Gwangju bakery café with mountain views and music: Sum

Where is Sum near Namhansanseong, and is parking convenient?

Sum (숨) is at 108-11 Ojeon-gil, Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. My husband and I stopped by on the way to Namhansanseong. From the parking lot, the café appeared to be divided into two buildings, and the lot was spacious.

We arrived shortly before 1 p.m., and there was plenty of parking space. By the time we left around 2 p.m., though, there were many more cars and people. The original post lists the hours as 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, and says pets are not allowed inside.

What kinds of bakery items and drinks are available?

When you enter, the first thing you see is a long bakery display. We had already eaten a meal, but there was enough variety to make me want to choose several items.

There were also many familiar options, such as scones and pound cake.

Breads shaped like yeontan (coal briquettes) also caught my eye. One of them had strawberry jam inside, and I looked at them for a while because their shape was fun.

The refrigerated display also had cream-filled breads. I was especially curious about the white roll.

There were breads I had not seen at other bakeries, so it was enjoyable just to browse before choosing.

There was also a microwave and a self-packing area. It was convenient for taking home leftover bread.

There were cakes in the refrigerator, but we decided to choose from the bread display that day.

Besides coffee such as Americano and mocha cream latte, drinks included lemonade, pomegranate iced tea, and lemon tea. There were several kinds of tea as well, so I thought it would be easy to find something to drink even when visiting with my parents.

Which spaces have mountain views and music listening?

The café consists of two two-story buildings, so there was plenty to look around. Green mountains were visible through the windows, and the outdoor terrace had a garden and tables. On a day with good weather, it looked like a nice place to have tea outside or spend time with children.

We first went to the annex with the music listening room. Looking at it from the garden, the building felt even larger.

In the music listening room on the first floor of the annex, videos played on a large screen while music flowed. It was good for focusing on music in an enclosed space, but not easy to talk with a companion. We sat and listened briefly before leaving, and my husband, who likes music, said this was his favorite space.

On the second floor, the view was even better, with green trees, mountains, and sky visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I could also see that the window seats filled up first. Across the skybridge was a space that felt like entering a winter forest, and this side was a little better for having a private conversation.

How were the drinks and matcha pound cake we ordered?

We sat by the window and ordered an Americano, chamomile tea, and matcha pound cake. I remember the three costing less than ₩20,000 altogether, but the exact amount needs to be confirmed.

The chamomile came as a tea bag and tasted familiar. It is a tea I often choose when I want something light and caffeine-free.

My husband said the Americano was tasty, with a nutty flavor.

The matcha pound cake was topped with matcha chocolate.

It was not dry; it was moist and nutty, so I kept reaching for it even after our meal.

The characteristic matcha flavor came through clearly, and I liked the sweet matcha chocolate on top.

How crowded was it during my visit?

It was relaxed when we arrived, but as I talked with my husband, the area around us became noisy. By around 2 p.m., there were so many people that no tables were empty, so we cleared our table and left. I was pleased that I could enjoy the mountain view I like alongside the music listening my husband enjoys, but it was not quiet throughout our stay.