Chuseok drawing contest and photo booth at Gonjiam café La Cuesta
In short
La Cuesta Gwangju is a large bakery café on Gyeongchung-daero in Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, near Hwadam Botanic Garden. On a weekend outing with the kids, the family picked breads from the tasting corner, ordered the signature cream La Cuesta latte and brunch, then went up to the second floor for a Chuseok-themed children's drawing contest and a photo booth. With a wide lot and staff helping with parking, La Cuesta works well as a day-out stop for families with both grandparents and children.
Good to know
- Address
- 278 Gyeongchung-daero, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do
- What we ordered
- Signature cream La Cuesta latte, bakery breads, brunch
- Parking
- Large lot with staff on hand to help you park
- Space
- Bakery and brunch on the first floor, view seats on the second, outdoor seating
- Amenities
- Bread tasting corner, picnic basket rental, photo booth on the second floor
- Event
- Children's drawing contest under way (theme: Chuseok)
as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026
Why we chose La Cuesta, a large café near Hwadam Botanic Garden
La Cuesta Gwangju is a bakery café at 278 Gyeongchung-daero in Gonjiam, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. We were trying to figure out where to take the family for the weekend, and while hunting for cafés near Hwadam Botanic Garden, I remembered this one was close to my in-laws' place, so I bookmarked it and we finally went.
It's famous as a bakery spot and is a big enough café that it works well whether you're bringing your parents or your kids. I'm definitely bringing my parents next time haha. It has that relaxed vibe that's perfect for a family meal out plus a coffee break, so it was exactly right for a weekend family outing course. Once we got there, sure enough there were tons of families around.
Parking at La Cuesta: a wide lot and staff who guide you in
True to a large café, La Cuesta's parking lot is spacious, which I loved. Parking matters more than you'd think when you're traveling with family by car, and not only was there plenty of space, but there was staff helping direct parking, which made it so much easier.
A Gonjiam bakery café with a tasting corner and plenty of bread
The first thing that caught my eye walking into La Cuesta was, of course, the bakery! From breads kids would love to menu items adults prefer, there was such a variety that it was fun just browsing.
What I liked most was the tasting corner! With so many bread options, it can be hard to decide what to pick, but being able to sample before buying meant less risk of a bad choice. The kids got completely absorbed in picking breads too, going "I want to try this one!" and "This looks good too!" haha.
The signature cream La Cuesta latte and the outdoor seats
We ordered the signature cream La Cuesta latte along with our bread. Having coffee and bakery items together made for a simple brunch, and it felt just right for taking a break while out and about near Hwadam Botanic Garden or Gonjiam.
There were lots of families around the outdoor seating too, everyone relaxing comfortably with their kids. You can even rent picnic baskets haha, great for photos and setting the mood.
Brunch at La Cuesta, so the café doubles as a meal stop
La Cuesta isn't just a café for bread and coffee — it also has a brunch menu, so it's a good place to come for an actual meal. We went further inside and tried the brunch, and it was convenient having a family meal followed by coffee and bread for dessert all in one visit.
The second floor of La Cuesta: roomy seats with a view
After eating, we headed up to the second floor, and the mood was totally different up there — great too. It felt open and had a nice view, and the kids loved it the moment we walked up. First floor is for bakery and brunch, second floor is for sitting back a bit more and enjoying coffee.
The Chuseok-themed children's drawing contest and photo booth
La Cuesta was also running a small kids' drawing contest event. Kids can get bored when their parents bring them along, so an event like this for children was really nice — the theme was Chuseok (Korean harvest festival) haha. My kids... each drew whatever they wanted lol.
There's also a photo booth on the second floor, great for capturing a family photo. Visiting with kids means you're not just eating and leaving — you get to make a memory with a photo too, which made it an even better outing course.
Is La Cuesta worth it as a family day-out stop?
Overall, La Cuesta was a café worth a visit for anyone looking for a Hwadam Botanic Garden café, a Gwangju café, or a large Gonjiam café. Parking is easy and the space is spacious so nothing feels crowded, the bakery has variety plus tasting so it's fun to pick, and there's a brunch menu so you can handle a whole meal there too!
Most of all, it felt comfortable enough to bring parents along, yet had enough to keep kids entertained too — a café that suits family visitors well.
We visited with the kids, picked out bread, ate brunch, had coffee, and even took photos — ended up spending more relaxed time there than we expected haha. Next time I'd love to pair it with a trip to Hwadam Botanic Garden — La Cuesta, a large café in Gonjiam, Gwangju, definitely recommend it!
Where it is
278 Gyeongchung-daero, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea경기도 광주시 곤지암읍 경충대로 278 라꾸에스타
