Wood-scented Uijeongbu café, decaf Americano & matcha Basque: Forerest

My husband and I both work hard and raise a child on top of that, so our one real joy is eating something delicious, catching up on everything we've put off talking about, and relieving stress in a pretty space with the scent of good coffee and a sweet dessert.

Worn out by the same routine among packed buildings, we set out on a drive, wanting a moment of peaceful rest looking at a forest. The building looks like a quiet lodge in the woods, and the coffee, the desserts and the atmosphere were all perfect. This is Forerest, a big café in Uijeongbu where we truly recharged!

Forerest location, hours and parking in Uijeongbu

Forerest is at 181 Nogyang-ro, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi, and it is open every day from 11:00 to 24:00, all year round. The spacious parking lot fits 50+ cars, which makes it a great drive destination.

• Location: 181 Nogyang-ro, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi (Forerest)
• Hours: daily 11:00–24:00 (open all year)
• Parking: spacious lot for 50+ cars

I hear Forerest is a special resting place, built with the excitement the owner felt 10 years ago when first dreaming of becoming a barista, and a stubborn wish to serve customers good coffee and desserts.

It looks like a pretty lodge built in the forest. There's also a wide parking lot right beside the café building.

What is the inside of Forerest like?

The entrance is decorated in wood tones, so you smell wood from the moment you step in. It feels like walking into a forest.

The healing energy of the space is huge. From outside it looked like a giant lodge, but inside, several spaces are divided into different moods, so wandering around was a lot of fun.

First, the big living room (?) space has a high ceiling that feels open, and the green you see through the terrace puts your mind at ease.

The other rooms are calm and warm too. They look great for a date. I caught myself thinking I'd love to come alone and read quietly.

Forerest's terrace and outdoor seats at dusk

The view outside the terrace is lovely too. The green is so fresh. As the sun began to set, the string lights looked so charming.

Next time I definitely want to come on a sunny day, take a relaxed walk around the area and enjoy nature 200%.

Besides an interior wide enough for group gatherings, there are plenty of outdoor tables and chairs where you can feel the charm of nature. It was a perfect big café in Uijeongbu for escaping the city and enjoying a relaxed date.

What did we order at Forerest?

At Forerest we ordered a matcha Basque cheesecake, a black sesame Basque cheesecake, a decaf Americano and a hot chocolate. They say Forerest after-blends four specialty beans to pair well with its desserts.

We went through the menu carefully before ordering. The Americano is ₩5,500, and I added the decaf option for ₩1,000.

Matcha and black sesame Basque cheesecake taste

There were so many kinds of cheesecake that I agonized for ages, but the moment I took a bite, the dense, rich texture and deep flavor made me exclaim out loud. They say it's a gluten-free cake made by hand every day and chilled for 16 hours, and maybe that's why it felt gentle on the stomach and had unusual depth.

It wasn't just sweet for the sake of it. It focused on the rich, refined flavor of the matcha and black sesame themselves. Paired with the decaf coffee, which went beyond ordinary and let the strong bean flavor come through, and the smooth hot chocolate, my mouth felt pure bliss.

Verdict: who is Forerest for?

Forerest was a gem of a space that, true to its name, gives you complete rest within a repetitive routine.

• Healthy, deep desserts: a gluten-free Basque cheesecake finished with 16 hours of careful aging, the ultimate in dense and gooey
• Thoughtful drinks: premium decaf and carefully chosen organic teas, so anyone can enjoy them without worry
• A lodge-like retreat: a pleasant space for chatting while looking at the forest, plus a generous parking lot for 50+ cars

If you want tasty dessert and healing time in quiet, beautiful nature with a loved one or family, do visit Forerest, the big café in Uijeongbu! The fatigue of daily life will melt away like snow.