Hongdae brunch café with homemade apple ade and roomy tables: MELA
In short
MELA Hongdae is a brunch café on the first floor of Nudit Hongdae, a mixed-use space in Mapo, Seoul. Basil cream gnocchi with baby potatoes (22,000 won), truffle mushroom eggs Benedict (20,000 won) and homemade apple ade (7,500 won) shared between two came out chewy and deeply basil-scented, with an ade that is less sweet and easy to drink alongside a meal. With wide table spacing and plenty of plants and props, MELA Hongdae suits a date or a wedding-invitation get-together.
Good to know
- Location
- 1F, Unit 105, 41 World Cup buk-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (first floor of Nudit Hongdae)
- Hours
- Open until 6:30 p.m.
- Basil cream gnocchi with baby potatoes
- 22,000 won
- Truffle mushroom eggs Benedict
- 20,000 won
- Homemade apple ade
- 7,500 won
- Seating
- Wide table spacing, plus bar seats for solo diners
- Self-service bar
- Separate self-serve zone for water, napkins, cutlery and plates
- Price reference
- ₩7,500 ≈ $5.4 · ₩22,000 ≈ $16 · ₩20,000 ≈ $14.5 (2026-09-19)
as written by the visitor on Sep 18, 2026
Where is MELA Hongdae? First floor of Nudit Hongdae
MELA Hongdae is a brunch café at 1F 105, 41 World Cup buk-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the first floor of Nudit Hongdae. Walk straight past the yellow statue and you'll spot the apple sign — super easy to find!!
I've been to Hongdae so many times !!!!! but I'd genuinely never been here before... Nudit Hongdae!! It feels like a whole mixed-use complex — cafés, restaurants, workout spaces, everything. MELA Hongdae, today's destination, is right on the 1st floor, and if you walk straight past the yellow statue you'll see the apple sign, so it was easy to find!!
MELA Hongdae opening hours and the feel of the room
MELA Hongdae is one of those well-known Hongdae brunch café spots, so it's open until 6:30 PM!!! We went a bit after lunchtime and it was still pretty packed. Some people were having brunch, and plenty of others were enjoying peach bingsu (shaved ice dessert) and café time.
The space is really spacious and the tables are set well apart, so it feels comfortable and calm. And it's just so full of atmosphere, so pretty,,, there are bar seats that are great for solo dining, and the space is pretty enough that it'd work well for a bridal shower too!! Water, napkins, cutlery and plates have their own self-service zone off to one side, so just grab what you need.
There are props and plants everywhere and the whole vibe is relaxing, almost healing. The aesthetic is so pretty I just kept taking photos,,,
What's on the MELA Hongdae menu, and what we ordered
Being a dedicated brunch café, MELA Hongdae doesn't just have light bites — the menu ranges from main dishes to pasta, steak, toast, and eggs Benedict. People hunting for the best pasta or steak in Hongdae would love the range of options here!! My friend and I agonized over it for a while and finally landed on these three!!!
- Basil cream gnocchi with baby potatoes — ₩22,000
- Truffle mushroom eggs Benedict — ₩20,000
- Homemade apple ade — ₩7,500
How sweet is the homemade apple ade at MELA Hongdae?
MELA Hongdae's homemade apple ade (₩7,500) wasn't the overly sweet kind of ade at all. It came out faster than expected, and the second it arrived it was so pretty I started snapping photos again,,,, the plating was clean, and personally I really loved that gnocchi plate too. First time trying homemade apple ade, and it was way better than I expected!! It had a sweet apple flavor with some carbonation, so it was clean and went down easily~! I'd actually recommend it to people who aren't big on super sweet drinks!! Totally fine to sip alongside the food too.
Basil cream gnocchi with baby potatoes: texture and taste
MELA Hongdae's basil cream gnocchi with baby potatoes (₩22,000) wasn't the fluffy, crumbly style — it was chewy. Gnocchi is just,,, well. My friend and I both love chewy gnocchi so it suited us just fine. Even with a cream sauce, the basil flavor really came through and had a strong savory kick, so I kept going back for more ㅠㅠ There was bacon scattered on top too, adding salty accents throughout that balanced nicely. The sauce was so good I want to try recreating something similar at home,,, (if it weren't an open space, I might have licked the plate...)
Truffle mushroom eggs Benedict: is the truffle flavor strong?
MELA Hongdae's truffle mushroom eggs Benedict (₩20,000) wasn't the type with an overpowering truffle aroma — it was subtle, which actually made it easier to enjoy without feeling heavy!!! The visuals were gorgeous from the start too~ Brunch is really all about that runny poached egg ~_~ The hollandaise sauce was nutty and smooth, and eating it with a bit of carrot rapée and salad made it fresh and savory at once — exactly that brunch feeling. Loaded generously with mushrooms too.
The portions were bigger than expected too, so we left full and satisfied~_~
Who is MELA Hongdae best for?
MELA Hongdae isn't just about the food — the space itself is so pretty that it's great for taking photos on a date, and also works well for a group gathering like a bridal shower. Since it's not on Hongdae's main street or in Yeonnam-dong, it sits in a bit of an in-between location, so I think plenty of people haven't been here yet!! Unlike other spots, it's less crowded, so it feels good for a relaxed stroll-and-date kind of visit! Personally, the combo of gnocchi + eggs Benedict + apple ade was just so good!! Recommended for anyone hunting for a great Hongdae brunch café, or looking for a nice-atmosphere Western restaurant on par with the best pasta or steak spots in Hongdae~~~
Where it is
41 World Cup buk-ro 5-gil, 1F 105, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 마포구 월드컵북로5길 41 1층 105호
