Set B clam pasta and pastry soup at Bueokgan Sangmu, Gwangju

A brunch spot worth knowing in Gwangju's Sangmu district: Bueokgan Sangmu Branch.

Hours and parking at Bueokgan Sangmu

• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
• Break time 16:00–16:30
• Last order 21:00
• Naver Reservation available!
• 🅿️ Parking: Bueokgan's own parking lot, Mudeung Church parking lot

Today I'm writing about a brunch spot I visited in Gwangju's Sangmu district — Bueokgan Sangmu Branch ☺️

The exterior alone is so pretty, right?! Once the weather cools down a bit more, sitting out on the outdoor terrace for a leisurely brunch would be really nice.

What's the atmosphere like inside?

The interior of Bueokgan Sangmu Branch was apparently designed with a concept inspired by the grand ballroom in Titanic, styled after a vintage classic Italian hotel. Between the antique, classic mood and a touch of vintage sensibility, it was genuinely fun just wandering around and looking at everything. It felt like stepping into an old European hotel, and that exotic atmosphere made the whole meal feel more special.

Being such a pretty space, it was great for a date, but the sophisticated yet classic mood also makes it a good pick to visit with older family members. I think it would suit gatherings with friends, family meals, or dinners with parents equally well — a space people of all ages could visit comfortably.

On the table were cutlery, cups, napkins, water, and so on.

What we ordered and the prices

• Set B ₩51,000 (garden salad / vongole pasta / arugula prosciutto pizza / ade)
• Pastry soup ₩10,000

The grapefruit ade and orange ade that arrived first had such pretty colors, they lifted my mood just looking at them. Their refreshing, crisp taste cleansed the palate nicely between bites of food, so they paired well with the meal.

Pastry soup

A sweet pumpkin soup topped with pastry, meant to be scooped up warm

This is one of the menu items I genuinely love at Bueokgan! It's the kind of dish where there might be people who've never tried it, but there's no one who's only tried it once — personally, I really love it. The outside is covered in crisp, flaky pastry, and inside is a sweet, smooth pumpkin soup 🤩 Dipping the crunchy pastry straight into the soup gives you this savory-sweet combination that's so good. Once you start eating, you just keep going back for more.

Was Set B a satisfying spread?

Finally, all the dishes from my Set B order arrived! Doesn't it look delicious just from the visuals alone?!🤤 The set is packed with variety — salad, pasta, and pizza all at once — so I'd recommend ordering it as a set when visiting with a few people. Everyone can pick what suits their taste and try a bit of everything, and having the table full like that made for an even more satisfying meal.

Pickles, radish, and hot sauce came alongside the pizza and pasta, cutting through the richness and making everything taste even better.

Garden salad

The garden salad that came with the set was packed with fresh vegetables, which was nice to have alongside the main dishes, and the tangy dressing kept the palate clean. It went well with the heavier pasta and pizza, and made the whole set feel even more substantial.

Arugula prosciutto pizza

A light, clean pizza topped with arugula and prosciutto

This pizza was loaded with arugula and prosciutto — every bite gave you the fragrance of fresh arugula together with the savory saltiness of the prosciutto. The toppings were generous enough to enjoy right to the last bite, and the flavor wasn't overwhelming, so it paired well alongside the other dishes 🍕

Vongole pasta

Vongole pasta piled high with plump shrimp and chewy clams soaked in clam broth

The vongole pasta genuinely deserved a round of applause. Just looking at it, you could tell it was loaded with clams. Oil pastas can sometimes get a bit heavy or tiresome the further you get into them, but the vongole pasta at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch didn't have that problem at all — I enjoyed it right to the end. The deep, clean savoriness of the clams blended beautifully with the oil, making it light yet rich, and I kept reaching for more🤤

Honestly, this was one of the dishes I ate that day that stuck with me the most — if you love vongole, I really recommend trying this one.

Wrapped things up with the candy by the entrance 🍬🍭

Who should visit

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch, a brunch spot in Gwangju's Sangmu district, was a place where I could enjoy delicious brunch at a leisurely pace in a beautiful space. Every dish felt carefully made, and so did the interior — you could sense the pride they take in both the food and the space. With a variety of dishes like pizza and pasta on offer, there was plenty of fun in picking and choosing what to try.

The atmosphere is great for couples on a date, and it's a comfortable space for families to spend time together over a meal (moms tend to love this place, no lie~). Also, parking is a headache everywhere these days, but Bueokgan Sangmu Branch has its own parking, so you can visit without worrying about that. If you're looking for a good-vibe brunch spot in Sangmu, or just want to try a variety of delicious brunch dishes, I recommend Bueokgan Sangmu Branch in Gwangju's Sangmu district.