Rainy-day aglio olio and semifreddo at Olivus Compagno, Sejong

Today I visited Olivus Compagno Sejong Boram Branch in Boram-dong, Sejong. I went on a rainy-day date, split pasta and pizza, and cleaned up dessert too — let me tell you about it. I hope this helps if you're looking for things to do in Sejong.

A rainy-day pick for things to do in Sejong

It rained really hard that day, which just made me crave a warm bowl of pasta. While searching for things to do in Sejong, this place caught my eye. There was also a personal reason I was happy about it — I'm a fan of Jeonbuk Hyundai. The moment I saw the word 'Compagno' in the name, I immediately thought of the player named Compagno who plays for Jeonbuk Hyundai, so I was oddly pleased on my own.

A space with a striking red-toned interior

Walking inside, the first thing I noticed was the muted red-toned walls. Wooden tables mixed with black metal chairs gave it a casual yet calm feel. Round pendant lights hung from the ceiling with green plants trailing beneath them, which made for a subtly nice photo spot. On one wall, framed prints listing pasta types hung alongside photos of European alleyways, fun to look at while waiting.

On the wall near the kitchen, the menu was written densely in chalk by hand, which gave it a warm, homey feel.

The two-person set and the mild aglio olio

We ordered the two-person set, which came with a generous lineup — soup, pasta, pizza, dessert, and drinks. The potato cream soup came out first, smooth in texture with crunchy croutons and bits of bacon on top, giving a burst of savory flavor with every spoonful. The garlic bread on the side was crispy outside and moist inside, perfect for dipping into the soup.

The main dish, aglio olio, had chunky slices of garlic, but it turned out milder and more mellow than expected. Loaded with arugula and parmesan cheese, it also had a nice fragrant quality.

Cherry tomatoes scattered throughout kept it from losing its freshness.

Apple-scented cinnamon pear gorgonzola pizza

The cinnamon pear gorgonzola pizza that came alongside stood out visually from the first look. White cheese covered the whole dough, topped generously with thinly sliced apple. I drizzled on the honey that came with it and took a bite — the apple's crisp texture came through much more than a typical gorgonzola pizza, making it feel a lot fresher.

The saltiness of the cheese, the sweetness of the apple, and the honey on top of that made three flavors alternate in a way that was subtly addictive.

A sweet finish with homemade semifreddo

The last dish out was the homemade semifreddo. It was a pink ice cream studded with strawberries — smooth on the outside, with the chewy texture of strawberry flesh inside, giving it a refreshing quality. The chocolate crumble on the side was crunchy, contrasting nicely with the soft ice cream. Paired with chilled orange juice and Perrier, it made for a clean finish.

As we split the pasta and pizza and talked longer and longer, we naturally settled deeper into the restaurant's atmosphere.

It was perfect for spending a relaxed time indoors on a rainy day. I'd recommend it again as a date course for anyone looking for things to do in Sejong.

Location and hours

• Location: 127 Sicheongdae-ro, 1st floor, Units 117–119, Sejong, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–20:30
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 19:50
• Parking: 2 hours free