Seogwipo drive-stop café with Jeju matcha latte: Forest Jeongbang

Forest Jeongbang 9 Chilsimni-ro214beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea, 1-2F Open year-round Mon–Sun 09:00–19:00 Last order 18:30 Good for groups, high chairs, dog-friendly café, free parking available

Is Forest Jeongbang near Jeongbang Waterfall worth a stop on a Seogwipo drive?

Forest Jeongbang is an ocean-view café right on Chilsimni-ro, very close to Jeongbang Waterfall in Seogwipo. Jeju's weather has been so good lately that just driving along the coastal road feels healing in itself, and while slowly driving around the Seogwipo area on this trip, I stumbled onto a café with an amazing ocean view.

It's very close to Jeongbang Waterfall, one of Seogwipo's signature sights, so it's a great stop whether you're coming from the waterfall or fitting it into the middle of a Seogwipo itinerary. Access from the road is easy, and it's perfectly positioned for a relaxed stop on a drive course.

And there's a parking lot right in front of the café.

Even before I'd stepped inside, the view that opened up made me blurt out an involuntary "whoa~". It was too beautiful to fully capture in photos.

What we ordered at Forest Jeongbang and the window view of Seopseom Island

Once inside, I first ordered Forest Jeongbang's signature drink, the Jeongbang Waterfall Latte, along with a Jeju matcha latte and an Udo peanut rice cake.

The first thing that catches your eye is the tall, straight palm trees and pine forest. Beyond them, the deep blue Seogwipo sea comes into view along with the round shape of 'Seopseom Island', and honestly the whole scene felt so exotic it was more like being on vacation in Vietnam or Bali than in Korea.

How does the Jeongbang Waterfall Latte taste? A layered pistachio drink

The drinks came out quickly. The Jeongbang Waterfall Latte catches your eye first with its colorful, pretty layers that evoke Seogwipo's clear sea and waterfall. At the bottom sits a nutty, blue-green pistachio base, topped with layers of espresso shot and soft milk foam.

Sipping it gently before stirring with the straw, a nutty pistachio aroma fills your mouth. The bitterness of the coffee shot and the rich, nutty flavor of pistachio blend together perfectly, never feeling out of place. It's a nutty, 'just delicious latte' that anyone who likes pistachio or nutty cream lattes would fall for without hesitation.

Jeju matcha latte: barely sweet and clean-tasting

Sometimes when I order matcha lattes at other cafés, the sweetness is so strong it buries the matcha's signature bitterness, which is always a bit disappointing — but Forest Jeongbang's matcha latte really brought out matcha's natural, deep bitterness. It wasn't sweet, tasted clean and not sugary, and wasn't heavy either, so I could enjoy it the whole way through without getting tired of it.

Udo peanut rice cake: like the old-school peanut bread

The Udo peanut rice cake was full of the nutty flavor unique to Udo peanuts, and it tasted like the peanut bread from my childhood memories reborn as a cake! It wasn't overly sweet but had deep nuttiness, making it the perfect pairing with a bitter latte or drink.

Window seats and photo spots at Forest Jeongbang

Warm sunlight streamed softly through the windows, and just sitting there looking at the emerald sea and palm trees, all the stress and fatigue I'd built up seemed to melt away. It instantly made sense why this place is becoming known for its Seogwipo views. The window seats were an Instagram-worthy photo zone, good for a great shot no matter where you pointed the camera.

Forest Jeongbang, which I found during a Seogwipo drive, had such a great exotic sea view and palm tree scenery stretching out through the open window. If you're planning a trip around Seogwipo, or want to escape everyday life for some relaxing time and a great photo at a café with Southeast Asian resort vibes, I recommend 'Forest Jeongbang'~