Daegu night-view café with floor seating and walnut cake: Hands Coffee

I wanted to spend a relaxing evening in the cool night air, so I took a trip to Dong-gu in Daegu for the first time in a while. The lively daytime scenery is lovely, but once darkness falls and the lights come on one by one, Dongchon Resort feels much quieter and more romantic.

Today's spot is a café where you can take in the whole view of the resort: Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch (핸즈커피 동촌유원지점). Even on a street packed with shops, its imposing size and stylish exterior catch your eye right away.

Parking, elevator and floor layout at Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch

Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch has a large parking lot, and there's an elevator inside, so getting between floors is easy. Parking is a problem everywhere, but here there's plenty of space, and the open view is wonderful.

At a big Daegu café, lots of stairs can be a hassle, but this building has an elevator inside, so moving around is really easy. It's a thoughtful layout that's no trouble for families with strollers or older people with bad knees.

The flow is to order first at the 2nd-floor counter, then head to the spacious seating on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th floor. Each floor has its own character and seating layout, so it's fun to pick the one that suits you.

To fully enjoy the open feel and the quiet night mood, we took the elevator up to the top, the 4th floor.

Where to sit for the Dongchon Resort night view on the 4th floor

The 4th floor of Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch is done in wood tones with indirect lighting, and the raised floor seating in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows looks out over the resort at night. The moment the door opens, the warm wood interior and the soft light coming down from the ceiling give a cozy first impression.

The seats are spaced generously, so you can enjoy a private time without being bothered by the next table's conversation. Lots of people were studying or working on laptops, too.

The raised floor seating right in front of the windows was especially memorable. You take off your shoes, climb up and sit on a soft cushion, and the lights of the resort outside fill your view like a picture frame. On one side there's also a spot with a solid wood table and a stand lamp, good for reading or laptop work, so it suits whatever you came to do.

Even the restroom is tidy, with green plants and stylish tiles, which made me like the whole place even more.

Brunch and waffle menu at Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch

Brunch at Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes sandwiches, salads, pasta, soup and waffles served with Häagen-Dazs ice cream. We came after dinner, so we chose coffee and cake, but the menu board at the entrance showed a meal lineup solid enough that by day it could pass as a Dong-gu brunch spot.

There's the Hands House Brunch, with house-baked ciabatta and a handmade bockwurst sausage, plus the Soft Jambon-Beurre (ham and butter baguette sandwich), Classic Ham & Cheese Sandwich and Chicken Granola Salad, all built around fresh ingredients.

There are also rich Creamy Mushroom Pasta, Paccheri Cream Pasta and Truffle Mushroom Soup, enough for a hearty meal.

The waffles are a wide choice too: Very Berry Good Waffle, Matcha Red Bean Waffle, Blueberry Cream Cheese Waffle and Choco Banana Waffle, served with Häagen-Dazs ice cream. We promised ourselves to come back by day for brunch and waffles.

How do the walnut cake, apple cinnamon tea cappuccino and Sangha Farm affogato taste?

This time at Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch we ordered walnut cake, an apple cinnamon tea cappuccino and a Sangha Farm (상하목장) affogato.

Apple cinnamon tea cappuccino

The apple cinnamon cappuccino was the first thing I reached for. A generous layer of velvety milk foam fills the mug, dusted with plenty of cinnamon powder. With the first sip, the fragrant cinnamon and a gentle sweet apple flavor melted away the chilly night air.

The sweetness isn't artificial, just a mild, pleasant sweetness, so I never got tired of it down to the last sip. There were pieces of apple you could chew, too, which made it a unique flavor.

Sangha Farm affogato

The Sangha Farm affogato comes in a clear glass with pure white Sangha Farm ice cream sitting on top of strong espresso, a treat for the eyes first. The rich, chewy, dense milk ice cream slowly mixes with the deep, bitter espresso in your mouth, and the bittersweet balance was excellent.

Walnut cake

The walnut cake has several thin, moist layers of sheet cake sandwiched with soft cream, and the top is densely covered with finely chopped walnut pieces.

It cuts cleanly with a fork without crumbling, and the nutty crunch of walnut pops with every bite, which is fun. It isn't overly sweet, but plain and deeply nutty, and it paired fantastically with the fragrant cappuccino and the rich affogato.

Day or night: when to visit Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch

Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch was a well-finished space with an open view, comfortable seating and the convenience of an elevator.

By day it's great for brunch with a sunny view, and at night it's perfect for calm tea time looking out at the night view under the lights. If you're looking for a big café with a good atmosphere or a date course in Dong-gu, Daegu, I'd recommend stopping by along with a relaxed night walk.