Gonjiam bakery café with 80–100 group seats and picnic sets: La Cuesta

A large bakery café near Hwadam Botanic Garden: where to find La Cuesta

La Cuesta Gonjiam sits right on Gyeongchung-daero, so it's very easy to find even if it's your first time there. We went out for a drive around Gonjiam on a sunny weekend. After stopping by Hwadam Botanic Garden, we were looking for somewhere to relax with a cup of coffee, and that's how we found La Cuesta.

Tucked cozily at the foot of a mountain, it was a stylish healing café that blended in fully with the lush surroundings. Being at the base of the mountain also meant it was a nice spot to escape the heat.

An outdoor waterfall feature and a forest parasol terrace

Behind La Cuesta, we spotted people playing badminton at their leisure, and here and there were waterfall-like features with cool water flowing down — a healing space that was a treat for both the eyes and ears.

Especially nice was the back of the café, where parasols and outdoor tables were spaced out comfortably in the forest at the foot of the mountain — perfect for enjoying coffee in the breeze surrounded by nature. Even in the height of summer, the mountain breeze and the cool sound of the waterfall made you forget the heat completely — it felt like a magical space.

Menu and free picnic set rental

One of the most special things about La Cuesta is that they lend out picnic sets for free. Since they loan out a lovely rattan basket and cup holder set at no charge, it was wonderful for soaking up a picnic mood on the lawn or in the outdoor space and capturing some great photos.

Inside, there was a wide variety of delicious bakery breads, which made picking one out fun in itself. For a drink, I ordered the signature La Cuesta latte, and the rich, creamy foam blended in so smoothly — it was truly excellent coffee. Pairing the tasty bread with the fragrant latte instantly lifted my mood.

2nd-floor group seating, a photo booth, and a drawing contest

Going inside La Cuesta, the 2nd floor has a very spacious group seating area. It's a generous size that can hold roughly 80 to 100 people, so it looked more than suitable for group gatherings or visits with a large party.

On top of that, the 2nd floor also has a photo booth that's great for marking anniversaries or making special memories — perfect for taking pictures with loved ones and holding onto precious moments.

To celebrate a bountiful Chuseok (Korean harvest festival), there was a special drawing contest where kids could show off their skills to their heart's content. The Chuseok drawing contest is an event run by La Cuesta itself, and at the end of each month, two winning entries are selected and given generous, feel-good prizes — so if you're visiting La Cuesta with kids, it seems like a great idea to have them join the drawing contest too.

Overall thoughts

La Cuesta Gonjiam had everything perfectly in place — from the nature-friendly outdoor parasol area and the picnic rental service to the delicious bakery items and creamy coffee.

If you're looking for a bakery café near Hwadam Botanic Garden where you can enjoy nature and relax comfortably, I'd definitely recommend visiting La Cuesta Gonjiam.

La Cuesta basic info

• Address: 278 Gyeongchung-daero, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
• Features: large bakery café near Hwadam Botanic Garden, free picnic set rental (rattan basket, cup holders), spacious 2nd-floor group seating (80–100 seats) with photo booth, outdoor waterfall feature and forest parasol terrace