Gangnam café spanning B1 to 2F, raspberry cake: Upper and Under

On days when I have plans in Gangnam, picking a café can be almost as tricky as picking where to eat. It's such a busy neighborhood that I end up looking for a place with plenty of seats. This time I went to Upper and Under, a large café located between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station.

We ordered raspberry cake, cream brûlée blanc, an einspänner, and peach iced tea. Two desserts and two drinks made for a pretty full table, haha. Let me introduce Upper and Under, a large Gangnam Station café known for its big tree and tasty desserts.

How to reach Upper and Under from Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon Stations

Upper and Under is tucked down an alley off Gangnam-daero. It's about a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station, so it's easy to get to from there, and it's also a good option to consider if you have plans near Gangnam Station.

Since it's a large café spanning basement to second floor, I liked being able to explore the seating on each level. The warm atmosphere from the wood-toned interior was memorable too. That said, as a popular Gangnam café, even this much space can get crowded on weekends or during busy hours.

Inside Upper and Under: a big tree and the dessert showcase

Walking into Upper and Under, the first thing that catches your eye is the big tree standing in the space. Paired with the white and wood-toned interior, it gave off a comfortable feeling despite being a café right in the middle of the city.

On one side there's a showcase lined with cakes, and I spent a good while browsing before deciding what to have. Beyond cakes, there was a variety of baked goods too — financiers, canelés, pound cakes — so picking was half the fun. We chose the raspberry cake and cream brûlée blanc, but next time I'd like to try some of the baked treats too.

Raspberry cake and cream brûlée blanc at Upper and Under

Upper and Under's showcase has a wide range of desserts, which makes choosing genuinely fun. From those options, we picked the raspberry cake and the cream brûlée blanc.

Just the name raspberry cake makes you think of a bright, fruity dessert, while cream brûlée blanc is the one that catches your eye when you're craving something soft and sweet. Choosing two different kinds made dessert time more enjoyable than ordering just one would have.

If you're visiting with a group, it would be great to pick a few different cakes or baked goods and share. With options like financiers, canelés, and pound cakes, I'd like to try other desserts here next time too.

Einspänner and peach iced tea: which drink to pick

For drinks we ordered an einspänner and a peach iced tea. Picking one coffee drink and one fruit drink meant we could each enjoy something suited to our taste.

An einspänner, which combines coffee and cream, naturally catches my eye whenever I'm at a dessert café. Peach iced tea is an easy pick for days when you don't feel like coffee.

When looking for a café near Gangnam Station, sometimes you're going with someone who loves coffee and someone who doesn't drink it at all. Upper and Under has enough variety in drinks and desserts that each of us could pick exactly what we wanted.

Upper and Under address, hours and parking

• Address: 28 Gangnam-daero102-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Transit: About a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
• Parking: Dedicated parking may be limited; public transit recommended

If you're meeting up near Gangnam Station or Sinnonhyeon Station and looking for a place to grab dessert after a meal, Upper and Under is worth remembering. It was a café where the spacious layout and range of desserts made for a fun, easy afternoon of chatting.