Seongsu family café with 3rd-floor table seats: tiramisu soufflé, 5to7

It was a weekday evening with damp air hanging around all day and rain coming and going. Catching a brief lull in the rain, I stepped outside for some air and suddenly craved a soft, warm dessert that would melt in my mouth. My kid happened to be singing about wanting something sweet and fluffy too, so I headed out without hesitation.

There are countless dessert shops around Seongsu, but when it comes to soufflé, 5to7 Seongsu Main Branch is always the first place that comes to mind. It's famous enough to have a weekend waitline, so I timed my visit for a rainy weekday evening instead. It's also a great spot to stop by naturally while strolling along Seoul Forest, so I took my kid's hand for a sweet break after a while.

5to7 Seongsu Main Branch hours, last order and parking

5to7 Seongsu Main Branch is open daily from noon to 9pm. Last order is 8pm for soufflé and 8:30pm for drinks.

For parking, use the nearby public parking lots.

The red-brick exterior on Seoul Forest's Atelier Street

Walking through the alleys of Seongsu, you run into a scenery where trendy sensibility and old charm oddly blend together. Just past the entrance to Atelier Street, a clean, tidy red-brick building catches your eye.

It's a large store occupying the whole building from the 1.5th floor to the 3rd, plus an open rooftop, so it stands out even in the alley. The front is designed with a full glass wall, so even from outside, the cozy interior light softly leaks out, giving off a warm impression.

At the entrance, a simple yet stylish wooden standing sign and a square wooden signboard show an understated sophistication. The deep color of the rain-soaked brick building combined with the wooden objects completes the unique mood of the Seongsu alley.

Inside 5to7: what each floor from 1.5F to the rooftop is like

Walking up the stairs, calm, warm lighting wraps the whole space in coziness.

White-toned walls harmonize with deep brown wooden furniture, creating the kind of comfort that makes you want to stay a while. The 2nd floor centers on the order counter and a lively open kitchen, surrounded by tidy bar tables and 2-top seats.

Going up to the 3rd floor, a proper table-only space opens up for conversation and rest.

With 2-top and 4-top tables spaced generously apart, it's comfortable for both couples on a date and visits with kids.

The terrace seats by the window are also really charming, a scenic spot to linger in with a cool breeze.

We couldn't use the rooftop because of the rain, but it also looked like it had a great layout for taking in the view of the Seongsu alleys.

5to7's soufflé flavors and drink menu

The menu shows the kind of depth you'd expect from a dedicated dessert café. Instead of reheating pre-baked desserts, this place sticks to a system where a professional pastry chef pours the batter and bakes it fresh the moment an order comes in. There's a wide range, from the signature fruit soufflé piled high with fruit, to a matcha soufflé with a bitter matcha flavor, to crème brûlée with its rich caramelized charm.

I remember really enjoying the fruit and matcha options on my last visit, so this time, considering my second kid's firm preference, I chose the tiramisu soufflé.

To go with it, we ordered an iced Dutch americano with a heavy yet clean finish, and an iced chamomile tea with a subtle aroma to soothe the stomach. They also have a solid lineup of drip coffee and their own signature supeoni (Dutch-style dripped coffee), so there's plenty of choice.

How the tiramisu soufflé, Dutch americano and chamomile tea tasted

When the buzzer went off and we received the tray with the freshly made soufflé, we let out gasps at the overwhelming look and size of it. The pancakes were stacked thick in two layers, far bigger than anything comparable at other cafés, and piled high with toppings, sauce generously dripping down.

No need for a knife — even lightly pulling it apart with a fork sent a soft, dancing wobble straight through my fingertips.

The moment I took a bite, the sweetness filled my mouth while the texture melted away like snow — truly excellent.

The clean sweetness and fluffiness struck a perfect balance, and my kid kept marveling at it while happily eating along.

After a bite of the sweet bread, the iced Dutch americano was clean and non-heavy, with a refreshing acidity that gave it a crisp finish.

The cold-brewed iced chamomile tea had its signature floral aroma with a subtle sweetness lingering after, which added even more to the mood of a rainy day. It was satisfying enough that the whole family didn't put their forks down until the plate was empty.

Is 5to7 Seongsu worth a visit with a child?

5to7's soufflé was truly more than a simple snack — it gave us the best kind of sweet break and healing in the middle of everyday life. They apparently keep rolling out new seasonal lineups using fruit in season, so next time I want to sit on the rooftop terrace on a clear day and work my way through the other signature menus I haven't tried yet.

If you're near Seoul Forest or Ttukseom looking for proper handmade soufflé along with a good atmosphere for conversation, I'd definitely recommend stopping by. It works just as well as a date course for couples as it does for a family visit, with a coziness and great taste that hold up either way.