Sinnonhyeon couple café, torched choco banana pie: Upper and Under

Today I'm introducing Upper and Under (어퍼앤언더), a café near Sinnonhyeon Station that I visited with my boyfriend. We ordered a bit of everything: coffee, the signature salty caramel drink, a pistachio canelé and a choco banana pie ୨୧

Upper and Under, a café near Sinnonhyeon Station: first impressions

Upper and Under is a great spot near Sinnonhyeon Station for a coffee with dessert on the side. We came to have coffee and something sweet together, and there were plenty of drinks and desserts to choose from.

This time we ordered the signature salty caramel drink, a chocolate dessert I always love, and a slightly more unusual pistachio canelé. Let me walk you through what we ate and what the place feels like. ෆ

What are the seats and atmosphere like at Upper and Under?

Upper and Under is a sizable café spread over several floors, from the basement level up to the 2nd floor.

Every floor has its own seating, and the terrace has several tables too, so it looks lovely on a nice day. It seemed fine for meeting friends or for a date.

Basic amenities like free Wi-Fi and separate men's and women's restrooms are there too, so it's comfortable to linger over drinks and desserts. If you're looking for a café with plenty of seats near Sinnonhyeon Station, keep it in mind.

Upper and Under menu and prices: what did we order?

There were so many kinds of drinks and desserts that choosing took forever...

How do people pick this fast?! T_T

In the end we ordered four items in total.

• Americano ₩6,500
• Salty caramel ₩8,000
• Pistachio canelé ₩4,700
• Choco banana pie ₩8,000

Two coffees and two desserts, so each of us could pick what suited our own taste.

Drinks and desserts all together on one table: a sweet combo just to look at! We tried them one by one with the coffee to see what each one had going for it.

How do the Americano and signature salty caramel taste?

Americano ₩6,500

The Upper and Under Americano isn't too bitter or sharply acidic, so it was easy to drink. I started with this basic option, and rather than standing out, it tasted familiar and mild, which worked well alongside the desserts.

Salty caramel ₩8,000

The salty caramel is Upper and Under's signature drink, so I was curious about it. Sweet caramel with a salty note added, it has a different charm from drinks that are only sweet.

It's a good pick for days when you crave something sweet, and if you like the sweet-and-salty combo, it's worth trying once. That said, it is a sweet drink, so it may be hit or miss depending on your taste.

My boyfriend's pick: pistachio canelé ₩4,700

Among the desserts we ordered, my boyfriend's favorite was Upper and Under's pistachio canelé (₩4,700)!

It's the canelé (a small caramelized French pastry) you know, with pistachio added, so it felt a little different. A new twist on a familiar dessert had its own charm, and I enjoyed it too.

He said the pistachio canelé was his favorite of all four items. Having different tastes even with the same dessert is part of the fun of visiting a café together, I think. ୨୧

My pick: choco banana pie with torched banana, ₩8,000

My favorite was Upper and Under's choco banana pie (₩8,000)! I mean, chocolate and banana, need I say more? Sugar-coated bananas torched until caramelized, plus chocolate and soft whipped cream: I'd been looking forward to this dessert even before ordering.

The surface had a caramelized, torched-sugar feel that looked delicious, and the chocolate and soft whipped cream inside came together nicely for my sweet tooth.

I always love sweet desserts (I have a kid's palate, haha), so I was even more satisfied. It was lovely with coffee and the most memorable item we ordered. Canelé for him, choco banana pie for me! Since our favorites differed, we got to enjoy both desserts together. ෆ

Why I recommend Upper and Under

• A large café that's easy to find near Sinnonhyeon Station
• Space running from basement level up to the 2nd floor
• Recommended for meeting friends or a date
• A wide range of drinks, from Americano to the signature salty caramel
• Plenty of desserts, including the pistachio canelé and choco banana pie

Upper and Under location and hours

• Address: 28 Gangnam-daero 102-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (B1, 1F, 2F)
• Location: about a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station
• Hours: daily 11:00-22:00
• Amenities: groups welcome · takeout · free Wi-Fi · separate men's and women's restrooms
• Naver reservations available

※ Please double-check hours and other details before you visit.

Final thoughts

Upper and Under is a good place to visit near Sinnonhyeon Station when you want coffee and dessert together. From basic coffee to a signature drink and plenty of desserts, you can pick what suits your taste. My favorite was the sweet choco banana pie! And it was even better getting to enjoy the pistachio canelé my boyfriend chose. If you're looking for a Sinnonhyeon café, or want sweet desserts with coffee, add Upper and Under to your list. ෆ