Hongcheon brunch café on the drive home from Vivaldi Park: Cafe Iseo

We took a July vacation trip to Hongcheon with the baby. My husband and I visit Vivaldi Park once a year, and every year we stop at Cafe Iseo (카페이서) on the way home. This time we brought Podo (our baby) along.

The owner is really kind, and the café's atmosphere and the food are both great! It's already famous as a Hongcheon brunch spot, so I recommend it as your last stop after Vivaldi Park. Here's my very satisfied review of Cafe Iseo, which we revisit every year!

How far is Cafe Iseo Hongcheon Branch from Vivaldi Park, and is there parking?

Cafe Iseo Hongcheon Branch is at 957 Hanchigol-gil, Seomyeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, and it's close: about 8 minutes by car from Vivaldi Park. It's open daily 10:30–20:00 (closed Wednesdays), and brunch is served 11:00–17:00.

You can park right in front of the café, and there's so much space that even beginner drivers can park easily.

Is Cafe Iseo Hongcheon Branch comfortable with a 16-month-old baby?

The café has high chairs, blankets, hot water, cold water and even paper cups ready, so visiting with a 16-month-old was really comfortable. There's a reason people keep coming back to this place. The kind, thoughtful owner is part of it too.

Cafe Iseo's interior and window views

Cafe Iseo is a brunch hotspot, but it's also a hotspot for interior and views. Photos come out pretty from any angle, the interior is lovely and the mood is sentimental. Just looking out the window is healing 💚

What we ordered from the Cafe Iseo Hongcheon Branch menu

We ordered our usual avocado & shrimp sandwich, a bolognese ragu pasta and two iced Americanos. At a brunch café like Cafe Iseo, you have to have a sandwich! Looking at the other tables, a lot of people seem to order salads too, and they looked really delicious.

Takeout is available too, so it looks like a good option to bring food back to your accommodation. (Takeout costs an extra ₩500.)

I thought about ordering the signature almond latte, but brunch just goes better with an Americano, so we got two iced Americanos. You can choose between nutty beans and acidic beans. We're team nutty, of course..♥️

There's a restroom inside the café, and both the women's and men's rooms were very clean and convenient.

The tables are also spaced widely apart, so we could enjoy brunch without worry with our 16-month-old. The owner saw Podo and was so sweet to her, which we were grateful for.

Iced Americano for 5,500 won, with a decaf option

The iced Americano at Cafe Iseo is ₩5,500, and you can switch to decaf beans, so keep that in mind. We came at the busy lunchtime, and the owner told us in advance that food might take a little while! They prepared the drinks first, so I got my coffee transfusion while tired. Nutty beans really are the best for an Americano.

While we played with Podo and Jay (my husband) in the relaxed café, the food came out before long.

How does the avocado & shrimp sandwich (17,500 won) taste?

The avocado & shrimp sandwich is ₩17,500, and it's what we always order whenever we come. It's perfect for my husband and me since we love avocado and shrimp, so we get it every time.

The bread is piled with avocado, plus bacon, tomato and grilled shrimp, so it can't help but be delicious. The richness of the avocado and the bounciness of the shrimp go together so well.

There's a poached egg on top of the avocado, so when you cut into it you get the richness of the yolk too. The ingredients are generous, so it's just right as a full meal.

Brunch with coffee is heaven.. If you like avocado like we do, definitely pick this! Your mouth will be full of richness.

Do you need extra bread with the bolognese ragu pasta (19,500 won)?

The bolognese ragu pasta is ₩19,500 and comes with two pieces of bread, and you can order extra bread. I chose it because I usually love ragu sauce. It looks so appetizing, right? It smelled so good that I took a bite as soon as it arrived.

The rich bolognese ragu sauce went well with the noodles. There was plenty of meat too, so it had a nice chew. It was a great brunch dish to have with coffee!

Whenever I eat ragu pasta I think of bread, so I liked that Cafe Iseo serves two pieces by default and lets you order more. Ragu sauce, which needs long simmering for its deep flavor, is twice as good dipped in bread, so do order extra bread.

Would we go back to Cafe Iseo Hongcheon Branch after Vivaldi Park?

Cafe Iseo, the Palbongsan-area Hongcheon spot I keep thinking about even after leaving, has a lovely atmosphere, tasty food and is great for a drive, so we plan to visit again this time next year. If you're visiting Vivaldi Park, definitely stop by Cafe Iseo, a Hongcheon café worth the trip.