Seongsu summer dessert café: macedonia and bloody lemon at Frolla

Frolla is where Seongsu café vibes meet authentic Italian coffee culture — an Italian café that makes both the start and end of your day special with the aroma of dark espresso. Thanks to that, it turned out to be a special place to experience Italian philosophy and culture.

Where is Frolla? A 10-minute walk from Seongsu Station

Frolla's address is 5 Yeonmujang 17-gil, 1F, Seongdong-gu, Seoul — a 10-minute walk from Exit 3 of Seongsu Station. It sits in a quiet alley, but turns out to be a hot spot plenty of people seek out.

It's especially known for properly pulled, richly brewed Italian espresso. Espresso here isn't just strong coffee — it's extracted in an authentic Italian style that maximizes the beans' character and balance. The owner, who worked as a barista in Italy for years, apparently manages the roasting and extraction personally, putting care and skill into every single cup. Thanks to that, you get a cup where aroma, flavor, and finish come together in perfect harmony — a must-visit if you love coffee.

If the weather had just been a bit cooler, I could've enjoyed this on the terrace — still a bit too hot, I think.

Inside Frolla and the original tiramisu

Original tiramisu, ₩9,500 — made in-house with 100% pure mascarpone and traditional method, true to Rome's flavor. So cute.

The keychain would make a nice souvenir to take home.

The store itself is so colorful it gave off an even livelier mood.

Frolla's menu and coffee prices

Americano, ₩6,000

The menu lineup keeps the Italian sensibility intact — espresso, americano, cappuccino, macchiato, and other basic coffee menu items, plus signature items inspired by Italy itself. The espresso-based affogato and tiramisu latte are apparently popular, so if it's your first visit, I'd recommend trying one.

This cracked me up — wait, they drew this by hand?

Peach tiramisu, 12,000 won: how does seasonal peach taste?

Peach Tiramisu, ₩12,000 — sweet peach paired with Italian tiramisu.

Tangy and made with in-season peach, it was so delicious and exactly what I needed to quench my thirst.

I ordered the peach tiramisu, Bloody Lemon, and macedonia.

Macedonia, 12,000 won: what is Italian-style fruit and ice?

Macedonia, ₩12,000 — an Italian-style fruit dessert (like a fruit bingsu) using seasonal fruit. You can add limoncello for the grown-ups.

Apparently the Italian way of surviving summer without knowing bingsu is eating sweet gelato with cold fruit like this. I should teach them about Korean snow-flake bingsu. Personally the macedonia was tasty, but maybe because I'm used to snow-flake bingsu, milk bingsu is still my favorite.

Bloody lemon, 8,500 won, a summer-only drink

A summer-only item made of lemon gelato and watermelon juice — Bloody Lemon, ₩8,500, sweet and tangy.

Sweet, with the lemon gelato adding a refreshing tang — a great menu item for cleansing the palate after dessert.

Enjoying this leisurely moment surrounded by an interior that blends classic Italian sensibility with Seongsu's modern edge — I love this so much.

At Frolla, Seongsu's little Italy and a Seongsu café both at once, cool off and have some iced coffee.

Drinks that look cooling just to look at — next time I'll have to try the coffee.

Visiting Frolla: hours and directions

• Address: 5 Yeonmujang 17-gil, 1F, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 679m from Seongsu Station Exit 3
• Hours: Daily 11:00–19:00