Gangnam terrace café: chestnut cake & fig financier, Upper and Under

If you're looking for a café near Gangnam Station where you can really enjoy dessert in a roomy setting, I think Upper and Under might be the answer. The chestnut cake, the fig financier and the drink pairing I tried on this visit were really impressive. I'll walk you through everything, from the atmosphere to the taste of the desserts~

What kind of café is Upper and Under near Gangnam Station?

Upper and Under (어퍼앤언더) is a café at 28 Gangnam-daero 102-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It uses a whole building across three floors and also has an open terrace. Even in the middle of the city, it's a lovely place to spend a relaxed time without feeling cramped.

The area around Gangnam Station is always crowded, so finding a spacious, comfortable café is harder than you'd think, right? But Upper and Under stands proudly with the look of a standalone building from the outside. The stylish interior and clean atmosphere you notice the moment you step in put me in a good mood from the first impression.

What are the floors and terrace seats like?

Each floor has a slightly different charm, and the seats are spaced generously, so chatting with friends feels easy. Overall it's modern yet warm, with wood tones and red brick accents blending nicely, so you get pretty photos wherever you shoot. On a nice day, I thought the outdoor terrace would be perfect for sipping a coffee in the fresh air~

What's in the Upper and Under dessert case?

The display case and bakery shelves at Upper and Under are packed with baked goods like financiers, madeleines and egg tarts, plus a variety of cakes. The dessert lineup is the most important thing about a café, right? It put me in that happy dilemma of not knowing what to pick. The baked goods were neatly displayed and smelled nutty and buttery, and the refrigerated case held cakes topped with seasonal fruit and sweet chocolate cakes, all arranged with care.

How did the chestnut cake and fig financier taste?

After much agonizing among all the dessert candidates that day, I ended up choosing the chestnut cake and the fig financier.

Chestnut cake: chestnut and chocolate that aren't too sweet

The Upper and Under chestnut cake grabbed my attention from its looks alone. Chestnut pieces were packed generously between the layered sheets, and they went charmingly with the sweet cream. The rich chocolate on top and the nuttiness of the chestnut lingered in my mouth without being too sweet, so I could enjoy it down to the last bite without getting tired of it~

Fig financier: chewy outside, moist inside

The fig financier I ordered alongside was nicely chewy on the outside and moist inside, and the subtle sweetness and texture that fig is known for matched it really well. If you like baked goods, I'd strongly recommend getting one to go with your order!

Which drinks did I pick to go with the desserts?

For drinks, I chose an iced Americano that pairs well with desserts, and the pistachio cream latte, which really shows off Upper and Under's signature feel.

Thanks to its hearty yet clean bean flavor, the iced Americano did a great job of resetting my palate when I had it with the sweet chestnut cake and fig financier.

The pistachio cream latte comes with crushed pistachios sprinkled over smooth, nutty cream, which made the nuttiness feel doubled. The chewy sweetness of the cream at the first sip blended harmoniously with the bittersweet coffee base underneath, so I thought it would satisfy anyone who likes cream lattes~

Verdict: a café worth returning to for meetups near Gangnam Station

Thanks to its spacious feel, Upper and Under is comfortable for conversation, and with tasty desserts and drinks too, it's a place I'd want to come back to when I have a meetup near Gangnam Station or want that terrace vibe. I hope this was a helpful reference for anyone curious about the desserts and terrace atmosphere at this large Gangnam Station café.

Upper and Under FAQ

Where is Upper and Under, and how big is it?

Upper and Under is in the alley between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station. It's a large three-floor café, from the basement up, with terrace seating as well.

Are there seats available on weekends or in the evening?

The café is large and has plenty of tables, but it's known as a dessert hotspot, so on weekend peak hours the window and terrace seats tend to fill up early. Keep that in mind.

Is there a dessert and drink combo you'd recommend?

For the sweet, nutty chestnut cake or fig financier, I'd suggest a clean iced Americano, and if you want to taste the signature cream, I recommend the pistachio cream latte.