Decaf vanilla bean latte and gotgamsando at Hoyang Horim, Gwangju

Today I'm quickly introducing a place in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju with an amazing atmosphere and desserts that are basically perfect 🙌

I've been craving sweet, nutty desserts lately, so after searching hard I found Hoyang Horim, already famous as a dessert spot among Gwangju Yangnim-dong cafés. I totally fell for the quiet, hanok-style calm and the desserts with an explosive visual ☕ It's a place where tradition and modern sensibility blend so well, and I really wanted to visit.

Hoyang Horim location, hours, and parking

• 📍 Address: 4 Uwolsun-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00 – 21:00
• 🅿️ Parking: 1 hour at Gwangju Christian Hospital Parking Lots 1 & 2

The hanok exterior and courtyard atmosphere

Wow... why does the vibe here explode with charm the moment you step in? 🌿

The quiet hanok exterior is both classic and beautifully maintained, so the mood is on point from the entrance itself 💖

There's even a traditional folk game, tuho (arrow-tossing), out there. So fun and unexpected haha

Indoor seating and why it's great with kids

Stepping inside, I really loved the warm wood-tone interior of the calm hanok 🪵 Sunlight comes in nicely through the windows, and thanks to the soft lighting, chatting while looking out through the big windows felt totally comfortable.

There's a restroom, and right next to it there's drinking water ready for guests!

Cushions and blankets are prepared too, and there are coloring activities ready. Kids would really love this haha

The menu board: hand drip coffee and desserts

There's a hand drip menu board. Brazil, Ethiopia, Peru, and Colombia beans are all available! And next to that, there's also a Hoyang Blend and a Horim Blend.

They also have waffles, gotgamsando (dried persimmon sandwich), cheesecake, plus candied pecans and candied walnuts. The dessert variety is really impressive!

What we ordered and the decaf option

After a happy dilemma, we finally managed to order..

• ☕ Vanilla Bean Cream Latte ₩6,500 (+₩500 for decaf)
• ☕ Iced Americano ₩5,000 (+₩500 for decaf)
• 🍡 Gotgamsando (black sesame walnut) ₩4,500
• 🧇 Injeolmi Waffle (basic) ₩9,500

To enjoy without worrying about caffeine, we paid the extra ₩500 to switch both drinks to decaf. Having a decaf option makes this a great choice for evening visits or for anyone sensitive to caffeine 👍

Tasting the desserts and drinks

Finally, the drinks and desserts arrive! Can you see how pretty this is? So gorgeous 💖 Everything comes neatly arranged on a tray, and I just had to dig in right away!!

Vanilla Bean Cream Latte (decaf)

First, the vanilla bean cream latte had cream on top that was really thick and sweet! A rich yet nutty flavor spread all through my mouth, and even though it was decaf, it wasn't watery at all — the deep coffee aroma and the heavy sweetness of the vanilla bean blended perfectly ☕✨

Iced Americano (decaf)

The iced Americano wasn't overly acidic — it was clean and nutty, which made it pair amazingly well with the sweet desserts. There was no watery flavor typical of decaf, it was so clean that I kept reaching for it. Such a perfectly light drink!? 👍

Gotgamsando (black sesame walnut)

And then the gotgamsando (black sesame walnut) I'd been so curious about. This isn't dessert, it's art. Between the chewy dried persimmon, there's rich black sesame cream and crunchy walnuts packed in, so the nutty flavor explodes the moment you take a bite 🔥

The combination of chewy persimmon texture, crunchy walnuts, and nutty black sesame is so refined that it would be perfect to treat your parents with too.

Injeolmi Waffle (basic)

Lastly, I sliced up and tried the injeolmi (sweet rice cake) waffle, and it's a really chewy rice cake waffle so the chewing experience is amazing 🧇 It's topped generously with ice cream and nutty roasted bean powder, so the balance of sweetness and nuttiness was fantastic. It came out freshly made, warm, with a crispy-outside-soft-inside texture that was so good I finished it all 😋

It really lived up to its reputation as a top dessert spot among Gwangju Yangnim-dong cafés.

Overall thoughts

If you're looking for a truly special and delicious dessert bakery café in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju with that emotional hanok atmosphere, I highly recommend Hoyang Horim! 💖

The neat and pretty interior, the comfortable atmosphere, and above all the overwhelming quality of the gotgamsando and injeolmi waffle — everything about this space was satisfying.

With decaf options available for the coffees, it's perfect for enjoying according to your condition or preference! Whether it's a date course with your partner or a healing visit with parents or friends to enjoy special hanok desserts, definitely give this place a try 🔥