Seongsu café with a 17-month-old: Pistachio Festival gâteau at Notldun

Off we go ๑◕‿‿◕๑

Anyone here love French-style gâteau cakes? To welcome cool autumn weather, stop by Notldun, a Seongsu dessert café, pick up cakes made by pastry chefs with five-star hotel backgrounds, and head to nearby Seoul Forest for a picnic.

Notldun's location, hours, and info for visiting with a baby

• 📍11 Seoulsup 2-gil, 1F, Seongsu, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
• ⏰Daily 11:00-22:00 (Fri, Sat, Sun 11:00-22:30)
• 🚘Nearby public parking lot
• ✨A Seongsu dessert spot for modern French pastry by chefs Kim Myeong-jun and Ha Min-jae
• 👼🏻Kids welcome / no high chair / stroller access available

Notldun is where you can taste high-end cakes by pastry chefs Ha Min-jae and Kim Min-jun. It's a serious dessert shop — the chefs even have experience working at Signiel Seoul in Jamsil. I went for a sugar boost with my 17-month-old before heading to Seoul Forest.

I personally love the alleyway you pass through on the way to Seoul Forest. I like the vibe of Anguk and Bukchon, and Seongsu has a similar feel to it here and there. Notldun is easy to reach from Ttukseom or Seoul Forest station — it's a Seongsu café located right beside Seoul Forest.

Notldun in Seongsu is run by someone who worked in the pastry department of a five-star hotel, so it's popular among people who love French pastry cakes. I've lived in Paris and visited many famous dessert shops there, so I had high expectations.

The showcase gâteaux and French dessert culture

Seeing the distinctly French gâteau cakes lined up neatly in the showcase, plus chefs actively working on-site, really made me feel like I was in a famous dessert shop in France. I love gâteau so much that back in Paris, I'd buy one whenever payday came — paired with champagne, of course.

In France, this kind of gâteau cake is an everyday dessert — something you bring when visiting a friend's house or for a birthday. In Korea it can feel less casual and more of a hurdle to try, but once you know it, it's actually a warm, familiar dessert.

Madeleine and financier packaging, and online ordering

Notldun, a Seongsu dessert spot, is especially serious about packaging. With cakes and madeleines made with such care, the packaging is what completes the experience perfectly. Notldun's madeleines and financiers are far from ordinary at a glance — they require highly skilled traditional French technique, taking a lot of time and care.

You can also order online through their store.

The plump-bellied madeleines and ingredients like real vanilla bean put this firmly in high-end dessert territory. Even though they're all just baked goods, these are gift-worthy — whoever receives them is lucky.

Finally, the parade of gâteaux that gets me excited.

Are we sure this is Seongsu and not France? You don't have to go to Paris to get a proper mini cake — just come to Notldun. Cakes like this cost over 10,000 won even in France itself, so of course it's more than that here too. Not often, but every now and then, treating yourself to a dessert like this is healing. ♥ I always make time for that.

Premium Strawberry Latte, ₩7,500

Strawberry latte is the unofficial rule when going to a café with a little one, right? Made with homemade strawberry syrup and sliced fresh strawberries. It came with more than expected, so we shared it happily.

Pistachio Festival, ₩13,000

The Pistachio Festival cake even has edible gold dust on top for extra flair. It really shows off the layered style that's characteristic of French gâteau.

It's so pretty it feels wasteful to cut into it. But you have to eat it! Haha, the pistachio filling is rich and dense yet sweet, and paired perfectly with the soft praline cream on top — exactly right for dessert time.

Mascaberry Gâteau, ₩13,500

Since it's peak blueberry season, this one caught my eye. And since my child and I have picked and eaten blueberries straight from a farm before, Notldun's Mascaberry Gâteau felt like the perfect special dessert for my little one.

It has the soft flavor of mascarpone cheese along with vanilla bean. The berry compote jam had a tangy taste that made it even better. The cream wasn't too sweet, so I could let my kid eat it without worry.

My 17-month-old picks out only the fresh blueberries whenever she spots them. If you want a fun new way to enjoy gâteau, let a kid take the lead. It's a café date that doubles as a chance for kids to explore fruit more creatively — a nice, meaningful time. Gâteau also pairs beautifully with champagne. It looks small at a glance, but each small slice holds so many layers of flavor coming together, perfect for savoring slowly.

Valrhona Guanaja dark chocolate latte

Naver receipt review participation — not missing that today either, hoho. This is a Valrhona Guanaja dark chocolate latte, no less. Anyone who's done a bit of baking knows how pricey Valrhona is... can't even finish that sentence... but the rich, deep flavor is still art. The kind of taste that makes you close your eyes.

Took the Valrhona Guanaja chocolate latte to go and headed straight to Seoul Forest right next door.

From Notldun to a stroll in Seoul Forest, our route with the baby

My kid played so well. We spent almost 3 hours at Seoul Forest with her. She even met other kids her age, which made the time fly by. At around 17 months, she now notices other kids and goes right up to them. Seoul Forest has water play and dirt play areas too, making it such a great spot to visit with a child. The park is so well designed overall — if you're looking for places to go with kids, Seoul Forest is a must.

How about gâteau cake at Notldun followed by a stroll through Seoul Forest with your little one? Wishing everyone a sweet time. ♥