Gyeongbokgung date café in Seochon: stone-wall 2nd floor at Respire

Where is Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon, and where can you park?

Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon (레스피레베이커리카페 서촌) is at 40-7 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, a 10-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 3. It is open 08:30 to 18:00, and opens at 09:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

The parking lot in front of the café belongs to the Cheong Wa Dae training hall, so café guests can't use it. I'd suggest Hyoja Public Parking Lot (₩3,000 per hour) or Singyo Public Parking Lot (₩3,000 per hour).

Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon seating: 1st floor, 2nd floor and terrace

Respire has a 1st floor, a 2nd floor and outdoor terrace seats too, so there are plenty of spaces to choose from.

Sitting on the terrace with a gentle breeze and a cup of coffee on a nice day sounds great, right? Lots of people were also enjoying brunch outside with their dog strollers.

Step inside and the 1st-floor seating opens up into a bright space with open windows.

It's a Seochon date café near Gyeongbokgung, good for going with a friend or a partner.

After you check the menu and order, they give you a buzzer.

Best seats for a date: the 2nd floor with a stone-wall view

The 2nd floor felt a little cooler than the 1st, and some seats look out on a stone wall. I went up to find a spot, and personally I think the 2nd floor is better for a cozy chat.

Restrooms are women only on the 1st floor and unisex on the 2nd floor, so keep that in mind.

Antique-style tables and moody lighting make this an atmospheric café near Gyeongbokgung! Even the vines climbing over the roof look fresh and lovely, don't they?

Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon menu and prices

At Respire, brunch is ₩15,500 for the ice cream French toast and the Respire toast, and ₩8,500–10,500 for sandwiches. Drinks start at ₩5,500 for an Americano. If each person orders a drink, you get one Americano refill.

Brunch menu and prices

• Ice cream French toast ₩15,500
• Respire toast ₩15,500
• Basil jambon sandwich ₩10,500
• Pulled pork sandwich ₩10,500
• Garlic shrimp sandwich ₩10,500
• Omelet sandwich ₩8,500
• Seasonal salad ₩15,000

Coffee and drink prices

• Salt Summer Latte ₩8,000
• Caramel crème ₩6,500
• Respire Latte ₩6,500
• Einspänner ₩6,500
• Americano ₩5,500
• Latte ₩6,000
• Chocolate latte ₩6,500
• Rich chamomile tea ₩7,000
• Lemonade ₩6,500
• Lemon tea ₩6,600
• Baby latte ₩4,000
• Rooibos ₩7,000
• Jardin Blue ₩7,500
• Provence ₩7,500

There's a nice, tasty selection of baked goods too.

Salt bread and ciabatta varieties

True to its reputation as a salt bread spot, Respire has a wide range of bakes made from salt bread, plus healthy ciabatta in several flavors.

Chocolate salt bread / cheese olive ciabatta / potato bacon ciabatta

Basil tomato ciabatta / sweet pumpkin ciabatta / chocolate cream cream cheese ciabatta

Garlic cream cheese salt bread / Myeongrang potato salt bread

Cookie salt bread / condensed milk cream salt bread

The original salt bread is ₩3,000 for 1 or ₩5,000 for 2.

What do the Salt Summer Latte and Respire Latte taste like?

What we ordered at Respire was the Salt Summer Latte, the Respire Latte and salt bread.

The Salt Summer Latte is a seasonal drink: the signature latte topped with gelato and a little Maldon salt. The Respire Latte is a rich, sweet latte made with Sangha Farm milk and barley syrup ^^

How to get a free salt bread with the Respire review event

Respire is also running a review event. Ask to join when you order, get your receipt, write a review, then show it to the staff and they'll give you one tasty salt bread ^^

How about a visit to Respire near Gyeongbokgung this weekend~ ^^