Gyeongbokgung café for melon and dark choco baumkuchen: The Baum
In short
The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch is a baumkuchen dessert café near Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno, Seoul. The brûlée dark choco baumkuchen costs 7,800 won, the mini baum layered melon 4,500 won and the custard baum 4,500 won, all tasted side by side with a hot americano and an iced café latte at a window table on the second floor. The Baum is an easy stop on a Gyeongbokgung Palace or Seochon walk, both for layered baumkuchen on the spot and for boxed ones to give as gifts.
Good to know
- Location
- 1F–2F, 13-2 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (near Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 2)
- Parking
- Nearby public parking lot
- Seating
- Order on 1F, seating on 1F and 2F; group table and window seats on 2F
- Hot americano
- 5,000 won
- Iced café latte
- 5,500 won
- Mini baum layered melon
- 4,500 won
- Custard baum
- 4,500 won
- Brûlée dark choco baumkuchen
- 7,800 won
- Review event
- A tasting-size baumkuchen for writing a Naver review
as written by the visitor on Aug 31, 2026
While out and about at Gyeongbokgung Palace, I stopped by The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch, a dessert café perfect for when you want a cool coffee and a sweet treat.
The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch
How to walk to The Baum from Gyeongbokgung Station, and where to park
The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch is close to Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station, so it was easy to reach by public transport. I parked at a nearby public parking lot, and it seemed like a great spot to pair with a Gyeongbokgung or Seochon outing!
What's in the showcase at The Baum, a baumkuchen specialty café
From the moment I walked in, the place was full of pretty desserts that were a treat for the eyes first. The Baum had a real variety of products, from basic baumkuchen to ones with special shapes.
Baumkuchen is a dessert made by layering and baking batter over and over, so when you look at a cross-section, it has rings stacked up like the growth rings of a tree.
That's apparently where the name comes from — Baum, meaning tree in German, combined with Kuchen, meaning cake.
True to being a baumkuchen specialty shop, they had all sorts of shapes and flavors you don't usually come across, so it was fun just to look around.
The horiang with yanggaeng (sweet red bean jelly) inside had a nice Korean touch, and the watermelon baumkuchen had a cute idea behind it, so both looked great as gifts! There were so many desserts that made me think 'how did they make this?' that I ended up lingering in front of the showcase for a while haha
Ordering on the first floor, window and group seats on the second
You order dessert on the 1st floor and can enjoy it comfortably on either the 1st or 2nd floor. The 2nd floor has group seating as well as window seats, good for people-watching while you eat.
This was my first time really trying baumkuchen properly, so just one felt like it wouldn't be enough — we picked a few different flavors, and it was fun comparing them since each had its own charm.
What we ordered at The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch, and the prices
- Hot Americano ₩5,000
- Iced Café Latte ₩5,500
- Mini Baum Layered Melon ₩4,500
- Custard Baum ₩4,500
- Brûlée Dark Choco Baumkuchen ₩7,800
The hot americano went cleanly with the sweet desserts, and the iced café latte paired well with the soft baumkuchen too, so we picked well according to our tastes haha
If you're looking for a Gyeongbokgung dessert café, The Baum is the answer — you can really feel the charm of layered baumkuchen here!
Custard baum, 4,500 won
The custard baum had a golden top that felt a bit brûlée-like, but the taste was soft and sweet.
All of them went well with coffee, and I think ordering a few kinds to share small portions is a great way to enjoy The Baum's variety of baumkuchen. Gotta eat everything you want to try!!
Brûlée dark choco baumkuchen, 7,800 won
The dessert that caught my eye first! The brûlée dark choco baumkuchen. The outside is chocolate baumkuchen, and the top is baked golden like a brûlée, so even just the pillar-shaped look was mouthwatering.
Since it's brûlée, you tap the sugar top with the knife it comes with to crack it open!
Cutting into it, there was soft cream inside, and the rich chocolate baumkuchen paired really well with the cream 🥹 The top is a rich dark chocolate cream and the bottom seems to be a milk cream? The flavors are really different but never get boring.
The inside was moist and soft with baumkuchen's signature rings, a menu that dessert lovers would be satisfied with.
Mini baum layered melon, 4,500 won
The mini baum layered melon was a cute, bite-sized portion, easy to enjoy without feeling too full, and the baumkuchen layers were clearly visible. The subtle melon aroma was really charming 🍈
I got a tasting-size baumkuchen for writing a Naver review, and it happened to be the one I'd been eyeing in the showcase, so that was nice!
Is The Baum a good place to buy baumkuchen as a gift?
Beyond just desserts to eat at the café, there were plenty of products great for gifting. The shapes were especially unique and pretty, so I thought they'd make a thoughtful, special dessert gift for parents or friends.
If you're looking to rest with pretty desserts after a Gyeongbokgung outing, or want to try a slightly special baumkuchen, I recommend The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch, a Gyeongbokgung dessert spot 💕
Where it is
13-2 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1F, 2F)서울특별시 종로구 자하문로 13-2 1층, 2층
