Yeongdeungpo café lunch with a kid: gnocchi and pizza at Mela

Mela, a brunch café inside Times Square in Yeongdeungpo

Mela in Yeongdeungpo Times Square is a real Times Square brunch destination.

I made a special trip to Times Square specifically for this café-slash-brunch-spot. The weather lately is just... perfect for brunch ❤️ Yeongdeungpo Times Square has Shinsegae Department Store, a shopping mall, a movie theater, and a huge bookstore all in one place, so no matter the season or weather, it's the best indoor outing spot for spending a pleasant day. This visit to Mela left a deep impression from the moment I walked in until the moment I walked out.

A Yeongdeungpo Times Square brunch spot...? Nothing really came to mind before, but this visit to Mela made me want to come back — spacious, tall-ceilinged, and comfortable. It was perfect as a brunch spot near Yeongdeungpo Station.

Walking indoors from Yeongdeungpo Station to Mela

Mela, this Times Square brunch spot, has excellent accessibility — even on pouring or chilly days, you can walk straight from the subway through an indoor passage without stepping outside. It's tucked neatly inside the main shopping route of Times Square, making it an ideal stop after shopping or a movie.

What is on the menu at Mela Times Square?

Mela Times Square's menu has all the classic brunch staples — carbonara, eggs benedict, French toast, and more.

• Steak
• Vongole pasta
• Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)
• Baby potato basil cream gnocchi
• Napa cabbage salad
• Mushroom avocado poached egg salad
• Victoria French toast plate

And many more pastas alongside a full lineup of plates! Sitting down and browsing the menu, I found a rich variety of salads made with fresh ingredients, brunch plates, and distinctive pastas and pizzas. Among them, I picked without hesitation Mela's celebrated signatures — the rose corn gnocchi and the pumpkin gorgonzola pastry pizza — both of which get rave reviews.

High ceilings and a roomy dining floor at Mela

Mela Times Square has such a great atmosphere 🍎🍏 With its high ceilings and spacious layout, it's great for a cup of coffee or a brunch get-together!

It gives off a warm feeling, as if a stylish brunch café from some chic European alleyway had been transplanted here. Soft-toned exterior walls, dark wood frames, and a neatly engraved, tasteful signboard all combine to catch your eye right from the entrance. Sleek lighting paired with green plants creates a cozy vibe perfectly suited for a couple's date or a gathering with friends.

How does the pumpkin gorgonzola pastry pizza taste?

First, the pumpkin gorgonzola pastry pizza arrived on the table looking gorgeous. The buttery pastry crust shattered crisply, followed by the mild, natural sweetness of pumpkin filling the mouth softly — the texture was really lovely. Sweet honey also wrapped around the cheese's saltiness gently, keeping the cheese's character while balancing the flavor so anyone, young or old, could enjoy it without hesitation.

What does the rose corn gnocchi taste like?

Next up was the rose corn gnocchi, served on a wide ceramic plate with a thick, orange-tinted rose sauce shimmering underneath and generous chunks of gnocchi, golden and pan-seared, piled invitingly on top. It had a fluffy quality along with a chewiness like glutinous rice cake, spreading gently in the mouth, and the potato's savory flavor filled it through with no trace of flour smell — the bite was fantastic. The rose sauce paired with it balanced the tomato's fresh acidity with the cream's thick, savory richness beautifully.

A great Yeongdeungpo Times Square spot to eat with your kid

Is Mela Times Square comfortable with a child?

With high chairs on hand, parking available, and fairly wide table spacing, this Yeongdeungpo Times Square spot was great for eating with a child!!! Alternating between a chewy, sticky bite of rose corn gnocchi and a crisp, crackling piece of pumpkin gorgonzola pastry pizza, before I knew it both plates were completely empty. If you want a great-atmosphere brunch near Times Square, or a proper gnocchi and pastry pizza for a special meal, definitely give Mela a visit!