fantastic with an Americano.

Cheese Baum and brûléed apple baumkuchen

Cheese Baum

This one is seriously something else. You get the soft, rich flavor of cheesecake and the texture of baumkuchen at the same time. The dense yet creamy cheese flavor goes so well with the baumkuchen cake layers. It is not overly rich, but nutty and sweet, with a crowd-pleasing yet refined flavor that anyone, regardless of age or gender, would enjoy. Cheese lovers absolutely need to add this one.

Brûléed apple baumkuchen

The crisp caramelized brûlée texture on the outside is so appealing. It is fun to tap it with a fork and crack it open. The outside is crisp and sweet, while apple filling inside brings a burst of bright, sweet-tart flavor.

The texture of apple pieces, sweet caramel, and soft baumkuchen come together perfectly as a trio. Anyone who loves apple desserts is bound to be satisfied with this.

A dessert café worth visiting after Gyeongbokgung

If you are looking for a delicious dessert café with a nice atmosphere near Gyeongbokgung Station, I definitely recommend The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch. The café is spacious and clean, making it great for a date, and the desserts are high quality, so it is also ideal for picking up gift packaging. Next time, I am planning to come back for the Dubai pistachio soft-serve ice cream.