Yeonnam-dong solo café for decaf Pip Coffee: Pip Espresso Bar

I had errands in Hongdae today, and once I finished, the weather was so nice I didn't want to just head home. I ended up walking the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail alone, and before I knew it, I'd wandered all the way into the streets of Yeonnam-dong. Using the weather as an excuse to keep exploring, I decided to try going solo at a café — and that's how I ended up at Pip Espresso Bar.

• Pip Espresso Bar
• 5 Seongmisan-ro 29an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 9:00–23:00
• Seating: terrace / bar table / solo seats

What is Pip Espresso Bar, the Yeonnam-dong café by the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail?

Pip Espresso Bar opened in 2021 and has apparently become one of Yeonnam-dong's representative Blue Ribbon cafés. (Source: Naver Place, Naver Map.) Beyond a wide range of coffee menus, it also has signature items like non-coffee drinks, cream coffees, granitas, and plated desserts.

Taking a slow look at the exterior, the staircase leading upstairs really caught my eye.

Aside from the outdoor tables, there's a long table right by the entrance where you can rest for a moment.

How much is the signature Pip Coffee in decaf?

I ordered the signature Pip Coffee (₩7,500). It's Earl Grey-based, with cream layered on top of espresso. Since I've been on medication lately, I asked for it decaf, which added ₩700, making it ₩8,200. I also ordered a classic financier (₩4,800) for dessert.

Inside Pip Espresso Bar: a maze-like layout

While waiting for my order, I looked around the interior — it was much bigger than I expected.

It's almost like a maze. Follow the corridor and you hit a table, turn left and there's another table. Turn right again and this time there's a room, and at the end of that room, another room follows. There were an enormous number of tables.

There were pretty little objects everywhere, but the thing that stood out most was the lighting. Near the entrance there were tons of colorful lamps, and deep in the back rooms, shelves were packed with all kinds of lighting fixtures on display. It made me think the owner must really love lighting.

Coffee alone at Pip Espresso Bar's outdoor tables on a clear day

The first thing that caught my eye walking in was, of course, the outdoor seating. I grabbed my coffee and headed straight for the outdoor table without a second thought — the weather was just too good.

It was around 2pm, right when the sunlight was at its strongest. There were two other groups at the tables besides me — two guys, and a couple. Even sitting alone, the sunlight was so nice that I didn't really feel lonely, haha.

I took a bite of the financier first, and it was so sweet and delicious that I finished the whole thing before I'd even taken a few sips of coffee, lol.

How does Pip Coffee taste, and is the decaf worth it?

The Pip Coffee had a really generous amount of cream on top. At first, the staff member told me to just spoon off the cream and eat it, then later showed me how to stir it into the coffee underneath. Eaten alone, the cream was really sweet, but once mixed with the coffee, it had a nutty, deep flavor. I'd worried decaf might taste watered down, but there was none of that at all.

Final verdict on Pip Espresso Bar

Pip Espresso Bar, the café I wandered into while walking the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, was a great choice for weather like today's. Having a decaf option meant I could enjoy coffee without worry even later in the day, and best of all, the signature Pip Coffee tasted just as good in decaf.

The atmosphere felt comfortable for solo visits without any awkward stares, and with the outdoor seating, it's a great spot to stop by mid-walk on a nice day. Just note there's no parking, so I'd recommend visiting by public transit or on foot.

If you're looking for a place to take a coffee break during a walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, Pip Espresso Bar in Yeonnam-dong is worth a visit.