Autumn terrace café near Sinnonhyeon: raspberry cake, Upper and Under

When a cool autumn breeze starts to blow, don't you just want to sit somewhere relaxed on a terrace, gazing at the scenery, with a warm cup of tea and a dessert in hand?

Today I visited a spot tucked between Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon that lets you feel real 'autumn open-air vibes' — like stepping into a little European outdoor café. Upper and Under, a Sinnonhyeon Station café already famous for its spacious layout, open terrace, and dazzling dessert lineup, is exactly the place I'm about to walk you through!

What is the 2nd-floor terrace at Upper and Under like in autumn?

The highlight of Upper and Under is the 2nd-floor outdoor terrace. Green trees spread out like a screen under the awning, and beneath them sits a wooden deck terrace.

The Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon area is always crowded, so cafés here tend to feel cramped and stuffy — but Upper and Under grabs your attention the moment you walk in with its impressively spacious layout.

High ceilings and generously spaced seating give the whole place an open, breathe-easy feeling. It's hard to believe you're still in the middle of the city — the cozy autumn open-air café mood is that strong.

Sitting quietly on the terrace with the breeze drifting by, all the stress of daily life just melts away — it feels like resting at a tiny sidewalk café somewhere in Europe. You can fully soak up the season here, so if you're looking for outdoor terrace vibes among Gangnam Station cafés, this is a spot I'd recommend without hesitation.

Upper and Under prices: cakes, canelé and financiers

Upper and Under's showcase holds premium cakes around ₩8,500, while the shelf beside it holds baked goods priced between ₩3,800 and ₩7,200. The neatly arranged dessert display in the center of the store and inside the showcase is enough to draw a gasp on its own. You can tell just by looking how much heart and care goes into every dessert!

The premium cake line filling the showcase first is pure luxury. Starting with the fig cake (₩8,500), generously topped with fresh, sweet fig on whipped cream, there's also the raspberry cake (₩8,500) with its striking sweet-tart pink mousse, a layered tiramisu, and a lemon tart/cake with a bright, eye-catching top layer — the whole lineup is flawless.

On the shelf beside the showcase, the baked-goods lineup is styled stylishly atop pretty dishes, magazines, and book props. The canelé — that classic French dessert, crisp outside and moist inside — stands out especially.

• Canelé line: from plain to a gently fragrant Earl Grey canelé (₩4,500), a bittersweet matcha canelé (₩4,500), and a luxurious pistachio canelé (₩4,700) topped with nutty pistachio powder — pick your favorite.
• Financier & pie line: layered, nutty nunette financier (₩4,200), plain financier (₩3,800), so-choco financier (₩4,100), pistachio financier (₩4,500), plus the eye-catching crème brûlée flan (₩6,900), caramel cheese pie (₩7,200), and crisp lemon madeleine (₩4,300) — a dessert heaven that makes you smile just looking at it.

How friendly is the service at Upper and Under?

When you're out at a café or bakery, taste and atmosphere matter a lot, but the staff's attitude can decide your whole mood for the day, right? At Upper and Under, the warm, friendly greetings from staff raised the temperature of the space from the moment I walked in.

Even while busy with a full house, they explained the layout and dessert lineup with smiling, attentive care whenever I asked. Plating the desserts and preparing drinks on the tray was done with the same thoughtful attention, so I felt well looked-after before I'd even taken a bite — thoroughly satisfying.

That level of staff kindness made the spacious store feel even warmer, and made me want to become a regular.

Raspberry cake and two canelés on the Upper and Under terrace

Settled into a terrace seat at Upper and Under, I chose the raspberry cake, pistachio canelé, matcha canelé, and a cold iced tea. Just seeing the pretty spread on the tray made me reach for my phone camera.

Raspberry cake (₩8,500)

A cake with a soft pink mousse layer topped with sweet-tart raspberry jam, fresh raspberries, and rosemary. One bite and the mousse melts smoothly in your mouth while bright, tangy raspberry flesh bursts through — the balance between sweet and tart was fantastic. Not overly sweet and refreshingly clean, it was a perfect match for a cold drink.

Pistachio canelé and matcha canelé (₩4,500–₩4,700 each)

If you visit Upper and Under, you absolutely have to try these canelés!

The outside is light and crisp, almost like tanghulu candy shell, while the inside stays chewy and moist. The pistachio canelé in particular is densely covered with crushed pistachio on top, so every bite brings that signature nutty pistachio flavor together with the canelé's sweetness — an absolute textbook example of a great dessert. The matcha canelé, dusted with sugar powder, had its own lovely balance of bitterness and sweetness.

Eating dessert on the terrace, surrounded by green leaves and a cool autumn breeze, felt like pure healing. Upper and Under is a place where, amid the stuffy city center, you can enjoy open, autumn open-air terrace vibes along with luxurious desserts and friendly service.

Why Upper and Under is worth a visit near Gangnam Station

The café is located at 28 Gangnam-daero102-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, near Sinnonhyeon and Gangnam Stations.

• A spacious store and a 2nd-floor outdoor terrace where you can enjoy the autumn breeze under the shade of trees
• A dazzling bakery lineup — cakes, canelés, financiers — that catches both the eye and the palate
• Wonderfully kind staff who genuinely lift your mood
• Great for a date, or just a relaxed solo dessert break

This weekend, why not enjoy some crisp autumn weather with a feel-good terrace break at Upper and Under, the Sinnonhyeon Station café? ❤️