Gonjiam large café with injeolmi roll and Emmental mochi: La Cuesta

Visited Sunday, September 13, 2026

This year again, on the way back from an early Chuseok grave visit to the national cemetery, I stopped by La Cuesta, a large café in Gonjiam, Gwangju. It's become my yearly coffee stop after visiting the graves — with brunch and so many kinds of bread and cookies to choose from, it's a great-value spot to check out in Gonjiam.

Where is La Cuesta Gwangju, and what about parking and hours?

La Cuesta Gwangju is at 278 Gyeongchung-daero, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. There are two parking lots — coming in from the road, there's Lot 2 down the hill,

and Lot 1 right in front of the building. There's staff guiding parking, and cars usually get directed to park in front of the store first.

• Open year-round
• Daily 10:00–22:00
• Last order 21:30
• Brunch 10:30–20:30

What does La Cuesta Gwangju look like inside and out?

Outside the café: two parking lots and a garden

La Cuesta has the 1st floor, 2nd floor, and a 1st-floor terrace. Climbing the stairs, there's a fountain and nice outdoor tables set below the mountain, a space where kids can play sports, and an outdoor garden where you can even picnic — they have picnic props ready too.

Inside the café: two floors of mountain-view window seats

This is the entrance on the 1st floor.

Inside there's the counter and lots of seats with floor-to-ceiling window views, plus an outdoor terrace. The tables that look reserved but aren't seem like they'd feel special for whoever grabs them first.

Kids were really into a drawing event happening in the space.

There was also a chance to buy Chuseok gift sets, plus a bonus — candy from the La Cuesta bear!

The 2nd floor is spacious and comfortable, with big windows on the front and sides, so you get a wide view down over the mountains toward the neighborhood, roads, and everyday life below.

It's a large Gonjiam café in Gwangju with a great atmosphere for families and couples to visit on special days.

You can also make a memory at La Cuesta with the 'Narang Han-cut' photo sent instantly via KakaoTalk — 1+1, meaning two prints for ₩4,000!

How many kinds of bread and cookies does La Cuesta have?

La Cuesta Gwangju, the large Gonjiam café, has a wide range of healthy desserts and baked goods to choose from. Among them, the meju (fermented soybean) bread is famous enough that it was featured on SBS's Live Today,

and besides that there are plenty of brunch items good enough to be a meal, plus free sample corners.

The bakery counter: baguettes, rolls and salt bread

Rolled long sausage bread, sweet pumpkin campagne, Emmental mochi, various bagels, and various kouign-amann,

plain baguette, red bean bread, garlic baguette, mocha roll, and 100% rice castella,

injeolmi (sweet rice cake) roll, meju bread, French country bread, 100% rice white roll, and the store's best-seller, the milk cream salt bun,

fresh fruit croissants, fresh fruit kouign-amann, custard cream bread, and so much more.

Other desserts at La Cuesta: cookies, cakes and mochi

Meringue cookies, almond chocolate, cranberry shortbread, sablé, and various scones. If you have family or friends who couldn't make it, these would make a nice simple gift.

There are also cakes and kids' drinks — so many desserts to choose from.

How did the La Cuesta latte, injeolmi roll and Emmental mochi taste?

We picked out some tasty coffee along with sweet, wholesome-tasting bakery items.

• La Cuesta signature La Cuesta latte, hot, x1 (₩8,000)
• Americano, hot, x1 (₩5,500)
• Injeolmi roll x1 (₩5,500)
• Plain baguette x1 (₩3,800)
• Emmental mochi x1 (₩5,900)

My husband drank the sweet, milk-based La Cuesta latte topped with soft whipped cream, alongside the salty, savory Emmental mochi, and

the soft, fluffy injeolmi roll coated generously in roasted bean powder was the bread my husband liked best.

I went for the rich, warm Americano made with La Cuesta's own quality blend, and enjoyed the plain baguette — crusty and hearty outside, soft and chewy inside, with a plain, savory taste.

Events, group seating, and why La Cuesta is worth a stop in Gonjiam

With its great views and atmosphere, plus brunch, bakery, cookies and so many other food options to choose from, it's a great place to check out in Gonjiam thanks to all its events too.

• Weekly coupons issued every Monday
• Prizes given to monthly drawing-contest winners
• Drink discounts for soldiers, firefighters, police, and others
• Free Americano if your feedback on the bread is chosen, and more

There are other events too. They also have group seating that can accommodate family gatherings, couples, or large groups, so I'd recommend this large Gonjiam café in Gwangju for all kinds of get-togethers.

We stopped by on our way back up to Seoul after an early Chuseok grave visit to the national cemetery. La Cuesta is a great spot to visit on a special day like this, or as a meeting point for friends and family.