Ttukseom madeleine café for kids' after-school snacks: Notldun

Stopping by Notldun near Ttukseom and Seoulsup for the kids' snack

Notldun is a dessert café near Seoulsup, on the Ttukseom Station side. I was out at Seoulsup for the first time in a while, wondering what to get the kids as a snack, when I walked past some gorgeous desserts and went in.

It's been a while since I was out at Seoulsup, and of course a mom's mind goes straight to her little girls. "What should I bring home for the kids?" 🤣 I want something pretty and tasty. After-school snack time is a pretty big deal in our house, so wherever I go, I can't just walk past good bread or desserts. This time too, while I was thinking about the kids' snack, I spotted some really pretty desserts as I passed. "Huh? What is this place?"

I went in, and it totally hit my taste: Notldun. The short version: I was wowed once by the looks and twice by the taste. If you're looking for a Ttukseom café with great desserts, it's worth saving.

What does Notldun look like from outside, and where is it?

Notldun sits in a charming building that looks like a converted house. It stands out even among the other buildings on Seoulsup 2-gil.

You can feel the vibe even from far away. There are so many pretty cafés around Seongsu and Seoulsup these days, but Notldun has the kind of exterior that naturally catches your eye as you walk by. The shop is on the 2nd floor.

Notldun waiting: how was it on a weekday?

On a weekday, I could walk into Notldun right away with no wait. There is a waiting machine at the entrance, though.

It looked like weekends get quite a queue. I'm praising myself for coming on a weekday 🤣

Desserts that make your eyes dart the moment you walk in

The second you open the door at Notldun, your eyes get busy. The desserts are just so pretty.

Honestly, at first I was more impressed by the looks than the taste. "Wow..." slipped out on its own.

A cake showcase like hotel desserts

The cakes in the Notldun showcase were each like a work of art. They don't feel like the usual desserts you see these days, more like hotel desserts.

The plating is pretty, the colors are pretty, and it was fun to look at them one by one.

The madeleines look absolutely insane

What grabbed my eye most strongly at Notldun that day was the madeleines. I mean... can a madeleine really be this pretty? 🤣

Madeleines usually bring to mind something humble, but Notldun felt like walking into a dessert showroom. The colors are lovely, the toppings are lovely, and each one felt made with real care.

There are lots of pretty cafés in Seoulsup and Seongsu, but not many whose desserts alone have a real presence. In that sense, Notldun is a place worth remembering as a Ttukseom café for desserts.

Is there plenty of seating at Notldun?

The shop has big windows that make it feel open, and the seats are fairly widely spaced. I only planned to get takeout, but I ended up looking around the inside too.

It didn't feel stuffy at all. It looked good for chatting with a friend, or for relaxing alone with a coffee.

A good variety of drinks too

Notldun had quite a varied drink menu as well.

Next time I'd like to actually sit in the café. This time the goal was the kids' snack, so I only got desserts to go.

How are the Notldun madeleines packaged?

After some deliberation, I picked the Notldun madeleines and had them packed. The packaging was so pretty too. Even the bag is full of charm.

I thought they'd be fine as a gift too.

Individual wrapping made it even better

Each Notldun madeleine was wrapped individually, which turned out to be surprisingly handy.

They're easy to store and easy to hand out to the kids. The neat packaging left me satisfied.

Opening the Notldun madeleines at home: how did they taste?

I opened the Notldun madeleines the moment I got home. Honestly, the kids were waiting even more than I was 🤣

"Mom, what's this?" they said, running right over.

Just as impressive at home

Even unwrapped, the Notldun madeleines are pretty. Up close they're even prettier.

Nice color, lovely shape, a dessert that's fun to photograph.

Surprised again by the cross-section

Before taking a bite, I cut a madeleine in half. The moment I saw the cross-section, I was surprised all over again.

Usually a pretty dessert disappoints on taste, or a tasty one looks ordinary. This one felt like it nailed both.

Not dry at all, really soft

I think texture matters most in a madeleine, and Notldun's was really soft. Almost no dryness, moist yet fluffy. That made it taste even better.

The Notldun madeleine my daughter called "the best"

The most memorable thing that day was what my eldest daughter said after eating a Notldun madeleine.

Mom, this is the best bread I've ever eaten.

🤣🤣🤣 She loves bread and has tried all kinds, but I'd never heard her say that before. She must have been really satisfied.

I agree

Honestly, I tried one too, and I see why she said it. I like madeleines, and personally this is near the top of all the madeleines I've had. It's not just a pretty dessert; the taste is really good too.

Who I'd recommend Notldun to

• People looking for a great dessert spot in Seoulsup
• People who love dessert tours around Seongsu
• Madeleine lovers
• People looking for a dessert to give as a gift
• People looking for a Ttukseom café with great desserts
• People who love pretty desserts

Overall verdict

I found Notldun by chance on an outing to Seoulsup. I went in for the looks, but it ended up being memorable for the taste. There are plenty of pretty desserts, but not many you keep thinking about after eating them. Notldun's madeleines are exactly that. I was so satisfied that I want to try the other desserts next time I'm at Seoulsup. If you're looking for a Ttukseom café with great desserts, I recommend dropping by Notldun 😊