Gwangju café for green onion cream cheese salt bread: Sum

If you head quite far into Ojeon-ri in Namhansanseong, you come across a café that feels a little out of the way. I was thinking, “There’s a café here...?” But once we arrived, wow—it was so nice.

The café sits amid mountains and sky, surrounded by nature, so I actually thought it was somewhere worth seeking out on purpose. The place we visited this time was Sum (숨) in Namhansanseong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. True to its name, it was a Namhansanseong café where we could catch our breath from everyday life for a moment and properly recharge.

Sum Café Information

• Address: 108-11 Ojeon-gil, Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–20:30 / Sat–Sun 10:00–21:30
• Parking: Available; valet parking available
• Features: Main building and annex, rooftop, outdoor terrace, bakery items, high chairs

A Namhansanseong Café Much Bigger Than Expected

I was surprised by how large it was once we arrived. It is divided into a main building and an annex, each with a different atmosphere, so you can choose the space that suits you.

The main building feels especially open thanks to its high ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows, and it is lovely to sit while taking in the natural scenery. What I liked most was how roomy the seating was. Even with quite a few people around, there was generous space between tables, so it felt less crowded or bustling.

It also seemed easy to visit with family or children. When you are out and about with a baby like we were, a cramped space means more things to worry about, but Sum had plenty of room, which was comfortable. They also have high chairs, so it is a good option with a baby.

A Different Mood in the Main Building, Annex, and Terrace

The Cozy Annex

One unexpectedly fun thing about Sum was its spaces. The main building, annex, outdoor terrace, and rooftop all have their own appeal and atmosphere. While the main building feels cool and open with its floor-to-ceiling windows and high ceiling, the annex is a little warmer and cozier.

Because every space has a different mood, I think it would be fun to choose your seat depending on the weather or how you feel that day.

The annex even had a space where you could listen to music.

The second floor was landscaped with birch trees, which gave it a different kind of comfort from the main building. If you want to sit quietly and chat, I think the annex would suit you better.

Highly Recommend the Outdoor Terrace on a Nice Day

The space at Sum where I felt most refreshed was outdoors. On a nice day, it feels wonderful just sitting on the outdoor terrace and looking around—you do not need to do anything else.

Instead of the constant chatter and car noise you get at city cafés, there were mountains and trees all around, and being so close to nature made it feel like a little break.

Don't Forget the Restful Rooftop

And because it felt a shame to leave right away, we went up to the roof too.

Both the main building and the annex have rooftop spaces, and once we went up, the surrounding scenery opened up far more than it did from below.

My husband, baby, and I went up together, took photos, and played for a little while, and this time stayed with me more than I expected. It is a place where there is fun in looking around every corner, not just sitting down for a drink.

A Great Bread Selection and Satisfying Drinks

At large cafés, sometimes the space is pretty but the drinks or bakery items are a bit disappointing, right?

But Sum had more kinds of bread than I expected, and they tasted good with the drinks. From coffee and lattes to ade, tea, and smoothies, there are plenty of choices, so I do not think choosing a menu would be difficult even with people who have different tastes.

We ordered an Americano, a latte, and two kinds of bread. The coffee was not very acidic, which was just right for my husband and me.

The almond kouign-amann had a wonderfully crisp exterior, which made it fun to eat. Still, I did wish the inside had been a little softer. (Just my personal taste.)

The salt bread filled with green onion cream cheese was delicious, with the bread and filling going really well together. We enjoyed it slowly while looking at the natural scenery, and it made the drive here feel worthwhile.

When You Want a Proper Rest in Namhansanseong

At first, as it felt like we were heading deeper and deeper into the forest, I wondered, “There’s a café here?” But once we arrived, I liked it even more because it was so surrounded by nature. In particular, it has spacious areas for visiting with children, an outdoor terrace, a main building and annex with contrasting moods, and rooftops, so it would also be a nice destination for a family outing.

If you want to enjoy delicious bread and drinks and take a little break in nature in Namhansanseong, I think Sum would be a great choice!