Coffee shop near Balsan Station for decaf cold brew: Byway Bakers

Balsan Station dessert café, a review of Byway Bakers Balsan Station

These days I love sweet desserts so much that whenever I spot a good bakery, it's hard to just walk past. So this time my husband and I decided to give ourselves a happy sugar boost and headed to Byway Bakers near Balsan Station.

Byway Bakers Balsan Station — a spot with great coffee and desserts / Address: 45 Gangseo-ro 56ga-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor / Hours: 9:00-20:00 (closed Wednesdays)

Where Byway Bakers Balsan Station is and what the café feels like

Byway Bakers Balsan Station is near Balsan Station — within walking distance of it.

Inside, the calm-toned space had a decent number of tables and seats, so it was fine to sit and enjoy bread with a drink. Light coming in through the windows blended with the muted tones for an overall warm, clean feel — also an easy spot for takeout.

What breads and pastries were on display at Byway Bakers

There were more varieties than I expected at Byway Bakers Balsan Station, so I spent a while browsing the moment I walked in. From salt bread to financiers, egg tarts, and Shanghai butter rice cake, there was so much variety that as a dessert lover, even picking was fun.

Once you step inside, the display case shows everything at a glance, making it easy to choose whether you're getting takeout or eating in — the atmosphere felt relaxed either way. The financiers especially came in so many flavors that they were the item I was most excited about.

The two coffees and four desserts we ordered

We ordered an americano and a decaf cold brew, plus picked out a few different desserts.

• Egg tart
• Shanghai butter rice cake
• Salty financier
• Yellow cheese financier

We tried the coffee first, and it had a clean flavor that paired well with sweet desserts. When eating dessert, I prefer coffee that doesn't overpower but supports the bread's flavor instead, and this pairing really hit the spot for me.

My husband had the americano and I went with the decaf cold brew — the americano was relatively nutty, while the cold brew had a nice, bright acidity.

Egg tart at Byway Bakers

The egg tart had a great combination of crispy baked pastry and soft filling. The outside was lightly crisp while the inside was moist, and alternating bites with sips of coffee felt like it melted in my mouth. It was so good I was glad I picked it.

Shanghai butter rice cake (sanghai beoteo-tteok)

What I remembered most from that day was the Shanghai butter rice cake (상하이버터떡). The outside was baked slightly crisp while the inside kept a chewy texture alive. With the nutty aroma of butter added in, one bite was sweet enough that my hand kept reaching for more. I enjoyed it so much I packed one extra for my mother-in-law, who was watching our baby.

Salty financier and yellow cheese financier

We picked two kinds of financiers. The salty financier had a savory butter flavor with a touch of saltiness that made it a sweet, hard-to-forget taste, while the yellow cheese financier had the distinctively salty, rich flavor of cheese, which should suit people who prefer a deeper flavor.

It's genuinely hard to nail that special financier texture, so finding a good one isn't easy — but the financiers at Byway Bakers Balsan Station had a firm, crisp outside with a chewy, dense inside! It felt luxurious while still capturing that unique financier texture well. With so many flavors available, I'd like to try a different one each time I visit. After eating them, I understood why this place is known for its financiers.

Worth it for coffee and dessert together near Balsan Station?

Byway Bakers Balsan Station feels like the kind of place you'd think of when you want to enjoy good bakery items and dessert together, rather than just going for coffee. With so many menu options, it's also great for a group visit where everyone picks something different, and if you're someone who loves sweets like me, just browsing is quite fun.

That day, my husband and I had a sweet time together and even brought home delicious desserts, so I came back feeling happy. Every dessert we picked was delicious, and it's the kind of place that makes you look forward to trying the others too. If you're looking for somewhere near Balsan Station to enjoy coffee and dessert together, it's worth stopping by.