Bakery near Changdeokgung for bench-side garlic baguette: Munhwa

Craving dessert after a weekend walk through Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung?

The weather was so nice this weekend that I went on a proper trip to Changdeokgung Palace! After finishing my peaceful stroll through the old palace grounds, I got a craving for something sweet and nutty on my way out, so I made my way over haha

Where I ended up was Munhwa Bakery, already famous as an Ikseon-dong hotspot! From the antique traditional tile-roofed hanok exterior alone, it was completely my style haha

Where is Munhwa Bakery, and what are its hours?

• Address: 65 Donhwamun-ro, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul / near Jongno 3-ga Station
• Hours: Daily 11:00-20:00

Munhwa Bakery: a quiet Ikseon-dong bakery with a wide, high-quality bread lineup

At the entrance, I found a polite sign explaining that only 2 parties could enter at a time because the inside was so small! Thanks to that, I could pick out bread comfortably without it being crowded — actually a nice bonus haha

The moment I stepped inside, the neatly displayed lineup of delicious-looking breads caught my eye! From nutty injeolmi (sweet rice cake) bread to peanut bread, and mugwort rice cake bread that instantly won over my old-lady taste buds, everything looked amazing.

There was also a golden, glossy cheese bread, black condensed milk bread, and a chunky, hefty-looking onion bagel! Seeing the bread in person, I immediately understood why this place is known as one of Seoul's top three bakeries, no argument.

Rice-chestnut bread, white bean paste bread, and coffee bread piled high with coffee grounds all tempted me too! But the thing that stole my heart first was the garlic bread, generously topped with sauce that literally rippled on top. There was no way I could walk past that gorgeous sight haha

Milk cream bread from the Munhwa Bakery tasting tray

On one side of Munhwa Bakery, there was a tasting tray set up so you could try before you buy! Curious, I grabbed a piece of the milk cream bread and the taste was seriously insane... sweet, nutty, and the soft cream just melted in my mouth — the kind of taste that makes your eyes go wide.

Near the counter, there were beautifully arranged gift boxes and paper bags stamped with the signature logo! Fully won over by the tasting, I happily loaded up on all the breads I wanted.

Garlic baguette eaten on the street and mugwort rice cake bread saved for whiskey

I couldn't hold back on the walk home, so I plopped down on a bench and opened up the garlic baguette from Munhwa Bakery right there! The moment I opened the box, a sweet, sharp garlic smell hit me hard!

Can you see the cross-section? The garlic sauce wasn't just brushed on the outside — it was soaked all the way through, completely moist through and through! This was, hands down, the best garlic bread I've ever had in my life. Amazing, amazing!

Mugwort rice cake bread with whiskey at home

I carefully carried the mugwort rice cake bread home and served it right away on a pretty plate! Tearing it apart by hand, the chewy, dense texture was seriously amazing.

A deep, rich mugwort aroma filled my mouth, and the nutty almond slices paired with the chewy rice cake texture made it absolutely delicious haha

With bread this good, you can't skip a cold drink to go with it haha So I poured myself a glass of whiskey I had at home, and the subtle, deep flavor of the mugwort matched the whiskey's aroma so well — a completely happy way to end the weekend!

Is Munhwa Bakery worth a second visit?

Munhwa Bakery, a Jongno 3-ga hotspot I stumbled upon by chance during my weekend trip to Changdeokgung! From the sweet, nutty milk cream bread I tried at the tasting tray, to the sauce-soaked, moist garlic baguette, to the ultra-chewy mugwort rice cake bread — everything got a thumbs up from me.

If you're looking for an Ikseon-dong date course or you're on a nationwide bakery pilgrimage, this is a must-visit bread haven! I'm already planning to come back soon just to raid the garlic bread again haha