Seongsu espresso bar in Seoul: almond liqueur shakerato at Frolla

What is Frolla, the Seongsu espresso bar, like?

Frolla is an espresso bar in Seongsu, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, between Seongsu Station and Ttukseom Station. I ended up here while looking for a great coffee spot in Seongsu.

I'm not usually an espresso drinker, but a friend who loves coffee recommended it so strongly that I went. To cut to the chase: it felt like a quick trip to Europe without leaving Seongsu. A really special space.

It sits between Seongsu Station and Ttukseom Station, so it's easy to reach. Walk along the Seongsu backstreets and the stylish exterior makes it easy to spot.

📍Frolla - Location: 5 Yeonmujang 17-gil, 1st floor, Seongdong-gu, Seoul - Hours: daily 11:00–19:00

Seongsu felt much livelier than the last time I visited. On the walk from the subway station to the café I saw lots of foreign tourists, and the street itself felt so exotic. It was definitely a weekday, but the crowds made me think it was the weekend.

Honestly, I'm not someone who likes crowded places. But that day even the bustling street felt like part of Seongsu's charm.

My companion that day, whom I call Papa Oppa, is a self-proclaimed (and widely acknowledged) coffee lover. He had come to Frolla alone soon after it opened, tried the espresso, and said he'd been quite satisfied, so he recommended it.

The moment we arrived at the café, I felt like I was abroad again. A foreigner was sitting at an outdoor table, looking so completely natural there. It turned out to be the owner! His distinctive vibe and cool presence were memorable.

How to order at Frolla and what we chose

You can order by QR code at your seat or directly at the counter. Since I'd come with a coffee expert, we decided to try menu items I wouldn't normally dare to order.

What we ordered

• Espresso
• Espresso tiramisu
• Piccolo latte
• Shakerato
• Original tiramisu

Is the piccolo latte hot or cold?

Frolla's piccolo latte is a hot drink served in a small glass, with a much stronger coffee flavor than a flat white. It was the first thing we tasted, and the one Papa Oppa recommended most, saying anyone who likes lattes has to try it.

It came in a small, cute glass and at first I assumed it was a cold drink. But when I picked it up, it was hot.

One sip and the coffee flavor was far more intense than a flat white. The balance of bitter and smooth was great. Even with milk in it, the coffee clearly holds its own.

Is it okay for people who can't drink espresso?

Frolla's espresso tastes nutty and gently sweet before any bitterness shows up, so even I, who don't enjoy espresso, found it smoother than expected. It's an unfamiliar drink if you don't usually have espresso, but at Frolla it's worth trying.

According to Papa Oppa, espresso made with poor-quality beans is so bitter it's hard to drink. Frolla's was different. I took a sip too and was surprised at how much smoother it was than I'd expected.

Apparently in Europe there's a custom of adding sugar to espresso and then scraping up the leftover sugar at the bottom of the cup. Papa Oppa added sugar, and since I was curious, I eagerly ate the sugar that was left too. And it's surprisingly delicious, haha.

Frolla's shakerato: what does the original with alcohol taste like?

The most memorable item that day was definitely Frolla's shakerato (shaken iced espresso). You can choose a version with alcohol or without, and since I wanted to experience the original, I ordered it with alcohol.

I was marveling from the very first sip. It was bright and sweet, and the aroma was wonderful. Totally different from any shakerato I'd had before. When I checked the QR menu, it said it contains almond liqueur.

Papa Oppa, who shared it, was really happy with it too. Even the coffee bean garnish on top was nutty and tasty, which strangely amazed me. It gave me the sense that the coffee itself is very well made.

Frolla's two tiramisus: what's the difference?

Limited-quantity espresso tiramisu

Frolla's espresso tiramisu is sold in limited quantities, and they say it uses 100% mascarpone cream. Eaten with the cookie on top, it had a different charm from plain espresso.

The combination of bittersweet coffee and smooth cream was impressive. It felt like enjoying coffee and dessert at the same time.

The original tiramisu, better than expected

The one that beat my expectations was Frolla's original tiramisu. The sponge was moist and the cream light and fresh, so even I, who find tiramisu too heavy, ate it without trouble.

I had wanted to order the butter cookie pie, but it's a weekend-only item, so I picked the tiramisu out of disappointment.

But it turned out to be a very satisfying choice. The sponge was moist and the cream was light and fresh.

I usually can't eat much tiramisu because it feels too rich, but Frolla's original wasn't heavy at all.

Maybe because it uses 100% Italian mascarpone cheese, the clean sweetness was lovely. I could see why it's famous as a tiramisu spot among Seongsu cafés. I finished by scraping up every last bit of cream at the bottom.

Coffee tea bags sold at Frolla

Frolla sells coffee tea bags. Cafés usually sell drip bags, so this was the first time I'd seen a tea-bag format. Apparently you steep it longer than a drip bag.

The coffee was so good that I thought about buying some, but I forgot and just walked out. Next time I'll definitely get them.

What's Frolla like on a weekday afternoon?

Even on a weekday afternoon, customers kept coming into Frolla. There were many takeout customers and plenty sitting in. What stood out was the high proportion of foreign guests.

The staff spoke foreign languages fluently, and even that fit the atmosphere of the space nicely.

Frolla, where delicious Italian coffee and dessert made me feel like I'd taken a short trip abroad.

Is Frolla in Seongsu worth going back to?

If you want coffee, espresso or brunch in Seongsu, I recommend stopping by Frolla. A stylish space and great flavors made it a treat for both the eyes and the mouth. It's an appealing Seongsu espresso bar that makes you want to keep coming back, because visiting just once feels like a shame.