Suwon café near Hwaseong Palace with melon sando: Jeong Ji-young

These days Haenggung-dong has so many cafés that it's honestly hard to pick where to go. This time I finally visited Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch, a place I'd heard the name of many times before ☺️ I was wandering around Haenggung-dong looking for somewhere to rest for a bit, and since they had dessert menus alongside coffee, I decided to stop in.

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch

Where is Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch, and what are the hours?

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch is located at 42 Sinpung-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi. Hours are Monday–Friday 11:00–22:00 and Saturday–Sunday 10:00–22:00, with last order at 21:50. It's not too far from the main sights in Haenggung-dong, so it's a convenient stop when you're wandering around Hwaseong Haenggung Palace or Haengridan-gil and looking for a café.

Since it opens at 10am on weekends, it also seemed like a good spot if you arrive in Haenggung-dong a bit early. I'd recommend checking whether parking is available before you go — the area has a lot of narrow alleys and visitors, so using a nearby parking lot and walking over might be a better option than driving.

How the floors are laid out at this Haenggung-dong café

From the moment I walked in, it felt different from your typical small neighborhood café. The building itself is quite spacious, and instead of staying in one spot, you move between floors to take in the different atmospheres — I ended up wandering around more than I expected.

What I ordered that day was the melon sando and an iced Americano! The melon sando in particular was cuter than I expected, so the moment it arrived I started snapping photos haha

While waiting for my order, I slowly looked around the café, and coffee-related products and desserts were on display too, so the wait wasn't boring at all.

There were cute little props placed here and there, which made it fun to look around. Each space had its own small props as accents, so even just browsing felt kind of adorable :)

There's even a Suwon-i (the city's mascot character) haha

Vintage interiors and choosing a seat

Overall the mood wasn't shiny and brand-new but rather slightly vintage and comfortable. Wood and metal furniture are mixed together, and the props are a little different in each space, so it was fun to do a lap before choosing a seat. Since I like taking photos at cafés, deciding where to sit was surprisingly a whole ordeal for me lol.

There were people there, but because the space is spread across several floors, it didn't feel too crowded in any one spot. It seemed like a good place for coffee and conversation with a friend, or for a break during a date. That said, it felt better suited to small groups of friends, dates, or solo café time rather than a big gathering like a work dinner.

How do the melon sando and iced Americano taste?

This time I ordered two things: the melon sando and an iced Americano. Honestly, I wanted something sweet that day, and while browsing the menu I spotted the melon sando and picked it right away. If you like melon, doesn't the name alone make you a little curious? haha

The melon sando was cute-looking from the start, so I lost count of how many photos I took of it on the table lol. Melon and cream are sandwiched between the bread, so the first thing you notice is the soft texture, and then the sweet, juicy melon flavor comes through in bites. The melon itself wasn't overpoweringly strong, so it wasn't too much to eat alongside coffee. It paired especially well with the iced Americano.

A good rest stop midway through a Haenggung-dong walk

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch felt less like a place to grab a quick coffee and leave, and more like somewhere to spend time slowly exploring the building. Since each floor has a slightly different feel, if it's your first visit I'd recommend going up and taking a look around before settling on a seat, rather than sitting down right after ordering. Walking around Haenggung-dong tires you out faster than you'd expect, and taking a break at a place like this with coffee and dessert really does give you the energy to keep going haha.

If you want to try a slightly different kind of dessert, stop by Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch. Next time I visit, I'd like to try a different dessert besides the melon sando I had this time. Haenggung-dong has so many pretty cafés, but if you want to enjoy coffee and dessert while also taking in the space itself, this one is worth a visit.