Daegu brunch café with alley parking and an Aperol Spritz: Dento

I had errands in Bongdeok-dong and stumbled onto this good-vibe café called Dento, so I stopped in for brunch.

Where Dento is and when it opens

Café Dento is at 42-5 Bongsanmunhwa2-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea (Bongsan-dong 136-50), open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 with last order at 19:00. It's closed every Monday, and there's no dedicated parking lot.

The exterior and interior both give off strong European vibes.

They also sell sandwiches, coffee, and wine, so it seemed like a good spot to come for brunch and wine together.

Dento's menu even has an Aperol Spritz

Dento's menu leans Italian/European, and I was pleasantly surprised to spot Aperol Spritz — the same aperitif I drank on a trip to Italy 🥂 Wanting something light for brunch, I ordered the bite-size open sandwiches, tomato soup, and iced drip coffee.

Parking at Dento: squeeze into the alley

Dento has no dedicated parking lot. There's an alley beside the café where you can park, but when I arrived around lunchtime other cars had already taken it, so I found a spot nearby on my own.

The dark vintage orange tones throughout give off a European alley brick-wall feel, making the whole place feel like a vintage old-town café.

Five bite-size open sandwiches that don't mess up your hands

Dento's bite-size open sandwiches, from right to left, are pan con tomate / avocado salmon / romesco roasted vegetables / shrimp rémoulade / truffle ricotta. Regular sandwiches can be big and messy on your hands and mouth, but these finger-food-style bites were clean to eat, and having five different types meant I could enjoy a range of flavors.

They explained it like a course meal — eat from right to left, where the flavors and aromas get progressively stronger. Each one tasted and smelled distinct, so it was fun to savor each ingredient separately.

My personal pick was the truffle ricotta sandwich, eaten last. The truffle aroma was so good I felt like I could've eaten five of them 👍

How Dento's tomato soup tastes: mild, not sharp

Dento's tomato soup was warm, smooth, and comforting. It had that fresh tomato tang without being too strong, so it worked well as a starter and paired nicely with the sandwiches. If you like bread or sandwiches with soup, this combo would be very satisfying.

Eating the bite-size sandwiches together with the tomato soup and iced drip coffee felt like a proper light brunch. If you're around Bongdeok-dong looking for a café with more than just coffee — one that also has something light to eat — I'd recommend it!

Iced drip coffee and what I'd order next time

Dento's iced drip coffee was cleanly brewed, pairing well with the food, and felt suited to those who want a light taste of the beans rather than something intense. I liked the calm, cozy atmosphere so much that next time I'd like to try a different coffee along with another brunch item.