Mapo café with cherry tiramisu and bean choices: Pip Espresso Bar

Yeonnam-dong always feels new no matter how often I visit, with charming, distinctive shops tucked down every alley. Today, I visited an appealing spot in an alley off the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Yeonnam-dong, set on the first floor of a nearby detached house, where tranquility and atmosphere coexist.

This is a Blue Ribbon-listed spot that has become one of Yeonnam-dong's representatives. I visited Pip Espresso Bar (피프에스프레소바), a Yeonnam-dong café known for fragrant espresso and Americanos, plus desserts that deliver on both looks and flavor.

Pip Espresso Bar location and parking

Follow the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail from Hongik University Station into the Yeonnam-dong alleys and you will find it easily. It is on the first floor at 5 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 744 m from Exit 3 of Hongik University Station on Lines 2, the Airport Railroad, and the Gyeongui–Jungang Line—about a 10-minute walk.

There is no dedicated parking, so if you are driving, I recommend using the nearby Yeonnam-dong public parking lot or a paid parking lot.

Menu and customization options

• Strawberry tiramisu (winter limited signature) ₩9,500
• Homemade vin chaud (winter limited) ₩8,500
• Cherry tiramisu ₩9,500
• Banana crumble tiramisu ₩9,500
• Classic tiramisu ₩7,500
• Picadamia platter ₩14,000
• Americano ₩5,000
• Café latte ₩5,500
• Vanilla latte ₩6,000

Depending on your preference, switching to decaf beans costs an additional ₩700, and switching to oat milk costs an additional ₩500.

An atmospheric space converted from a detached house

The first floor of this atmospheric detached house has been beautifully converted, making an impression from the entrance onward. Inside, the stylish, polished interior and various mood-setting objects with a cool edge immediately catch the eye.

There are so many thoughtfully designed corners that wherever you take a photo, you get an Instagram-worthy shot. The outdoor terrace is especially charming. On a crisp autumn day or a sunny afternoon, sit outside with a cup of coffee and you can fully take in Yeonnam-dong's particular romance. It is also great that this café welcomes pets.

It is a special space to enjoy whether you come on a date or with friends and family. Pip Espresso Bar comfortably offers takeaway, pet-friendly visits, delivery, and group visits as well.

Bean-selected Americanos and cherry tiramisu

We ordered two refreshing Americanos and a cherry tiramisu that looked sweet and tangy even at first glance!

Americano ₩5,000

The touch of a coffee professional—the bean flavor and extraction balance were so good!!! I chose beans with a bright acidity, while the nutty beans my companion chose had a wonderfully full, roasted body too. It really felt like a great coffee spot; it had been a while since I had properly enjoyed such a delicious cup of coffee!

Cherry tiramisu ₩9,500

It arrived beautifully arranged, a plated dessert that made it impossible not to take photos. Mascarpone cream and sweet-tart cherries came together in the ultimate sweet treat. It was exactly the kind of dessert that gives you a sugar boost and sends your blood sugar soaring—in the best way for a mood lift! Pip Espresso Bar is a fantastic Yeonnam-dong dessert spot. Every dessert looked pretty and tempting, so next time I will have to try the menu one by one!

A café worth adding to a Gyeongui Line Forest Trail route

Pip Espresso Bar is very close to the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Yeonnam-dong, making it an easy stop on your route. After exploring the Hongik University Station shopping area, Yeonnam-dong's many pop-up stores, and great restaurants, it is just the right place to take a break.

Coffee flavor vouched for by the Blue Ribbon, visually spectacular plated desserts, and perfect terrace vibes! Pip Espresso Bar is a complete Yeonnam-dong stop.