Sinnonhyeon café, choco banana pie and peach oolong: Upper and Under
In short
Upper and Under is a dessert café in Gangnam, Seoul, on an alley corner near Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6. After two coffees elsewhere, the writer was drawn in by the exterior and ordered choco banana pie, pistachio canelé, plain financier, peach oolong tea and a pistachio cream latte. The baked goods were the highlight at Upper and Under, and the sunlit window seats and terrace were the seats everyone wanted.
Good to know
- Hours
- Daily 11:00–22:00
- Parking
- No parking lot
- Location
- Near Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6, corner of the alley behind CGV
- What we ordered
- Peach oolong tea, pistachio cream latte, choco banana pie, pistachio canelé, plain financier
- Receipt review event
- Free financier (while supplies last)
- Also good to know
- English menu available
as written by the visitor on Sep 20, 2026
Hi, it's Hami! My sister and I were doing a café tour around Gangnam Station ~ I'd already had two coffees that day so I had zero intention of hitting another café, but then I saw a place with such a pretty exterior... how could I not go in?
Where is Upper and Under? The corner alley behind CGV at Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6
Upper and Under, a café near Sinnonhyeon Station with a big tree seemingly blocking the entrance (in a good way), has an exterior that strikes you with the contrast of lush green leaves against red brick. It's surrounded by tall buildings but the sunlight pouring in was almost blinding. It's located on a street packed with restaurants and brunch cafés near Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6 — just walk up the alley behind CGV and you'll find it on the corner, easy to spot!
It's open daily from 11:00 to 22:00, and there's no parking lot!
What we ordered at Upper and Under: peach oolong tea and pistachio cream latte
Probably because a lot of foreign visitors come here, they have an English menu ready too. I felt like more coffee would keep me up all night, so I went with the peach oolong tea, and my sister, who'd been here before, said the cream latte was great, so we also got the pistachio cream latte!
The cakes were mostly fruit-based and the fruit all looked fresh. It seemed like almost every table had ordered at least one cake.
As we walked in, I overheard some customers leaving say, "The choco banana pie was so good..." haha
We loaded up our tray with choco banana pie, pistachio canelé, and plain financier.
Here, the receipt review reward is an actual financier. It's first-come-first-served, so hurry up hahaha
Seating at Upper and Under: the split-level second floor, third floor and terrace
Looking from inside, that big tree by the entrance was a genius move. The way the sunlight rippled through the leaves was so calm and lovely.
Overall it's a place where a classic mood stands out, without flashy furniture or decorations.
The layout is a bit unique — there's a semi-separated, loft-like space that looked great for anyone who wants to sit quietly.
Go up to the 3rd floor and there are even more seats. It has a different vibe from the 2nd floor — a bit more casual? The exposed brick, worn flooring, and vintage touches were kept as they are, which made it feel even more stylish.
The terrace seems to be Upper and Under's most popular spot. In that open, breezy atmosphere, groups seemed to be chatting much more comfortably.
We sat at the spot we'd already scoped out earlier.
How do the choco banana pie, pistachio canelé and plain financier taste?
We loaded up a plate with a bit of everything — financier, canelé, pie — and the chocolate + banana combo never fails. I thought sweet + sweet + sweet would be too much, but surprisingly it wasn't that sweet at all. This is exactly the kind of bite you need when you want to lift your mood. The financier had that crisp-outside, chewy-inside style I love, and the canelé — which I hadn't had in a long time — had a rich vanilla scent and was so moist, genuinely delicious. This place is clearly skilled at baked goods.
The pistachio cream latte had a cream that was thick but not heavy, so it blended well with the latte even without stirring, and instead of an artificial pistachio flavor, it kept the taste of the actual nut, which made it feel more upscale. The latte itself was smooth and delicious too.
This place is a real sunlight specialist. Sunlight for sale. ₩5,000 a ray.
The sunlight poured in so beautifully at this seat that I wanted to sit here all day .. ☀️
After eating all day my mouth felt heavy, and the peach oolong tea refreshed everything! Tea really pairs so well with baked goods.
Coming on a weekday afternoon let us enjoy it at a much more relaxed pace. Upper and Under lets you soak up sunlight right in the middle of Gangnam — if you get tired walking around Sinnonhyeon Station, stop in and rest. With weather this nice, the terrace is great, and so is the sunlit window seat. The delicious desserts are just a bonus 🍰🧁
Where it is
28 Gangnam-daero102-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (basement, 1st, and 2nd floor)서울특별시 강남구 강남대로102길 28 지하1층, 1층, 2층
