Mugyo-dong bakery café to wait out a kid's Saturday class: Lemangdoré

Walking around Mugyo-dong while my daughter's class ran

Last weekend morning, I suddenly had some time to myself for the first time in a while. My daughter was in a hands-on class near Gwanghwamun, and there wasn't enough time to go home and come back, so I slowly strolled toward nearby Mugyo-dong.

Mugyo-dong is a bit special to me, actually. My first job, where I met my now-husband, was here. These days I come to this area even more often with my child. We stop by the Seoul Library, browse books at Youngpoong Bookstore or Kyobo Bookstore, walk along Cheonggyecheon, or look around the palaces and art museums. Before the weather got hot, we also used the Seoul Outdoor Library a lot (Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Book Garden, and the Reading Clear Stream).

It used to be the neighborhood of my early-career memories, and now it feels like a neighborhood where I make new memories with my family. I've passed through the area a lot, but walking down the street with my first workplace building on it was really the first time in ages. It brought back old memories, and it was nice to see it again.

To go with the memories, I wanted a short rest with good bread and coffee, so I headed to Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun, right next to the building where I used to work.

Is there a wait at Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun on a weekend morning?

I got to Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun around 11:30 on a Saturday morning and could order right away with no wait. The kiosk is immediately to the left as you walk in.

Lemangdoré's menu and what I ordered

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun had a wide range of coffee, non-coffee drinks and teas, and you can even pick the type of coffee beans to suit your taste. The bakery selection was just as varied, and everything in the display case looked so good that choosing wasn't easy. After some agonizing, I ordered an iced café latte, an egg tart and a chausson aux pommes (쇼숑 오뽐므).

Goods and madeleine & financier gift boxes

Besides baked goods, Lemangdoré also sells a range of goods, and browsing them while I waited for my order was fun. Madeleines and financiers in particular can be packed in gift boxes, so they looked great for a casual gift or a thank-you present. They seemed perfect for giving something low-pressure to people close to you.

Seating at Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun: which floor is roomier?

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun runs on floors 1 through 3, and that day the 3rd floor was almost completely full. Most people there were solo visitors working on laptops. So I took a seat on the roomier 2nd floor.

How do the egg tart and chausson aux pommes taste?

Lemangdoré's egg tart was lightly crisp on the outside and really soft and moist inside. I'd skipped breakfast and was hungry, so I tried the egg tart first. It wasn't too sweet, with a nutty richness that went really well with the coffee.

I heard the chausson aux pommes is a French-style apple pie. It was generously filled with apple, and the sweetness of the apples wasn't overpowering, so it was easy to finish without feeling heavy.

The bakery selection is so varied that I wanted to try other breads too, but after two pastries and a latte I was really full, so sadly I saved the rest for next time.

The downside: few outlet seats on the 2nd floor

On the 2nd floor of Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun, there was almost only one seat with an outlet. I spent a relaxed hour and a half there, and when my phone was nearly dead and I went to charge it, that's what I found. Since so many people were working on laptops upstairs, I'd guess the 3rd floor has more outlet seats.

A café in Mugyo-dong for a short break

Mugyo-dong is a neighborhood full of memories for me, so I end up visiting whenever it comes to mind. Maybe that's why I've gradually gotten to know a few cafés nearby that are good for a quick rest. Lemangdoré was one of them.

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun was great for enjoying good coffee and bakery items for a little break. The vibe suited a stop while strolling Cheonggyecheon, or a rest during a date around Gwanghwamun or City Hall. I think it's also an easy choice for anyone on a Seoul outing with kids looking for a café to rest in for a while.

Walking through a neighborhood full of memories after so long, with a cup of coffee and tasty bakery treats, it wasn't a long stretch of time, but it was a day when I got some time to myself and could truly rest. 😊

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun location and opening hours

• Location: 17 Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, floors 1–3
• 220m from City Hall Station Exit 4 (3-minute walk)
• 400m from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 5 (6-minute walk)
• Hours: daily 08:00–21:00 (last order 20:30)