Cheonggyecheon café for pistachio croissant and egg tart: Lemangdoré

Lemangdoré is a dessert bakery café in Gwanghwamun. The weather's turned cool enough lately that just walking around feels nice. I was near Gwanghwamun for the first time in a while and, after a walk along Cheonggyecheon stream, stopped by a café where both the coffee and the bread/dessert were fantastic, and the vibe was great too — so here's my review.

Where is Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun near Cheonggyecheon?

The place I visited is a dessert café called Lemangdoré, located in Gwanghwamun. It's originally famous for its bread and desserts in Seorae Village, but it turns out there's a Gwanghwamun branch too.

Even though it's in Gwanghwamun, it's actually in Mugyo-dong, between Seoul City Hall and Cheonggyecheon stream, so it's a great spot to stop for a coffee and some bread or dessert while out for a stroll.

The moment I walked in, the smell of freshly baked bread mixed with coffee aroma hit me — a real bakery café.

What are the three floors of Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun like?

Lemangdoré has a different vibe on each floor from 1 to 3. The 1st floor has the coffee bar where you order and some seating, so you can sit right there too.

The 2nd floor is a really spacious area with various table and seating layouts, and it looked like it could easily handle group gatherings.

The 3rd floor in particular is a lounge done in collaboration with the world-renowned Danish furniture brand Fritz Hansen, and it feels almost like a showroom — great atmosphere, and also nice for enjoying alone. (Group rentals for meetings, communities, etc. are available.)

Bread, dessert and coffee menu at Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun

The first thing that caught my eye walking into Lemangdoré was, of course, the display case packed with all kinds of bread and desserts. Pain au chocolat, chausson aux pommes, cardamom buns — the visuals alone were impressive, and there were many types of baked goods you don't easily find at a regular bakery.

There were also egg tarts, scones, financiers, and even madeleines — supposedly given as VIP gifts by Gucci — all looking so pretty and delicious it made for a happy dilemma over what to choose. True to a dessert café, there were also sandwiches and cheesecake.

The coffee menu was quite varied too — you can try single-origin specialty coffee, choose your beans for espresso or switch to decaf. There was also drip coffee and a coffee of the day, plus plenty of non-coffee and tea options for people who can't drink coffee.

There were also Lemangdoré's own branded goods for group or holiday gifts, so it was fun to browse around while waiting for the drinks after ordering.

You order easily via the kiosk near the entrance, just so you know.

How do the pistachio croissant, egg tart and café latte taste?

That day I had a warm café latte along with the signature pistachio croissant and an egg tart, which I usually love.

First, the café latte with pretty latte art on top tasted great, but what I loved most was how firm the foam was — it held all the way until I finished drinking it.

And then there's the pistachio croissant. With a look you don't often see and being a signature item, I was curious about the taste — and the moment I took a bite, wow, it was so good.

The nutty pistachio flavor was packed both inside and outside the croissant, and the size was big enough that one alone was filling.

The egg tart was also delicious — especially the crispiness of the pie crust with every single layer visible, harmonizing perfectly with the not-too-sweet filling.

All in all, the atmosphere was great, the bread, desserts, and coffee were all delicious, and since it's near Cheonggyecheon, it's a nice stop after a walk — I'd recommend Lemangdoré as one of the good places to check out around Cheonggyecheon.