Gongdeok café 8 pastries eaten over 3 days: Fluffy Bake Shop

On a sunny, pretty hot day, my husband and I went out for some good dessert. It's a café near Gongdeok Station I got to visit through a sponsored campaign, and they had a big bread lineup with great taste too.

Fluffy Bake Shop's exterior near Gongdeok Station – cute and charming

The storefront was all white, which caught the eye even from a distance. The shop name and a big shell-shaped logo were neatly attached. Through the glass wall you could peek at the interior, cutely arranged with little props. The standing sign out front listed the coffee, drinks and pastry lineup.

What's the interior and seating like?

Stepping inside, the wood-toned walls and lighting gave a warm impression. On the wall hung a stylish fabric frame and a cute little calendar. Seating was mostly bar tables, which made it seem like a nice spot to stop by for a light bite on a date near Gongdeok Station. The trays and tongs were neatly arranged too.

Menu and prices – drinks ₩4,000–6,000, pastries ₩3,000-ish

The menu board listed coffee and tea, with a discount if you take it to go. Drinks ran ₩4,000 to ₩6,000, easy on the wallet. On the shelf, canelés along with various madeleines and financiers looked absolutely delicious. Most were priced in the ₩3,000 range, so the value was great too.

The pretty pastries we brought home

We'd come after lunch and were too full, so we decided to pack them up and enjoy them at home instead. Opening the paper bag, each pastry was carefully individually wrapped with a little green sticker. At around ₩3,000 each, it didn't feel like much of a splurge to pick several, and since they also sell pretty gift box sets, it seemed like a perfect light gift too.

Day one – fig, chocolate, and vanilla financiers

Day one was fig, chocolate, and vanilla financiers. The fig financier had visible seeds and a nice bite; cutting it in half and taking a bite, a chewy, sweet flavor spread through my mouth. The sweetness wasn't overdone, so I could eat it all the way through without getting tired of it.

The chocolate financier, topped with rich chocolate, caught the eye first. The sweet, slightly bitter chocolate blended naturally with the batter. It wasn't overly sweet, so it felt perfect for a sugar boost.

I picked up the plain-looking vanilla financier first — the outside wasn't soggy at all, baked smooth and clean. The inside kept its fluffy, moist texture nicely. The rich, nutty butter flavor came through strongly, making it perfect with an Americano.

Day two – berry financier and lemon madeleine

Day two was the berry financier and lemon madeleine. The berry financier, piled high with crumble, had a really crisp bite on the outside. Inside was a bit of berry jam, adding a sweet-tart touch. The combo of the nutty streusel-like top and the moist filling was really appealing.

Next up is the shell-shaped lemon madeleine. The surface was coated in a white glaze, all glossy and shiny. One bite and it melted away with sweetness, putting me in a good mood.

Last day – vanilla canelé, yellow cheese and yuzu madeleines

On the last day it was vanilla canelé, yellow cheese madeleine, and yuzu madeleine. The deep brown canelé was crisp outside and properly chewy inside, which really impressed me. From the glazed madeleine to the filled one, the overall quality was good enough to make me say out loud how delicious the breads were.

My husband and I had a nice, happy dessert time at home eating the sweet pastries together. If you're looking for a good café near Gongdeok Station, Fluffy Bake Shop is worth a visit for its variety of proper bakery goods. Next time I'll have to try it in-store with a cold drink.

Who I'd recommend this to

• Anyone who wants to try a wide lineup of pastries
• Anyone looking for a thoughtful dessert gift set
• Anyone wanting a good bakery near Gongdeok Station
• Anyone who wants to enjoy pastries comfortably at home via takeout or delivery

Fluffy Bake Shop info

• Name: Fluffy Bake Shop
• Address: 106, 1F, Building 2, 8 Baekbeom-ro 31-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 08:00–18:30, Sat–Sun 11:00–16:30
• Parking: Available