Weekday open-run melon bread cream at Gonjiam large café: La Cuesta

We've already lost count of how many times we've been to La Cuesta, the large bakery café in Gonjiam, Gyeonggi! It's a perfect drive-course stop and a must-add after Hwadam Botanic Garden. Here's why we keep coming back, review and all!

Where La Cuesta Gwangju is and when it opens

La Cuesta Gwangju is a large bakery café at 278 Gyeongchung-daero, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It's open 10:00–22:00 (last order 21:30), brunch runs 10:30–20:30, and parking is available.

This large café in Gonjiam, Gyeonggi is just 10 minutes from Hwadam Botanic Garden and 10 minutes from Gonjiam IC, and with so many golf courses nearby, it's a great stop to pair with a round.

Parking at La Cuesta: the front lot is easiest

The parking lot is unbelievably huge. You can park below or right in front of the café, but if you park below you have to climb up this hill, so I'd recommend the front lot. On weekends and holidays it's so popular we always end up parking below haha.

That's why we do weekday open-runs! Parking is so spacious and convenient that it's easy to come anytime, so we naturally end up making it our drive destination on every day off.

This large café in Gonjiam, Gyeonggi has even been featured on various media outlets! Especially for its signature feature.

The sound of flowing water at the entrance maximizes the coolness and even brings a sense of healing at La Cuesta. If you head up further it connects to a picnic walking course, and it also connects to the 1st and 2nd floors.

In the picnic zone you can even do a fire pit in the evening, and with such spacious seats it's great for sitting outdoors in spring and fall. You can also rent picnic sets on the 1st floor, so renting one together makes it even better.

What is the 1st floor of La Cuesta like?

First, here's the 1st floor space of this large café in Gonjiam, Gyeonggi. The 1st floor also has a spacious terrace, great for spring and fall visits.

The 1st floor interior is truly huge too. With plenty of seats and comfortable chairs and tables, it's great for coming with family, with friends, or as a Gwangju date spot.

There's now a group table in the middle of the 1st floor too, which somehow gives off a private feel — nice! The 2nd floor is even better set up! Before we head up, let me show you the drink menu and bread lineup.

The bakery lineup at La Cuesta

La Cuesta is also famous as a bread destination. With such a wide variety of delicious breads, many people come just to take some out. Campagne, corn bread, white roll, cream bread, chestnut bread.

There's also melon bread croissant and sweet pumpkin campagne! There's even a free tasting corner where you can try comments on the new menu.

The signature mejubread (fermented soybean block-shaped bread) is so cute too! It really looks like a real meju! Packed with kidney beans and green peas, it's a low-carb, high-protein bread that was the most popular item, and there was currently a discount event running for buying 2 or more.

Milk cream salt bun! (this is super delicious too) Long sausage bread and other breads fill the shelves, and there are cookies and even cookie DIY sets, adding a fun making experience when you come with kids.

Gift wrapping is also available, so it seems like a great place to buy gifts too!!

Bingsu, brunch and drinks at La Cuesta

Since it's summer, bingsu (shaved ice dessert) was out too! There's snow-flake red bean bingsu, mango, and watermelon bingsu, and I was surprised how affordable the prices were. A variety of brunch menu items are also a main draw.

Brunch gets a discount between 10:30 and 16:00, so it's great to come and eat together during that window.

Even though we did an open-run, I was surprised how many people were already eating brunch! The new guacamole dish was popular too.

The drink menu ranges from coffee to ades and smoothies, so everyone from adults to kids can find something to drink. Especially the La Cuesta latte we order every single time we come — a must-order!

You can rent picnic sets like this too. It was even featured on the TV show 'Jeon Chamsi'!

2nd-floor seats and the view

Heading up to the 2nd floor! The 2nd floor is even more spacious, with an open view that's a real pleasure — satisfying every single time, and genuinely beautiful.

Along with group tables, there are comfortable tables and chairs, and no matter where you sit, the gorgeous view fills you with a sense of healing.

How did the La Cuesta latte and the breads taste?

Our order arrives! The La Cuesta latte is satisfying no matter when we come — usually when you order an einspänner it comes stingy and heavy, but La Cuesta is nothing like that. Just look at this generous portion. Totally satisfied!

And it's really different from other cream lattes! It's completely smooth with a pleasant, subtle sweetness that's exactly my taste! With not a hint of bitterness, that subtle sweet flavor is addictive, so soft, and a taste I keep craving. It's the menu we always order without fail :)

Squid-ink triple cheese bread

Squid-ink triple cheese bread with Emmental and Parmesan rolled cheese inside! Since I heard it was a new menu item, I grabbed it right away! With cheese layered on top and bottom, you get a pleasant cheesy flavor without it being too heavy, making it easy even for older adults to enjoy without hesitation! It's hearty enough to eat as a meal, and pairs perfectly with an Americano.

Mocha roll

Mocha roll! Wow, this was the moistest, softest mocha roll I've ever had, and the cream was genuinely delicious! It's nicely packaged so it's easy to take home, but it was so good we ended up devouring it right there haha.

Melon bread and its cream filling

I was surprised the melon bread had cream inside — wow, top 1 among all the melon breads I've had. Genuinely delicious, sweet, and exactly my taste!! Next time I want to buy several and stock up. The cream is so good I think it'd taste even better chilled or eaten cold!!

Iced Americano

The iced Americano is rich, nutty and slightly bitter, with no sourness — a coffee anyone could enjoy without much preference either way! Since this place attracts a lot of older visitors, it suits them especially well, and it pairs perfectly with the bread! Always satisfying, this round of bread and drinks at La Cuesta was a success too ❤️👏