Gyeongbokgung Station roastery café: thin-cream einspänner at Oldsse

Oldsse Seochon is a roastery café that landed in Seochon inside a converted hanok (traditional Korean house), known as an einspänner (coffee with cream on top) hotspot from its Yongsan days.

Oldsse Seochon location and hours

You can get to Oldsse Seochon from Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, and the address is 35-3 Pirun-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Hours are 10:00-18:00 on Monday and 10:00-20:30 from Tuesday to Sunday.

Oldsse Seochon menu and prices

What is the hanok space at Oldsse Seochon like?

Oldsse Seochon is a café in an old hanok-style restaurant that served Western food for a long time, newly renovated. Unlike before, the interior has been completely opened up, which adds a sense of spaciousness to the hanok structure.

When I went on an early weekend afternoon, there was one seat left, and after that there was a constant wait. There are about two seats outside, and inside it's almost all 2-person seats, so I'd recommend it for small groups.

I think a lot of people who come when it's quiet will aim for this table too. The mood is relatively private, and it seats up to 4 people.

There were also lacquerware-style (najeon-like) props that suit the hanok feel. I enjoyed how the space puts a lot of care into an Eastern mood while still keeping things modern.

Oldsse Seochon roastery room and restroom

At the very back of Oldsse Seochon is the roastery room, with the restroom next to it. The restroom is unisex, and although the space is small, it's well kept.

How to order at Oldsse Seochon

The counter at Oldsse Seochon is right at the entrance, and you can order straight away on a Toss kiosk. The signature menu items are marked, and the desserts have photos, which made choosing easy.

Why the back seat in front of the roastery room was great

That day I sat at the seat at the very back, right in front of the Oldsse Seochon roastery room. Being tucked far from the entrance actually made it nice for talking, and I liked it.

Lemon sorbet and einspänner at Oldsse Seochon

What I ordered that day was the lemon sorbet and the einspänner.

What does the lemon sorbet taste like?

The lemon sorbet at Oldsse Seochon is a drink where you pour espresso over lemon sherbet, and the fresh, clean taste of the sherbet goes surprisingly well with the espresso. If you want coffee but fancy trying something new instead of a heavy latte or a bitter Americano, definitely try the lemon sorbet!

How is Oldsse's einspänner different from other places?

The einspänner is Oldsse's signature menu item, and the cream on Oldsse Seochon's einspänner is very thin, so it was a little different from einspänners I've had elsewhere. Lately it's trendy to top them with a very thick, heavy cream, but the cream on Oldsse's einspänner was very thin.

Maybe that's why it goes well with the Americano too, and it isn't cloying, tasting clean and lightly sweet. If it's your first time at Oldsse, definitely try the einspänner!

When should you go to Oldsse Seochon to avoid the wait?

At Oldsse Seochon you can get a seat relatively easily if you come very late or around lunchtime. Oldsse drew huge attention and popularity as soon as it landed in Seochon, and it's crowded on weekdays and weekends alike.

A note on outdoor seating at Oldsse Seochon

+) I couldn't take an exterior photo myself, so this one is from Naver Place. Oldsse Seochon is on a main road, but it sits where a small alley begins, so be aware that the outdoor seating can be rather cramped!