Café behind Gangnam Station CGV: Einspänner & flan, Upper and Under

After a long while, I had lunch in Gangnam and wanted a little breather, so I headed to the cozy café Upper and Under. I'm going to enjoy a small break with fragrant coffee and sweet dessert. A cup of coffee in a comfortable atmosphere feels like it will make today even nicer.

Where is Upper and Under?

Upper and Under is a café at 28 Gangnam-daero 102-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, using the basement level, 1st floor and 2nd floor. It is 298 m from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6, in the back alley behind the Gangnam Station CGV. It is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00.

Upper and Under's exterior: red brick and big windows

A cozy café I found in a Gangnam Station alley: Upper and Under (UPPER AND UNDER)~

The red brick and huge windows blend stylishly and catch your eye from the outside, like a little gift of calm in the middle of the city. Let's head inside~

Inside Upper and Under and the cake showcase

Step onto the 1st floor of Upper and Under and you'll find a modern, tidy counter. In the showcase on the left, the signature cake lineup — Earl Grey grapefruit, lemon, raspberry, fig and chestnut chocolate — catches your eye at a glance. It grabs your attention the moment you walk in.

And over here~ is the signature dessert zone: a refrigerated showcase just for cheesecake, tasty baked goods, and dense cheesecake you can pick to your liking.

The 2nd floor was full of customers too, so I'll stop my tour here~ A friendly staff member guided me, and I ordered first~

Upper and Under's menu and the prices of what I ordered

Upper and Under has both a Korean and an English menu, with a wide range: COFFEE, CREAM (cream drinks), NON COFFEE, SPARKLING ADE, COLD BREW and TEA~

• Einspänner (iced) ₩8,000
• Crème brûlée flan ₩6,900

They set out my order right as I placed it~

The iced Einspänner (coffee topped with cream) and crème brûlée flan came neatly arranged on a tray~ The look alone says sweet, and I couldn't wait for a sip of coffee and a bite of dessert.

The weather was nice, so I came out to the terrace. The Upper and Under terrace is a lovely spot to enjoy the outdoor atmosphere. Let me give it a try.

What does Upper and Under's crème brûlée flan taste like?

Upper and Under's crème brûlée flan (₩6,900) is known for its crisp, sweet caramel layer on top and a rich yet smooth custard cream filling. That crunchy, sweet caramel layer is eye-catching, isn't it?

The subtle caramel sweetness mixes with the soft, moist inside, and it's packed with rich yet smooth custard cream filling, so every bite leaves a sweet afterglow~

Besides the sweetness, it has a nutty, deep flavor too, which made it a dessert that goes well with coffee.

How does Upper and Under's iced Einspänner taste?

Upper and Under's iced Einspänner (₩8,000) has cocoa powder settled finely over soft, generous cream, and it looks delicious.

When I scooped it with a spoon~ the sweet, nutty flavor gently wrapped my tongue. With every sip~ the sweet, nutty cream and the bitterness of the strong coffee blend together, and the café calm gets even deeper with this cool drink. I really ate well today!

A break after lunch at Upper and Under

A homey space I slipped into quietly, the Sinnonhyeon Station café Upper and Under~ Warm sunlight wraps around the windows and comfort spreads over the red brick. With a spoonful of sweet cream, the tiredness of the day melts away, and fragrant coffee and nutty dessert gave me a small but certain happiness. I'm leaving with today filled with a sweet afterglow.