Haenggung-dong brunch restaurant with matcha draft beer: Nonchalant

A pre-Chuseok brunch date in Haenggung-dong with a parenting-weary friend

Ahead of the Chuseok holiday (Korean harvest festival), I had a brunch get-together with a friend worn out from parenting at Nonchalant Lounge in Haenggung-dong, near Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. She's busy from morning to night every single day, and she'd just told me the happy news that she could finally get some free time after so long!

With the Chuseok holiday about to start, we said, this time we're definitely meeting up to eat something yummy and have fun!

We spent a good while wondering where would be the best change of pace, and then my friend said she wanted to try Haenggung-dong, where so many pretty cafés and good restaurants have been popping up lately.

Nonchalant Lounge (논샬랑라운지) popped into my head without hesitation. I'd already been once before with other friends, and I remembered being really happy with it as a romantic Haenggung-dong hot spot.

I wanted to give her a stylish, pretty space where she could blow off all that parenting stress, so I booked right away and we went.

What is the atmosphere at Nonchalant Lounge like?

Nonchalant Lounge is a rarely spacious, relaxed spot for brunch in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. When we met there at 11 a.m. on the day, it was still warm and lovely.

From the exterior, which blends in with the quiet charm of the Haenggung-dong alleys, to the open, airy feeling the moment you step inside, my friend said "Wow, I'm so glad we came!" as soon as she walked in.

It's a lovely space with carefully prepared Western food, from brunch and pasta to a range of other dishes, plus a varied drink list from signature lemon draft beer to wine and highballs.

They were also running a 2+1 promotion on the signature draft beer, which is a very happy event for anyone who loves beer!

The mood is comfortable and unhurried, like a upscale hotel lounge, so it's good for family or kids, and just right for group get-togethers, blind dates or a date with someone special.

Besides us, other people had come out early that morning for brunch and were settled in around the room, enjoying their time. It felt lively yet calm right from opening, which made me feel more relaxed too.

What did we order for brunch at Nonchalant Lounge?

We ordered one pizza, two pastas, and the matcha draft beer you can only get here. We picked a spot we liked, caught up on how we'd been, and looked over the menu at the table.

There were so many tasty dishes that we agonized for a long time, and this is the solid lineup we settled on. Soon after, the dishes arrived and filled the table splendidly.

Bisque rosé pasta: seafood base with shrimp and tomato

The bisque rosé pasta has a seafood base simmered carefully for a long time, generously topped with plump, springy shrimp and fresh tomato.

From the first bite, a deep, rich savoriness filled my mouth, with nothing heavy about it; the seafood flavor and the refreshing rosé sauce balanced each other well. My friend raved that the rosé sauce was really good.

Alfredo cream pasta: golden grilled chicken thigh

The alfredo cream pasta is a cream pasta topped with golden grilled chicken thigh, with a charming rich flavor of cheese and milk.

The chicken thigh was crispy outside and juicy inside, and its nuttiness with the smooth cream sauce clinging to the noodles meant I never got tired of it down to the last bite. If you like cream pasta, I think everyone will love it.

Crispy thin pizza: a thin tortilla crust that pairs well with pasta

The crispy thin pizza is a crunchy-baked tortilla crust piled with fresh, colorful toppings. The crust isn't thick and feels light, so it was no burden to eat alongside pasta, and the crunchy texture with the fresh toppings worked really well.

It was the perfect light, fresh dish for brunch time. We ordered plenty without holding back, and kept eating happily and full.

Nonchalant matcha draft beer: an unusual draft beer with a bittersweet matcha aroma

The Nonchalant matcha draft beer, with just a touch of matcha's signature bitterness, was refreshment itself. The faint matcha aroma blended with the cold beer bubbles for a really unusual taste I'd never had anywhere else.

Is Nonchalant Lounge corkage-free?

Yes, Nonchalant Lounge is corkage-free. I only learned this in the middle of our happy chatty meal; since we came during the day, enjoying the 2+1 draft beer deal and the food and brunch, I hadn't noticed.

A place with this nice a mood and great food being corkage-free is honestly amazing. If we'd met in the evening, I could have brought a nice bottle of wine I've been saving, so I felt a little regretful.

Still, thanks to that we got to enjoy a proper Haenggung-dong brunch today, and that made it a perfect day anyway. My friend was so happy to be out of parenting mode for once, eating tidy, tasty food in such a pretty place, saying her stress was totally gone, which made me feel proud and warm inside.

Next time we'll meet in the evening and come back for a wine night. A bottle of our favorite wine, warm lighting, and tasty pasta and pizza alongside, and there's no happier weekend night than that.

Why I recommend Nonchalant Lounge for a Haenggung-dong brunch get-together

From choosing the place to the food, the atmosphere and solid perks like the 2+1 draft beer, Nonchalant Lounge left nothing lacking for a get-together with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. If you want a proper Haenggung-dong restaurant experience as a charming date course in Suwon, try brunch at Nonchalant Lounge.

It's wonderful for an unhurried early-morning brunch, and it's just as charming as a Haenggung-dong wine bar where you can sip wine in a lovely mood after sunset. How about a quiet stroll along the atmospheric Suwon Hwaseong fortress wall, then making unforgettable memories with someone special in a romantic setting?

If you visit, you'll understand right away why Nonchalant Lounge is so loved as a Suwon Hwaseong restaurant and a leading hot spot. I'll probably be back soon myself for that wine night!