Basque cheesecake and roasting room at a Seochon hanok café: Oldsse

I visited Oldsse Seochon, a café in Seochon. Walking around Seochon, there are so many characterful spots tucked into the alleys that it's hard to decide where to go in — this time I chose Oldsse, a café where you can feel that old, comfortable hanok (traditional Korean house) atmosphere.

🎈Address: 35-3 Pilundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea ⏰Hours: 10:00–20:30 Last order 20:00 Closed every Monday 🚘No parking 🚫

A hanok exterior, a modern interior

You feel that warm, nostalgic hanok mood from the outside, but the interior is decorated cleanly and modernly, which made it even more striking. It kept the charm of a traditional hanok while staying open and comfortable, so from the moment I stepped in, I felt myself relax.

Interior

I especially liked how they used the windows for table placement. Through the first-floor windows, the cute, small-scale scenery unique to Seochon unfolds, and sipping coffee while looking out at it felt like briefly stepping outside of a busy daily life.

Good for solo café time too?

Maybe that's why quite a few solo customers were there. It's the kind of quiet atmosphere good for sipping coffee or reading a book, so it suits people looking for solo café time just as well. Of course, it's also a good mood for casually meeting a friend or spending relaxed time with a partner.

If you're looking for a café in Jongno and care about the taste of the coffee as much as the atmosphere, Oldsse seems like it would really hit the mark.

It was also impressive that the shop has a separate roasting room inside — this is a place that's genuinely serious about coffee. Coffee lovers can feel the care put into the coffee, not just the space.

Menu

The menu had coffee along with various drinks, cakes, and breads. They all looked so pretty and delicious that I paused for a while trying to choose.

What I ordered

That day I ordered the Basque cheese cake and the matcha latte.

The matcha latte had a nice balance between the matcha's subtle bitterness and the milk's soft, nutty sweetness. It wasn't a matcha latte that was just sweet — the distinct matcha flavor still came through gently, which made it good to pair with dessert.

The Basque cheese cake had a deeply browned surface with a nutty aroma, while the inside was soft and dense in a really appealing way. It had that strong, distinct cheese flavor without being too heavy, so it went well with coffee or other drinks. It was a dessert good for savoring slowly, one bite at a time.

Sitting in a space with quiet music playing, slowly enjoying delicious dessert and drinks, I really felt like I was healing. Every corner of the space is also prettily decorated for photos, so it would suit people looking for an Instagram-worthy café too.

Final thoughts

If you're looking for a café near Gyeongbokgung Palace and want something with a more relaxed, warm atmosphere, I'd recommend Oldsse Seochon in Seochon. It's clean and modern while still holding onto that warmth unique to a hanok, making it a comfortable spot for anyone, any age.

It's a café good for enjoying delicious dessert and a variety of drinks while spending time alone at ease, and also good for casually meeting a friend or partner and chatting. Between the alley scenery unique to Seochon, the hanok atmosphere, and the coffee and dessert, this is a place I'd want to revisit whenever I'm out looking for a café in Jongno. If you're near Gyeongbokgung looking for a café with a good atmosphere, this Seochon café is worth a stop.