Uijeongbu café with string lights and room-style seats: Forerest

A bite of something sweet and a warm cup of coffee can melt away stress like nothing else. This weekend, hunting for a healing spot as usual, I heard about a café specializing in handmade cheesecakes. From classic Basque cheesecake to chocolate, black sesame, and matcha, the variety was huge, and they're made gluten-free so my stomach felt light too. Curious how good dessert made by a barista with 10 years of know-how could really be, I hopped over to Forerest, the Uijeongbu cheesecake spot everyone's talking about!

Where Forerest is, opening hours and parking

Forerest is at 181 Nogyang-ro, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do, and is open daily from 11am to midnight. There's a large parking lot inside the premises with room for over 100 cars, so it was easy to get to by car.

• Address: 181 Nogyang-ro, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (Forerest)
• Public transit: From Ganeung Station or Uijeongbu Station (Line 1), take bus 8 and get off at Woojeong Maeul
• Hours: Daily 11:00–24:00 (2-hour stay limit on weekends/holidays)
• Closed: Open year-round
• Parking: Large lot inside the premises with plenty of room for 100+ cars
• Other: A 50% discount coupon is offered if you turn on Naver Place notifications

What does Forerest look like inside at night?

The big open space you see right as you walk in is decorated with high ceilings, a gorgeous chandelier, and warm wood-tone interiors. There's also a huge picture window that frames the green forest scenery outside like a painting. I came at night so I missed the green forest view, but the string lights glowing outside the window created a whole different, romantic mood.

Unlike typical big warehouse-style cafés, Forerest is divided inside into various room-like sections just like a house, so I could stay much more privately and calmly. There was a large speaker near the inner door, and the music that filled the space combined with the pretty interior made it feel almost like walking into a fancy museum or art gallery.

One of Forerest's biggest strengths is that it operates leisurely until midnight. Visiting after sunset in the evening, the soft night lighting came on, giving off an emotional and romantic mood quite different from daytime.

How the Basque and chocolate cheesecakes and drinks taste

We ordered Basque cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, orange juice, and americano.

Orange juice: It seemed freshly squeezed from real fruit — lots of pulp, and a natural, refreshing sweetness rather than an artificial syrupy taste. Made me really happy.

Americano: Blended from 4 specialty beans after roasting, it had a rich, nutty depth. The acidity wasn't overdone and stayed clean, pairing perfectly with the dense cheesecakes.

Chocolate cheesecake: Like eating premium raw chocolate, chewy and dense sweetness merged with the cheese's flavor — anyone obsessed with chocolate would fall in love.

Basque cheesecake: Aged for 16 hours, the smoky top and creamy interior made a perfect contrast. The rich, nutty cheese flavor melted smoothly, showing the true skill of a Uijeongbu cheesecake spot.

Is Forerest worth a late-night visit in Uijeongbu?

Forerest was the perfect Uijeongbu cheesecake spot, soothing a heart tired from repetitive daily life with excellent coffee and top-tier handmade dessert.

• Private healing space: gallery-like emotional music, a picture-frame window view, cozily divided rooms
• Unrivaled handmade cheesecake: ultimate softness and rich cheese flavor completed through 16 hours of refrigerated aging
• Convenient access: open until midnight with parking for over 100 cars — a comfortable, stress-free environment

If you need a calm, romantic break away from the city with someone special, I strongly recommend visiting once!