Stroller-friendly Yeonnam-dong café, Earl Grey coffee: Central Site

I had something to do in Hongdae on a weekday afternoon, and it felt like a waste to just go straight home — plus it was so hot — so I stopped by Central Site, a Yeonnam-dong café, for iced coffee and dessert.

Where to park near Central Site Yeonnam

There are so many cafés in Yeonnam-dong, but almost none of them have parking, ugh. That's probably why we picked Central Site — it's close to a paid parking lot.

It was about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot, and the sun was so brutal we practically ran inside haha. Central Site has a calm, classic look from the outside, so I was already a little excited before I even walked in.

First- and second-floor seating with a stroller on a weekday afternoon

The moment we walked in, the whole space looked clean, and since it was a weekday I figured we'd find a seat easily — but there were so many customers that there wasn't much open seating.

Central Site has a second floor as well as the first, so we went up hoping there might be room, but there was really nowhere to sit at all. The first floor was a bit tight for getting a stroller in too, but a staff member made space for us so we could sit comfortably. Our baby slept quietly the whole time we were there, as if telling mom and dad to eat slowly and enjoy — so sweet and thoughtful, ugh. Makes me want to take her to more places to build good memories.

The Central Site Yeonnam menu and asking for a low-acidity coffee

Since Central Site is a coffee specialty shop, the range of coffees was really varied. If you're into coffee, it seems worth a visit to try a few.

I don't like acidic coffee, so I asked the staff for a recommendation. For dessert, we ordered tiramisu!

There was tiramisu, but also strawberry cake and cookies! I only just found out they have cookies, aw.

Normally I'd order strawberry cake without a second thought, but that day I wanted something a bit bitter and sweet, so I tried something different.

Milk chocolate hazelnut coffee vs Earl Grey coffee: how they taste

After ordering we sat and waited, and soon our order came out — the presentation was clean, which I liked right away.

We tried the milk chocolate and hazelnut coffee first, and true to its name it was soft and nutty, easy to drink without feeling heavy. It wasn't just intense bitter coffee flavor — there was a gentle sweetness and nutty aroma too, so I think even people who can't handle bitterness could enjoy it comfortably. Toward the finish you could really taste that milk-chocolate-like smoothness.

We also ordered the Earl Grey, and it was a completely different experience. The distinctive fragrant Earl Grey aroma hits first, and it finishes clean, which paired really well with the sweet tiramisu. Personally, both my husband and I preferred the milk chocolate-hazelnut more. It was fun trying a cup each and comparing which aroma we liked better — surprising how different one coffee can taste from another even at the same café.

How is the tiramisu at Central Site Yeonnam?

The tiramisu at this Yeonnam-dong café was soft and moist, and the slight bitterness of the cocoa on top paired well with the sweet cream. Tiramisu can get sickly if it's too sweet, but eating it with coffee kept the sweetness balanced — I actually kept reaching for more.

The soft cream and moist sponge blended naturally in the mouth, so alternating a sip of coffee and a bite of tiramisu worked really well. And after a bite of tiramisu, a sip of Earl Grey cleaned up the lingering sweetness, which just made me want another bite of tiramisu haha — that kind of combo.

Who is Central Site Yeonnam best for?

I think this is a solid Yeonnam-dong café to visit if you have plans in Hongdae or want a quiet spot for a date. It's a Yeonnam-dong café I'd want to come back to on a day when I'm craving good coffee and dessert near Hongdae and want to relax and chat for a while.