Morning reservation brunch with sourdough at Mela, Yeongdeungpo

SEOUL Mela — a Times Square go-to spot, a Yeongdeungpo brunch café.

Where Mela Times Square is and when it opens

• 📍Location: 1F, 15 Yeongjung-ro, 103-9, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
• ⏰Hours: Daily 10:30–22:00 (may close early depending on store conditions or ingredient availability)
• ✔️Takeout, Wi-Fi, separate men's/women's restrooms, group seating available, high chairs
• 🍷Corkage allowed, free
• 🅿️Free parking — via Yeongdeungpo Times Square parking

A relaxed brunch café inside Times Square

It had been a while since I'd met up with a friend for a leisurely chat over a good brunch. After some morning back-and-forth about where to go, I settled on Mela, a Times Square favorite where you can shop and eat in the same trip.

I'd always wanted to visit Mela, right across from H&M, and this day I wanted to spend a slow morning, so I headed to this Yeongdeungpo brunch café.

Mela sits on the first floor of Times Square, so it's easy to get to, and with everything from brunch to pasta and pizza on the menu, it's a great spot to eat with a friend too!

A solid choice whether you want a hearty brunch before shopping at Times Square or a spot to rest and eat afterward!

We came in the morning, and maybe because the day hadn't really kicked off yet, the whole space felt calm and relaxed.

They also have Stella draft beer and a French toast set!

High ceilings and sunlight through the windows at Mela

The first thing that caught my eye walking into Mela was the high ceiling and the big floor-to-ceiling windows!

You might think a mall location would feel a bit cramped, but Mela's open sightlines make it feel far more spacious than expected.

The natural light pouring through those big windows made the morning atmosphere feel especially warm.

Since I'd made a reservation, we were shown to a reserved table — and there was even a small sign that said 'reserved' set neatly on the table, which made me unreasonably happy.

Our reserved table was by the window, and sitting there with the soft sunlight and the brunch menu laid out in front of me, I felt myself relax.

True to a brunch spot, the menu ranges from brunch dishes to pasta, so you can go from a leisurely brunch to a full meal all in one place.

We ordered the signature brunch plate and the classic pepperoni pastry pizza! And added sourdough bread (4 pieces).

What comes on Mela's signature brunch plate

Our order arrived shortly after! The signature brunch plate and classic pepperoni pastry pizza looked great just sitting there, and with the sourdough bread too, it felt like plenty of food.

The appeal of the signature brunch plate is that it brings together several dishes on one plate, so you get a range of flavors within a single order.

Brunch eaten in that in-between morning-to-lunch window needs to be filling without being heavy, and the signature brunch plate hit exactly that balance.

Mela's version of a brunch plate: grilled potato and lotus root, fresh avocado, egg mix, plump sausage, carrot rapée, whole grain mayo sauce, cheese, and salad, all together.

The fresh avocado in particular was so creamy and smooth that it was delicious eaten on its own.

Piled onto the sourdough with salad, avocado, carrot rapée, and sausage, it was healthy-tasting and genuinely delicious!

Being able to try a little of each dish made it great for sharing with a friend, and switching between flavors was more fun than sticking to just one thing.

The sourdough bread itself was really good too. If you order the signature brunch plate, I'd recommend adding the sourdough!

Classic pepperoni pastry pizza: crispy and a little spicy

There was one more dish that really stood out on the table that day — the classic pepperoni pastry pizza!!

With the signature brunch plate and the classic pepperoni pastry pizza together, the table had a real European brunch vibe! The golden-baked pastry topped with pepperoni and cheese looked incredibly appetizing.

And the crust wasn't a typical pizza dough — it's a crispy pastry style!

The savory, salty pepperoni flavor came with a subtle kick of spice, giving it a different appeal than a heavy, greasy cheese pizza.

One bite and the outside was crisp with that distinct pastry flakiness, while the cheese and pepperoni inside blended together naturally.

A relaxed morning, a bright and open space, and a friend to talk with. A leisurely brunch enjoyed at Times Square. With the easy access of being right inside the mall, this feels like a great place to check out when you're looking for a Yeongdeungpo restaurant or a Times Square brunch café.