Brunch café between Hongdae and Hapjeong, Seoul: chamomile tea, MELA

Hi, I'm Dain. I wanted a leisurely, unhurried brunch for once, so I headed to MELA Hongdae, located between Hongdae and Hapjeong.

When people think of Hongdae, they usually picture the bustling main street, but MELA is set a little away from that, so it felt relatively quiet with a nice atmosphere. Most of all, the space was spacious and the interior was pretty, so I liked it the moment I walked in.

It seemed great for chatting slowly over brunch, whether for a date or for a larger gathering like a wedding announcement meetup.

Where MELA Hongdae is and what the space feels like

MELA Hongdae is located between Hongdae and Hapjeong. When hanging out in Hongdae, the main street can get so crowded and busy that it feels uncomfortable to sit for long, but here, being a bit off that street, the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

This was exactly the vibe we wanted that day. Not rushing through a meal and leaving, but ordering delicious food and spending time chatting slowly over brunch.

The space itself was fairly large, so the tables weren't cramped, and the pretty interior made it a good spot for photos too. Overall it was clean and had a nice atmosphere, so it seemed to suit a date well too.

Signature brunch plate, 22,000 won, piled with vegetables

What we ordered that day was the signature brunch plate for 22,000 won!

When choosing a brunch menu, I'm usually drawn to something with a variety of items rather than just bread or eggs, and the signature brunch plate delivered a nice mix all in one go.

It came with kabocha squash, roasted potatoes, avocado, tomato, lettuce, eggs, lotus root, and various other vegetables along with bread. The plate had a lovely mix of colors, so it looked pretty too.

The filling ingredients like the kabocha squash and roasted potatoes made it more satisfying than I expected. And with avocado, tomato, and lettuce to mix in, there was fun in switching up the flavors as we ate. I much prefer this style of eating a variety of ingredients together over just eating bread the whole time during brunch.

Seasonal peach bingsu at MELA Hongdae, 24,000 won

And one of the reasons we actually came to MELA that day was for the peach bingsu (shaved ice dessert). I wanted seasonal peaches so badly that just having brunch wouldn't have been enough. The peach bingsu was 24,000 won!

We had it as dessert after brunch, and if you love peaches, this kind of seasonal fruit bingsu menu should be a welcome sight. Ordering brunch and bingsu together meant we could cover everything from a meal to dessert in one place, which was nice.

On top of that, we ordered a cup of chamomile tea and really spent a relaxed amount of time there. I heard MELA's fresh mango bingsu is also delicious, so next time I want to try the mango version instead of peach.

On the list for next time: chuck flap steak and classic French toast

One thing I debated over while choosing the menu that day was between the chuck flap steak and the classic French toast. In the end I went with the signature brunch plate and peach bingsu, but I was curious about the other menu items too.

In particular, the classic French toast seemed like it would suit brunch really well, so I plan to order it next time I visit. I'd also like to try the chuck flap steak on a day when I want a proper meal. With so many menu options, this felt like a place worth coming back to try different dishes rather than a one-time visit.

Is MELA Hongdae a good brunch spot for a long chat?

Overall, at MELA Hongdae the food was great, but the space really won me over. When you think of brunch in Hongdae, you might picture a crowded, noisy place, but this one, being a little away from the main street, had a relatively quiet and relaxed atmosphere.

Most of all, the spacious layout and pretty interior made me want to sit and chat slowly rather than just eat and leave. It's a good place to visit when you want an unhurried brunch like we did, and the atmosphere makes it worth recommending as a date spot too. It also seemed to have enough room for larger groups, so it could suit those looking for a wedding announcement meetup venue as well.

I think I'll come back next time I want a relaxed brunch around Hongdae. Next time, I'll try the chuck flap steak or the classic French toast, and finally take on the fresh mango bingsu too :)