Songdo brunch for mushroom cream gnocchi: Cenacolo Artfore Italian

It's full-on autumn weather again today.

Felt like staying home wasn't an option, so my wife and I enjoyed a daytime date in Songdo. After a walk in Songdo Central Park and a delicious brunch, it really felt like a proper date.

After the walk in Songdo Central Park, we headed to Cenacolo Artfore (체나콜로 아트포레) in Songdo's Artfore complex.

Where is Cenacolo Artfore, and where do you park?

Cenacolo Artfore is at 257 Incheontawer-daero, Artfore Building C, 2nd floor, Unit 211, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. Park at the Artfore underground parking lot — 2 hours free.

• Address: 257 Incheontawer-daero, Artfore Building C, 2nd floor, Unit 211, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Parking: Artfore underground parking (2 hours free)

There are a lot of good restaurants in Songdo Artfore, so I come by often. Cenacolo Artfore is known as a top Songdo brunch spot, so I'd been curious about it for a while and went in with high expectations. If you're looking for Songdo pasta or Songdo gnocchi, this place is worth a closer look, so let me walk through it in detail.

Taking a light walk in Songdo Central Park before brunch made for a great flow. Strolling through the park and then along the waterfront worked perfectly as a daytime date course with my wife.

Cenacolo Artfore hours and break time

Cenacolo Artfore is open Monday through Sunday from 11:00 to 22:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00. Last order is 21:00, and 20:30 on Sundays.

• Monday–Sunday 11:00–22:00
• Break time 15:00–17:00
• Last order 21:00 (20:30 on Sundays)

Open kitchen and dining room at Cenacolo Artfore

Walking into Cenacolo Artfore, the open kitchen on the left catches your eye right away. My favorite kind of kitchen setup — makes today's food feel trustworthy already.

Cenacolo Artfore feels like it suits the vibe of both Songdo International City and the Artfore complex. I heard it's a place that cooks with fresh seasonal ingredients and carefully made sauces rather than going for flashiness. Aiming to be a homemade trattoria with the feel of authentic Italy, it made me look forward to the Songdo pasta menu even more — which is exactly why I wanted to visit.

There's enough seating not just for couples but for larger groups too. One side has windows looking out onto the scenery, so it doesn't feel cramped — you can enjoy Cenacolo Artfore's food, a well-known Songdo brunch spot, at ease.

Should you reserve Cenacolo Artfore for lunch?

We had reserved 11:30am at Cenacolo Artfore, and were seated right away when we walked in. Our table was already neatly set, so we could sit down immediately.

After sitting down and taking a sip of water, guests kept coming in one after another. Watching the flow, it seemed like we might have had to wait if we hadn't booked ahead. If you're planning to visit Cenacolo Artfore for Songdo brunch, I'd recommend reserving ahead for lunchtime. On a day where you're timing things like a date, reserving ahead makes everything much smoother.

There was a paper menu on the table, but scanning the table's QR code let us view the menu on our phone, with ordering and payment linked right there.

Cenacolo Artfore menu and prices

• Caprese salad ₩19,000
• Shrimp mushroom salad ₩20,000
• Aglio e olio ₩18,000
• Basil pesto pasta ₩21,000
• Vongole pasta ₩25,000
• Calamari pasta ₩24,000
• Shrimp rosé pasta ₩26,000
• Mushroom cream gnocchi ₩24,000
• Cham-songi (pine) mushroom cream risotto ₩23,000
• Sweet shrimp risotto ₩24,000
• Korean beef striploin steak ₩59,000
• Jeju black pork tomahawk steak ₩48,000

Looking at the menu, there's a wide range from salads to steaks — I couldn't list it all. Beyond Songdo pasta, I'd recommend mixing and matching a variety of dishes to try.

We ordered shrimp rosé pasta and mushroom cream gnocchi. Both kept coming up whenever I searched for Songdo pasta, so I figured the two together would be a good combo.

The bread served before the meal

While my wife and I were chatting after sitting down, the pre-meal bread arrived first.

I meant to eat it lightly before the main dishes arrived, but it was tastier than expected — gone in one bite, no trace left!

Mushroom cream gnocchi: was the cream too heavy?

Cenacolo Artfore's mushroom cream gnocchi (₩24,000) is described as roasted potato gnocchi paired with mushroom cream. Even though I can't handle heavy, greasy food well, I barely noticed the richness I'd been worried about.

After warming up my appetite with the pre-meal bread, the mushroom cream gnocchi arrived first among our ordered dishes.

Personally, this was the dish I was most curious about. I'd only recently even heard of gnocchi, and this was my first time trying it, so I was really curious about the texture and flavor.

My first impression of gnocchi, tried here at Cenacolo Artfore, was quite good. This mushroom cream gnocchi, representing Songdo gnocchi, is roasted potato gnocchi combined with mushroom cream. Since it's a cream dish, I'd expected it to be a little heavy going in — I personally can't handle greasy food. But once I actually tried it, I was surprised at how little of that richness I worried about actually came through.

The savory depth from the mushrooms blended smoothly with the cream sauce. Since it was my first gnocchi, I can't compare it to other places, but I get why people looking for Songdo gnocchi choose this dish.

Shrimp rosé pasta with four shrimp

Cenacolo Artfore's shrimp rosé pasta (₩26,000) came topped with four large shrimp. The rosé sauce wasn't overly heavy and had just the right amount of spice, so it never got tiring to eat.

Next up was the shrimp rosé pasta — the moment it hit the table, the big shrimp immediately caught my eye. There were four large shrimp on top, so it looked hearty right from the start. Anyone who loves shrimp would definitely be satisfied with this.

The rosé sauce went down smoothly, not too heavy or greasy. Combined with just the right amount of spice, it stayed enjoyable bite after bite.

With rosé pasta, when the sauce is too thick it can start feeling heavy after a few bites, but Cenacolo Artfore's shrimp rosé pasta struck a balance between smooth rosé flavor and spiciness that really suited my taste.

Twirling the noodles with the sauce and adding a big shrimp on top made for a satisfying bite. If you're looking for pasta near Songdo Central Park, the shrimp rosé pasta is worth keeping in mind.

Alternating between the slightly spicy shrimp rosé pasta and the smooth mushroom cream gnocchi worked really well together. Sticking to just one dish can feel a bit monotonous, but the two different characters kept things interesting until the last bite.

Next time I come back, I'd like to try the Songdo risotto menu as well. After enjoying the pasta and gnocchi, I naturally got curious about the other dishes too. Adding a risotto and sharing it among a group also seems like it would work well.

Cenacolo Artfore as part of a Songdo date course

Cenacolo Artfore paired nicely with a walk in Central Park, making it easy to build into a Songdo date course. I'd personally recommend the same route we did — a leisurely walk in the park followed by lunch here.

The dining room itself felt calm and warm, making it a nice spot to talk over a meal together. Walking through Central Park and then enjoying brunch in a nice atmosphere — that's exactly what small happiness looks like.

If you're looking for a Songdo pasta spot, want to try Songdo gnocchi for the first time, or want to enjoy a range of Italian dishes including Songdo risotto, this place is worth checking out. Delicious Songdo pasta, smooth Songdo gnocchi, and next time — Songdo risotto too. I'll come back with another review.