Gangnam café for a couple's date: raspberry cake, Upper and Under

A rare date with just my husband at Upper and Under, a Gangnam café

When you're deep in parenting mode, even sitting across from your husband and slowly sipping a coffee together feels precious. We see each other's faces every day, but what we actually talk about is usually just what's for dinner, what's run out at home, or the kids' schedules, haha.

So on this day, since we finally had some time together, just the two of us, we decided to make it feel like a real date — good coffee, something sweet, the works. We'd run errands in Gangnam and were trying to decide where to go, and ended up at Upper and Under (어퍼앤언더), a café near Gangnam Station. I didn't want somewhere you just gulp your coffee and leave — I wanted a place with pretty desserts to look at and enough room to sit and talk unhurried, and it turned out to be exactly the vibe I had in mind.

Finding the brick-and-glass Upper and Under building in the alley

The building itself caught my eye the moment we arrived. It's brick mixed with glass windows, giving it a distinct atmosphere, and a sign reading UPPER AND UNDER made it easy to spot.

Usually when I think of Gangnam, I picture tall buildings and crowded streets, so finding a good-looking café tucked into an alley like this made me feel like I was on a little trip. "It's pretty here," I told my husband, and he glanced up at the building too. These small moments somehow end up being the ones I remember most from our dates, haha.

What is the seating inside Upper and Under like?

Once inside, the light coming through the windows kept the space from feeling cramped — it felt comfortable and open. There were tables and seats set up, making it easy for the two of us to settle in and rest for a while.

When we go to cafés with the kids, there's a lot to think about — seating, what to order, all of it. But this time it was just the two of us, and it felt so light. "Let's really take our time today," we said as we sat down — such a small thing to say, but it felt really good.

Looking through the dessert showcase at Upper and Under

Before ordering, we looked over the menu, and Upper and Under had a really wide variety of desserts. I came expecting a great coffee spot, but the bakery lineup was seriously impressive.

Going down the showcase, there were cakes, baked cookies, and bread-type items all catching my eye, so we spent a long time deciding what to get. Moms will get this — when you pick something with your kid, you naturally end up choosing what the kid will like first.

But this time, since it was just the two of us, I could actually pick what I wanted to eat, and that alone made me quietly happy, haha. Standing in front of the showcase going "ooh, this looks good too," "should we try that one?" — even that back-and-forth felt like a proper date after so long.

Raspberry cake and pistachio canelé at Upper and Under

What we ended up choosing was an Einspänner and an Americano, plus a raspberry cake and a pistachio canelé. The pink color alone was so lovely that once it was on the table, I couldn't not take a photo.

I love tart-sweet fruit desserts like raspberry, and it paired really well with coffee. The sweetness of the cake balanced with the raspberry's tang made it easy to eat all the way through without feeling too heavy. I'd take a bite, hand it to my husband saying "this is good, try it," and he'd take another bite — before we knew it, the plate was clean, haha.

Einspänner or Americano: which one we liked more

Once the coffee and cake were set on the table, it finally felt like a real café date. Usually I pour a coffee and get pulled into other things, ending up drinking it cold instead of hot — but this time we decided to actually take our time with both the coffee and the dessert.

The one I was most looking forward to was the Einspänner. It has soft cream on top of the coffee, which gives it a different charm from a regular Americano. I tasted the cream on top first, then drank it together with the coffee. For me, the softness of the cream blending with the coffee made it perfect for a day when you're craving something sweet with your coffee. I worried that having a sweet coffee on top of a dessert might be too much, but sipping it slowly, it really did capture that proper café feeling.

My husband went with the Americano. Of course — even somewhere like this, he says the familiar menu is always the best, haha. I gave him a sip of my Einspänner, and I got a sip of his Americano, so we both tried each other's. The Americano went really well with the cake — a bite of sweet dessert, then a sip of coffee to reset your palate, and my hand kept naturally reaching for more.

Who is Upper and Under in Gangnam best for?

If you're on a date in Gangnam and craving something sweet, or looking for a relaxed place to have coffee after a meal, Upper and Under near Gangnam Station is worth keeping in mind. Especially if it's a day like mine — a rare break from parenting and daily life, just the two of you — don't rush. Sit with a coffee and a cake and take your time talking.

We shared an Einspänner, an Americano, and raspberry cake and spent a rare stretch of time just the two of us. We didn't do anything особ special, but on the walk home, "today was nice" came out naturally. It's these small moments, I think, that give you the energy to keep going with everyday life. :)

Upper and Under, where we enjoyed a sweet café date with my husband near Gangnam Station — I'm already a little curious what dessert we'll try next time.