Seogyo-dong brunch café with free corkage and big group tables: MELA

Today's post is about a brunch spot in Seogyo-dong near Hongik University Station!! It's MELA Hongdae. The vibe is great for dates, and I'd also recommend it for gatherings with friends or wedding invitation meetups — a Hongdae brunch café that works for all kinds of occasions 👍

It opens from 9am, so if you're looking for a café in Seogyo-dong for early brunch, give MELA Hongdae a try 🤗

Where is MELA Hongdae in Seogyo-dong?

MELA Hongdae sits a bit away from Hongik University Station, on a relaxed main street tucked into an alley.

What is on the menu at MELA Hongdae?

The menu gives off Italian home-style brunch vibes, with dishes like kimchi fried rice, basil cream gnocchi, ragu tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes), salmon eggs Benedict, and pizza, plus pasta and top blade steak. There's a wide variety of menu items and everything looks delicious, so it's a brunch café that satisfies from morning brunch through lunch to an early dinner. There are also drinks like coffee and ades, plus seasonal bingsu (shaved ice dessert).

Interior and seating: is MELA Hongdae good for groups?

Walking into MELA Hongdae, my first impression was that of a modern European café. The friend I went with agreed, saying it felt European ♥ The high ceilings and soft lighting were nice too.

I liked that it has an open kitchen where you can watch the cooking, and everything from the floor tiles to the table colors to the vases on top felt tasteful.

The large table in particular would be great for group visits. So it's a Hongdae brunch café I'd recommend to anyone looking for a spot for a group gathering.

The window bar seat next to the entrance also looked good for solo dining, and the antique furniture and floor tiles scattered around added to the atmosphere ♥

The menu on the table, the tableware, and even the mirror decor by the entrance were all pretty.

There's a coat hanger by the entrance too, and alcohol and corkage are free here!

What two people ordered: signature brunch plate and Victoria French toast

For two of us, we ordered 2 Americanos, Victoria French toast, and the signature brunch plate. The staff brought everything to our table.

The coffee had a rich yet clean taste that I liked, and the signature brunch plate is mainly fresh vegetables of all kinds. It's a menu that's easy to enjoy with coffee without feeling heavy in the morning. All the vegetables in the brunch looked so fresh that both the texture and the taste were satisfying.

Piling avocado, carrot rapée, and egg salad on top of the accompanying bread was the best — haha

Next, the Victoria French toast had a soft, moist texture with added sweetness that paired really well with the Americano! My friend enjoyed it too, saying it was delicious with the coffee. Getting to taste good food in such a comfortable, tasteful space made for a really fun brunch time with a friend.

The atmosphere was so good and the service was friendly on top of the good food, so it's a Hongdae brunch café I'd love to revisit ♥