Seongsu café cake takeaway after Seoul Forest: Notldun

A Seongsu dessert café after a Seoul Forest walk

On a crisp early-autumn day with a cool breeze, I took my wife’s hand and strolled leisurely along the paths of Seoul Forest for a change of pace.

As we chatted about this and that among the lush trees, breathing in the earthy scent of soil and grass, we naturally began craving an excellent sweet dessert and a cold drink. Seongsu-dong and the area around Ttukseom Station are packed with trendy spots, but we headed to Notldun (노틀던), a celebrated Seongsu dessert café that other influencers rave about for its patisserie-level delicacy and distinctive visuals.

As we approached the stairs to the half-floor level of the red-brick building, the neat, upscale interior came into view at once through the large windows.

Notldun’s simple yet elegant square sign and stylish exterior blended beautifully with the hip feel of the Seongsu alley, building up my anticipation before we even stepped inside. Going up the stairs, the white and light-wood tones created a cozy but polished mood. Huge wall-to-wall windows looked out refreshingly over the lively alley below, while warm natural light softly filled the room, making it a wonderful place to linger.

Two cakes chosen from the display case

The moment I looked into the display case, I immediately understood why so many people call this their all-time favorite Seongsu café.

The exquisitely made cakes shimmered so beautifully that it felt like admiring artworks displayed in a historic boutique showroom in Paris. We ordered a sweet strawberry latte to enjoy cold in the café, then carefully requested takeaway packaging for the two signature cakes that had caught our eyes most, for a cozy tea time at home. Our choices were the Mascar Berry (₩13,500), piled generously with Korean fresh blueberries over French mascarpone cheese and fresh cream, and the Foret Noire (₩13,000), with a plump cherry as the finishing touch on a rich French dark-chocolate mousse.

Strawberry latte after the walk

While we waited for the takeaway order, we tried the strawberry latte that came out first in the café.

A substantial layer of house-made strawberry syrup sat at the bottom of the glass, topped harmoniously with nutty, clean-tasting white milk and ice. After stirring all the way down with the muddler and taking a sip, bright, sweet-tart pieces of fresh strawberry—not artificial sweetness at all—burst through and instantly washed away my thirst. The milk was never heavy, with a very clean finish, so it was perfect after our walk. As soon as we got home, I carefully opened the thoughtfully packed box, plated the cakes beautifully, and added a cup of warm tea to complete my own home café.

Mascar Berry’s soft cream and blueberries

The Mascar Berry, which I tried first, had shimmering fresh blueberries generously piled over mascarpone cream piped with fine texture, like an elegant white dress. The instant I carefully cut off a piece with my fork and put it in my mouth, the mascarpone mousse cream was so soft it made me close my eyes, sweetly enveloping my whole palate. Deep vanilla-bean flavor dotted the cream and spread delicately, while the bright acidity of the popping fresh blueberries and the cream’s richness achieved a perfect balance. Even the cake base had been given careful attention, delivering harmonious flavor to the final bite without ever becoming soggy.

Foret Noire’s rich dark-chocolate layers

Next came the Foret Noire, a classic yet captivating dessert with a fresh cherry atop a rich, substantial dark-chocolate glaze. When I took a generous forkful and looked at the cross-section, the white mousse, moist chocolate sponge, and rich chocolate cream formed perfect layers.

The moment it hit my mouth, a bittersweet, sophisticated cocoa aroma spread richly through it. It was not overly sweet, showing exactly what an elegant sweetness that never becomes cloying should be. It had the incredible depth of authentic French pastry-making all the way through, and my wife and I kept exclaiming as we cleaned our plates. If you are enjoying a walk near Seoul Forest and want to take away high-quality French-style handmade cakes and sweet drinks, or share a memorable dessert time with someone special, I strongly recommend visiting Notldun, one of Seongsu’s standout dessert spots.