Sejong rooftop café at River Picnic: daytime brioche and coffee, Apere

Today's story is about Apere (아페레), a big café that felt like a hidden gem, which I stumbled into while in Sejong on an errand. I don't live in Sejong, but after one visit I got so jealous of the people who do! It's a large rooftop café on the 4th floor with a wide-open view, and it's called 'Apere'.

My eyes feasted on the great view and my mouth was happy with delicious bread and coffee, so let me tell you about this lovely afternoon!

What are parking and the atmosphere like at Apere?

Apere is on the upper floor of the River Picnic building in Sejong. You park in the building's underground lot and take the elevator up. The lot was clean and well kept, so parking was easy.

The moment I walked in, a wide, pleasant space opened up and it didn't feel stuffy at all. The place is big and the tables are spaced generously, so it seems perfect for families and for group gatherings too.

There are also pretty, charming little props placed with real taste all around the café, so taking photos was a lot of fun. I was busy looking at the interior in every corner, and I took tons of photos and sent them to my kids, feeling sorry they couldn't come along.

How do the brioche and coffee taste at Apere?

At Apere I ordered a nutty coffee along with the café's signature dessert, the brioche. It came out freshly baked, crisp outside and moist inside, with a rich buttery flavor that really stood out.

The owner welcomed us so warmly and kindly that I was in a good mood from the moment we walked in. As soon as I bit into the hot brioche, the crisp texture came with a deep, rich butter flavor that filled my mouth. Add a cup of fragrant, smooth coffee and I felt like I had nothing left to wish for.

Why I didn't get to try Apere's bingsu

By the way, I heard Apere is a well-known bingsu (shaved ice dessert) spot in the area! But we'd had a huge, filling lunch before coming, so there was just no room for bingsu, and sadly we skipped it.

What is the view of Sejong like from Apere's rooftop?

The real highlight of Apere is the view from the 4th floor, where the whole of Sejong spreads out below you. Even in the daytime I couldn't help going "wow~" at the wide-open scenery, and the Korean slang 'view bully' (a view that beats everything) fits it perfectly.

The scenery was so good that I wondered if I'd made a mistake coming in the daytime, and it made me want to come back in the evening for the sparkling night view. With my eyes filled by the view and my stomach filled with good coffee and bread, I spent a relaxed, happy afternoon and headed home in a great mood.

What to try on the next visit to Apere

A nice place like this deserves lots of word of mouth, I think! Since the night view is supposed to be amazing, next time I'll definitely come in the evening, eat some sweet, cold bingsu and enjoy the beautiful view. Oh, and the menu has dried pollack with dried persimmon (먹태감말랭이), and I'm determined to try that too~ ^^

If you want an open view and tasty desserts at the same time in Sejong, I strongly recommend visiting Apere!