Jongno café for red bean jelly cream baumkuchen: The Baum

I visited The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch (더바움 경복궁점), a dessert spot right by Gyeongbokgung Station that I’d heard so much about. The desserts are the kind that could win over anyone just with their looks, so it would be perfect for coming on a date and splurging a little, haha. I arrived around 2:30 p.m. on a weekday, and the area around Gyeongbokgung Station was pretty busy with tourists and other visitors. Luckily, I could still get a seat at The Baum.

The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch: location and visitor information

• Address: 1F, 2F, 13-2 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 종로구 자하문로 13-2 1층, 2층)
• About a 3-minute walk from Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station
• Hours: daily 10:00–22:00
• No parking available

A Seochon café where hanok atmosphere meets German desserts

They sell German desserts, but the interior has been styled with a hanok (traditional Korean house) feel. The wood-toned ceiling and traditional-style roof details suited the atmosphere of Gyeongbokgung and Seochon so well. The first floor has both the counter and seating, and the display case is right there when you walk in.

The second floor has big windows, making it just right for taking a break while looking out over Seochon.

What kind of dessert is baumkuchen?

Baum means tree, and kuchen means cake. It’s said to be a traditional German dessert baked in layers like tree rings. Since it represents success, prosperity, celebration, health, and long life, there’s a reason it makes such a good gift.

The batter is brushed on and baked one layer at a time, so when you slice it, the tree-ring-like layers show right through. It’s a dessert where you can feel the care and detail just by looking at it.

The Baum has reinterpreted baumkuchen in a modern way, so there were seriously so many varieties. From basic baum to brûlée, chocolate, cheese, red bean jelly, and even watermelon-shaped ones, I spent quite a while agonizing over what to choose.

As I picked through all sorts of things in front of the display case, the gift options naturally caught my eye too. The gift box costs extra, though, so it can feel a little pricey once it is added to the dessert total. Still, they look luxurious and taste good, so I think they’re worth putting on a gift list.

Baumkuchen and drink menu prices

Basic baumkuchen

• Plain Soft Baum ₩22,000 / Plain Hard Baum ₩18,000 / Regular Baum ₩7,800
• Mini Baum Plain ₩4,500 / Mini Baum Layered Melon ₩4,500 / Custard Baum ₩4,500
• Eifel Baum and Chocolate Eifel Baum ₩7,500 each
• Brûlée Apple Custard, Dark Chocolate, and Matcha Custard Baum ₩7,800 each
• Fondant Cheese, Fondant Chocolat, and Pure Milk Baumkuchen ₩7,800 each / Basque cheesecake ₩8,000
• Signature Baked Baum ₩4,000 / Red Bean Jelly Cream Baum ₩5,800 / Mini Watermelon Baumkuchen ₩7,900
• Watermelon Baumkuchen ₩29,900 / Horian ₩19,800 / Dark and White Spitzen ₩8,300 each

Drinks

• Americano around ₩5,500 / Cold brew and café latte ₩5,500 each
• Einspänner Classic ₩6,800 / Vanilla latte and café mocha ₩6,000 each
• Caramel latte ₩6,300 / Oat latte ₩6,000 / Matcha latte ₩6,500
• Chocolate Shell Baum Ice Cream ₩6,500 / Matcha Ice Cream Latte ₩7,300
• Grapefruit ade ₩6,800 / Lemon Sweet Earl Grey Tea ₩7,000

The red bean jelly cream baum and Eifelbaum I ordered

I ordered the long, wavy Eifelbaum for ₩7,500 and the red bean jelly cream baum for ₩5,800. For drinks, we had two hot Americanos and one iced Americano. One of the two hot ones was requested mild. They were ₩5,000 per cup.

How the red bean jelly cream baum and Eifelbaum tasted

Red bean jelly cream baum

It looked like it would be sweeter, but it was actually less sweet and delicious. The white cream wrapped around it softly.

Eifelbaum

The long, wavy Eifelbaum was defined by its chewy texture. The tree-ring layers I’d heard about were visible all through the cross-section, which somehow made me look at it even more. The layers had a nice presence, so it was satisfying to chew.

Personally, I liked that the coffee was not very acidic. The mild hot Americano was enough to enjoy for its nutty flavor alone, while the iced one became smoother as the ice melted, so iced was my pick! The desserts went so well with coffee that I wished I’d been a little less full.

Things to know before visiting The Baum near Gyeongbokgung Station

How far is it from Gyeongbokgung Station?

It is about a 3-minute walk from Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station. It is in a great location to stop by while exploring Seochon or Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Is parking available?

Parking is not available. I recommend using public transportation.

It made a nice dessert stop after lunch in Gwanghwamun, then a walk from Gyeongbokgung to Seochon. A dessert that succeeded in both taste and looks. Next time, I want to try the brûlée matcha and watermelon baumkuchen too.