Seochon café near Gyeongbokgung for chocolate latte: Respire Bakery

Today, I’m sharing my visit to Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon, a lovely spot that perfectly captures the peaceful, warm feeling of Seochon’s little alleyways! It’s a great café to take a comfortable break while on a date near Gyeongbokgung Palace or strolling these charming lanes, so I really recommend it for a Seochon dessert-café tour, haha.

Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon: location and parking

It is on the first and second floors at 40-7 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is open 9:00–18:00 Monday through Friday and 9:00–19:00 on Saturday and Sunday.

Tucked quietly among Seochon’s charming little alleys, it is the perfect place to soak up the neighborhood’s calm, atmospheric mood!

The parking lot in front of the café is for Cheong Wa Dae staff and cannot be used, so park at Hyoja Public Parking Lot instead!

A space with window seats, a terrace, and a second floor

The whole café has warm, cozy wood-toned interiors, so you feel instantly at ease when you walk in 🫧 It is quiet too, making it lovely for dates or a chat with friends!

The interior is decorated so beautifully too, haha. There are window seats where you can enjoy a solo café visit while looking out at Seochon’s alleyways, or take some atmospheric photos.

There is outdoor seating as well. On a lovely day like these, I thought it would be so nice to eat at a terrace table! 🤍

Up the stairs, there is seating on the second floor too. Its cute, welcoming atmosphere is perfect for a small catch-up with a friend, or for resting during a Seochon date with your partner! 👍

A late visit with hardly any bread left

I visited a little late, so there was hardly any bread left, which was such a shame ㅠㅠ Next time, I’m going earlier to try several breads! Haha.

Here is the menu. There were toast and sandwiches for a light meal, plus a wide range of coffee and other drinks.

Chocolate latte with oat milk and salt bread

I ordered the chocolate latte and garlic cream cheese salt bread. I am lactose intolerant and cannot drink milk, so I really liked that I could switch to oat milk.

They gave me a sheet with a bread knife, tissues, wet wipes, and the Wi-Fi password.

Chocolate latte with a deep cocoa flavor

When you come to a dessert café, sometimes you crave a sweet drink instead of coffee, right? Respire’s chocolate latte definitely tasted different from ordinary chocolate milk that is simply full of sweetness! I love chocolate lattes and have tried so many, and this was not like cheap powder or a light syrup. It had a full-bodied taste where deep cocoa flavor and nutty milk came together in balance…? It was sweet, but finished cleanly without any chalkiness, which I loved, haha.

Garlic cream cheese salt bread

This is the garlic cream cheese salt bread! It has a generous amount of soft, rich cream cheese inside, along with an intense, pleasantly sharp garlic sauce brushed over the outside!! The sweet-and-salty balance is so delicious, haha. With Seochon’s peaceful alleyway atmosphere and tasty drinks and bread alike, Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon was a truly satisfying visit! If you are planning a Seochon date or an atmospheric café tour, I recommend stopping by at least once 🌿