# Weekend brunch date for mentaiko potato salt bread near Gyeongbokgung - By Onyu (https://superchart.com/en/@quiet-cafe-rounds/) - Written Sep 7, 2026 - Updated Sep 15, 2026 - Local places › Cafés › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as a paid visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [简体中文](https://superchart.com/zh-cn/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [繁體中文](https://superchart.com/zh-tw/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [Tiếng Việt](https://superchart.com/vi/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [ไทย](https://superchart.com/th/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [Bahasa Indonesia](https://superchart.com/id/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [Bahasa Melayu](https://superchart.com/ms/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) · [Español](https://superchart.com/es/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/index.md) ## In short Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon is a two-story standalone bakery café on Hyoja-ro 13-gil in Seochon, Seoul, right beside Gyeongbokgung Palace. On a weekend morning date, the signature Respire latte and mentaiko potato salt bread stood out, with the salty, savory mentaiko pairing beautifully with the potato. It's a solid stop on a Seochon bakery-hopping course, whether you prefer the open first floor or the quieter tables upstairs. ## Good to know - **Location**: 40-7 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - **Opening time**: From 9 AM - **Space**: Standalone building, two floors (open 1st floor, table-focused 2nd floor) - **Ordered**: Respire latte, mentaiko potato salt bread - **Menu**: Various salt breads, chocolate baguette, toast and sandwiches for brunch - **Parking**: Use nearby public parking lots — the lot right in front is reserved for Blue House staff *as written by the visitor on Sep 7, 2026* ![Standalone exterior of Respire Bakery in Seochon](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-01-24kol-966.webp) Respire Bakery is a famous salt bread spot in Seochon. The bread is delicious, but honestly the space itself is so pretty I really want to recommend it. If you go on a nice day, you can enjoy the surrounding scenery perfectly along with it. ![Mountain and tree-surrounded scenery around the Seochon café](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-02-st32n-966.webp) It's surrounded by mountains and lots of trees, which I loved. As long as it's not too hot, sitting outside would be great too. ## A brunch café with great atmosphere ![Respire Bakery's first floor space with doors open](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-03-uv2cd-966.webp) Respire Bakery has a second floor too. It's a standalone building and the atmosphere felt comfortable and nice. Personally I liked the first floor better than the second. The weather was good so they had the doors open, and that sense of openness was lovely. ![Interior of the Seochon brunch café with early-morning customers](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-04-6hrjg-m-966.webp) They open at 9, but there were already a lot of customers early in the morning. It's already a well-known café near Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seochon, and with the good weather it was the perfect weekend date. Seochon and Gyeongbokgung are such a great weekend date course! ![Bakery display case with salt bread and chocolate baguette](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-05-yhp5o-966.webp) ## The salt bread lineup and bakery display There were many kinds of salt bread, plus the currently trendy chocolate baguette. There's a dessert-bread style and also plenty of meal-bread style, so I'd recommend it for a brunch date. ![Vertical shot of a shelf displaying various salt breads](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-06-1obnf-966.webp) ![Bakery display of meal-bread style loaves](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-07-e8qsx-966.webp) Just looking at it makes it seem so tasty. Such a mouthwatering bakery visual~ And no, these aren't display models, they're the real thing. If you're doing a Seochon bakery-hopping tour, make sure to add this place to the list. ![Respire Bakery's bread and brunch menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-08-urgi2-966.webp) A lot of bakery cafés these days are so expensive, but Respire Bakery's prices are pretty reasonable. Besides salt bread, they also have brunch items (toast, sandwiches) you can order separately. Everything looked delicious, so I spent a long time deciding. ## Respire's coffee menu ![Respire Bakery's coffee menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-09-cfl5y-966.webp) You can't skip this place's signature coffee. The Respire latte was a bit sweeter and nuttier than a basic latte! They also have a signature cream latte — I'm planning to try that next time. ### Respire latte ![A cup of the signature Respire latte](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-10-1900g-966.webp) ![Close-up of the Respire latte on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-11-1vwi0-966.webp) Nutty and sweet, but not one-dimensionally sweet at all..! A signature latte with really nice balance. ## The salt bread you have to try ![Tasting the mentaiko potato salt bread](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-12-1adfq-1200.webp) The salt bread I'd been waiting for! Let me give you the conclusion first: I highly recommend the mentaiko potato salt bread. The salty, savory umami of the mentaiko (seasoned pollock roe) went so well with the potato. ## Why this is a Seochon brunch favorite ![Cross-section of the mentaiko potato salt bread packed with filling](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-13-10y9v-966.webp) A Seochon salt bread spot that doesn't skimp on ingredients. Having tried it myself, I can recommend it as part of a Seochon bakery-hopping course. The mentaiko + potato combo especially is so good. Next time I go, I'm definitely getting this salt bread again. ![Vertical shot of salt bread and coffee set together on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-14-y9ipc-966.webp) ![Table setting pairing salt bread with a latte](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-15-cm3sx-966.webp) Salt bread plus coffee was love. ![Entrance leading into Respire Bakery](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-16-1jjv5-966.webp) ## The entrance and the vibe on the 1st and 2nd floors This is the entrance to Respire. You can already sense the vibe, right? ![Wood-toned entrance area of the Seochon café](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-17-14azv-966.webp) A Seochon café that won me over from the entrance itself. The wood tones gave it such a comfortable feel. It had been a while since I'd had such a relaxed weekend date! This neighborhood itself gives off a really nice feeling too. I love Seochon and the area around Gyeongbokgung, but this was my first time actually stepping into Respire. The walk here was pretty too. ![Table-focused seating on the second floor](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-18-17be9-m-966.webp) This is the second-floor space. The second floor has a slightly more charming, cozy feel. If you want a quieter conversation, I'd recommend the second floor — it's just tables, so it's better for chatting quietly. ![Sunlit window seating area on the first floor](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-19-13k59-966.webp) Personally I liked the first floor space more. The weather was so nice that day, and the sunlight coming in made it even better :) Honestly, every space here is pretty! ## Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon location and parking Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon / 40-7 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul ![Street around Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon with parking information](https://img.superchart.com/images/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread-20-1z09o-966.webp) For parking, you'll need to use the nearby public parking lots. The lot right in front of the café is reserved for Blue House staff. ## Where it is - Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon (레스피레베이커리카페 서촌) - 40-7 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 효자로13길 40-7 레스피레 - 37.5827651, 126.9721449 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A0%88%EC%8A%A4%ED%94%BC%EB%A0%88%EB%B2%A0%EC%9D%B4%EC%BB%A4%EB%A6%AC%EC%B9%B4%ED%8E%98%20%EC%84%9C%EC%B4%8C/@37.5827651,126.9721449,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@quiet-cafe-rounds/seochon-bakery-pilgrimage-myeongran-salt-bread/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt