Sinnonhyeon café floor guide & raspberry pound cake: Upper and Under

Right in the middle of Gangnam, but thanks to the big tree it felt like I'd gone out for a walk! The cream-packed raspberry cream pound cake was my dessert pick of the day.

This time I visited Upper and Under, a café near Sinnonhyeon Station. Every floor had a different atmosphere, and the drinks and desserts each had their own personality. I ordered coconut matcha, a decaf Americano and two desserts. I'll walk you through the spaces I used and the tastiest item.

Where is the entrance to Upper and Under, and what does the exterior look like?

The Upper and Under building has red brick on the lower part and white walls on top, with two big trees wrapped around it. The color of the walls together with the trees caught my eye before I even went in.

Upper and Under seating by floor: where should you sit?

Entrance floor: the ordering area, and the most crowded

Funnily enough, Upper and Under sits on a hill, so the entrance is on a middle floor of the building. Inside, you'll find the counter for bakery items and drinks, plus seats where you can sit and drink. Since people ordering and people sitting share the space, it was the most crowded of the floors I looked around. If you want a quiet café near Sinnonhyeon Station, I'd suggest checking the seats on the other floors after you order.

The signature menu lists Einspänner at ₩8,000, Deep Cacao and Amande at ₩7,500 each, and Salty Caramel at ₩8,000, among others. I'm also including the basic coffee menu and prices below.

Lower floor: quiet white tones, but a bit warm

Head down from the entrance and you reach a calm, white-toned space. It was quieter than the other floors, so it looked good for chatting. The day I visited, though, it was a little warm. I'd pick a floor weighing the quiet mood and the indoor temperature together.

Upper floor: a warm space with a tree terrace view

I used the space one floor up from the entrance. Wood-toned floors mixed with white and red brick walls just right, so it felt clean yet warm. The trees on the terrace next to it were truly majestic. It was so green that it didn't feel like Gangnam. Even though I was sitting in a café, it felt like I'd stepped out for a short walk.

Two drinks and two desserts at Upper and Under for ₩30,000

Here are the four items I ordered at Upper and Under.

• Coconut matcha ₩8,500
• Decaf iced Americano ₩7,000
• Crème brûlée ₩6,500
• Raspberry cream pound cake ₩8,000

The total came to ₩30,000. Decaf coffee is available too, so this is worth knowing if you want to avoid caffeine.

What does the coconut matcha taste like?

Upper and Under's coconut matcha is coconut water topped with matcha cream. The coconut water is clean and refreshing while the cream on top is creamy, so you get two sensations at once, which was unusual. It's a different combination from a milk-based matcha latte, so if you're curious how coconut water and matcha cream go together, it's worth keeping an eye on.

Buttery crème brûlée and tangy raspberry cream pound cake

Crème brûlée: like a creamy egg tart

With Upper and Under's crème brûlée, you crack the brûlée on top and there's cream inside. Think of it as a creamy version of an egg tart (a custard pastry). The cream inside is seriously good! The outer pie was nicely buttery too, and to my taste the butter flavor was stronger than the usual kind. It's extremely sweet-and-plain at once. I loved eating the inner cream and the outer pie together.

Raspberry cream pound cake: my pick of the day

The raspberry cream pound cake is a slice cake, and apart from the bottom sponge layer, the raspberry cream looked like about half of it. That's how generous the cream is. Even with so much cream it wasn't heavy: the aroma and texture of the cream stayed intact, with a slightly yogurt-like tang.

This was my favorite of everything I ate that day!!! It's totally different from slice cakes elsewhere. Even among desserts I've had at cafés near Sinnonhyeon Station, this one is memorable to me. The cakes reportedly change by season, so if you want the same one, check whether it's being sold. Trying a different menu each season sounds fun too.

Overall verdict on Upper and Under near Sinnonhyeon Station

I liked Upper and Under's distinctive house-baked desserts and the space blended with trees. The items I ordered were ready quickly, which was satisfying too. The order area is crowded and the lower floor was a little warm when I visited, but each floor has a different mood, so you can look around and pick a seat. I'd recommend this Sinnonhyeon Station café to anyone who wants a short walk-like break in Gangnam, or who wants to try something other than the usual desserts.