Quiet weekday book seats and dalgona coupon at Gonjiam café La Cuesta

La Cuesta in Gonjiam, a stop on the way to Hwadam Botanic Garden

Hwadam Botanic Garden's fall foliage in October is super famous ~~ So here's a bakery café worth stopping at on your way there, or over this Chuseok holiday!

In summer I enjoyed mango bingsu (shaved ice) with a full forest view through the window wall — the greenery is still lovely now, and the terrace seats are great for sunbathing too. This is La Cuesta, a large café in Gonjiam, Gwangju, Gyeonggi.

How many cars can park at La Cuesta?

The parking lot is huge — enough for about 100 cars at once — so this is a Gonjiam café you can visit even on weekends without worrying about parking.

Order on the 1st floor, sit on the 2nd floor

The 1st floor is where you order and see the bakery selection, and the 2nd floor has a variety of seating.

There are comfy sofa seats good for 6 or more people, and regular 4-person tables too,

and bean-bag-style window seats perfect for zoning out. I sat there when I had the mango bingsu in summer, but this time, to avoid the sun,

Stair-side seats and a passage lined with books

I sat at a seat next to the stairs. The passage between the 1st and 2nd floors is full of books, so you can read whatever suits your taste for as long as you like. The signature latte is delicious both iced and hot.

It's autumn now, so try the warm latte :)

Why La Cuesta is easy with young kids

There are baby chairs and a sticker photo booth too, which is why on weekends you see a lot of three-generation families visiting with their kids.

Weekdays are quiet, and that calm atmosphere was really charming.

What the 2nd-floor restroom is like

Maybe because the restroom is on the 2nd floor instead of the basement or 1st floor, there's no odor at all — just a soapy fresh scent. If you're someone who gets self-conscious about using restrooms outside your home, you don't need to worry here at all ~~

Bread selection and prices at La Cuesta

As a bakery café known for its bread in Gonjiam, I can't skip introducing the breads. The olive ciabatta looks so chewy and healthy just by looking at it — 4,900 won of happiness. The cod roe baguette looks delicious too! 4,500 won.

There's a new oatmeal cookie that helps with blood sugar levels and skin elasticity. Bingsu is a great menu to share and chat over even after a meal, not just in summer — red bean bingsu and snowy watermelon bingsu, next time!

What the 39,000-won duo brunch includes

Duo brunch (2-person set): choice of pasta (mushroom cream / shrimp rosé / spicy oil / pomodoro), choice of brunch (La Cuesta platter or guacamole open sandwich), 2 drinks (americano / iced tea). If you're looking for brunch in Gwangju, Gyeonggi over the Chuseok holiday, how about La Cuesta's duo brunch! Two dishes and two drinks for 39,000 won ~~

It's a nice bakery café where the fresh fruit croissant and kouign-amann are topped with fruit that looks high-quality, but the bakery prices aren't outrageous — they're reasonable.

All the breads are so glossy and plump that they look even more delicious. Good thing I'd already eaten, or I feel like I would've bought tens of thousands of won worth of just bread if I'd gone hungry haha

Cut the dalgona shape and get a 1,000-won coupon

If you carefully finish cutting out the dalgona (honeycomb candy) shape without breaking it, you get a 1,000-won coupon — a fun cheat item for kids to try when they come ~~

Outdoor walking path and pumpkin carriage photo zone

A pumpkin carriage out of nowhere? It's a little random, but there's an outdoor walking path near the entrance too, and you can use it as a photo zone to capture pretty pictures with your kids at this large Gonjiam café.

Watch out for colds as the seasons change, and be sure to bookmark La Cuesta, the bakery café near Hwadam Botanic Garden with warm lattes, coffee, and a variety of breads, for your next visit!