Seochon café for salt bread and tile-roof views: Respire Bakery Cafe

A little while ago, my friends and I took a trip to Seochon near Gyeongbokgung because we were craving that peaceful, hanok-filled atmosphere for the first time in ages 🌿 I searched hard to find this spot, and the moment we walked in, all of my friends fell for the atmosphere—then were impressed all over again by the coffee! Let me tell you about Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon!

Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon location and hours

It is located at 40-7 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is open Monday through Friday from 08:30 to 18:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00.

A blend of hanok tile-roof views and an international mood

Step inside and a woody, atmospheric interior unfolds as if you have arrived in a little European country village! But look out the window and there are those familiar Korean tiled roofs, creating this wonderfully strange and appealing feeling of “it feels foreign but Korean, and Korean but foreign” ✨ There were even a few international visitors who had somehow found their way here too, which made it feel even more exotic!

We visited at around 3 PM on a Sunday, and luckily the seating inside was cleverly laid out, so we were able to sit down right away without waiting. It was breezy, and the outdoor terrace seats looked absolutely lovely too. It is an atmosphere gem for a date, a group of three or four, or a family visit 🤍

The self-service bar was well stocked with the Wi-Fi password, restroom information, wet wipes, and more!! This is where you pick up and return things >_< They will let you know when your drinks are ready!

The bread display in the afternoon

Ahh, doesn't everything look so delicious? ㅠㅠ You line a tray with parchment paper and use tongs to choose whichever breads you want, but since this is such a great brunch spot, lots of bread had already gone by the afternoon,, ㅠㅠ I really, really have to come back for weekday brunch next time!! The bread was seriously delicious....!! Even though I was full, hehe.

How to join the free salt-bread receipt-review event

We had already eaten before arriving, so we decided to enjoy drinks and a light dessert instead! If you come here, you really must make sure to get the free salt-bread event 🥐✨

When ordering, tell the staff, “I’d like to join the review event!” and receive your receipt. Search “Respire” on Naver or scan the QR code, then write a receipt review with a photo of your order and five selected keywords. Show it to the staff and they will warm up a salt bread for you. Participation is limited to once per party.

⚠️ You cannot join the review event if the salt bread is sold out! Bread disappears quickly here, so make sure to check whether any salt bread remains as soon as you arrive! When we visited, there were only about four left at 3 PM on Sunday 🥹

The drinks and brunch menu we ordered

After much deliberation, we ordered two signature Respire Lattes and a decaf-friendly Provence Tea, all iced >_<!!

• Seasonal sandwich (fig): ciabatta toast with figs, ricotta, fig jam, granola, and arugula / ₩10,500
• Tuna ciabatta sandwich: tuna with crisp cucumber, dill, and red pepper / ₩10,500
• French toast: French toast, gelato ice cream, seasonal fruit, arugula salad, and maple syrup / ₩15,500
• [Signature] Respire Toast: ciabatta, scrambled eggs, arugula salad, carrot râpée, fruit, sausage, basil pesto, honey, and peach sorbet / ₩15,500
• Omelet sandwich: a salt-bread sandwich with an omelet and jambon ham / ₩8,500
• Shrimp salt-bread sandwich: butter-grilled shrimp and garlic, scrambled eggs, and chili sauce / ₩10,500
• Basil jambon sandwich: a ciabatta sandwich with basil pesto, jambon ham, and ricotta / ₩10,500
• Seasonal salad: ricotta, basil pesto, arugula salad, seasonal fruit, and Grana Padano / ₩15,000
• Salt bread: rich, savory-salty salt bread made with plenty of French gourmet butter / ₩3,000
• Respire Latte (signature): a latte made with Sangha Farm organic milk and the nutty flavor of barley / ₩6,500
• Salt Summer Latte (summer seasonal): signature latte topped with gelato ice cream, cocoa powder, and Maldon salt / ₩8,000

What the Respire Latte and Provence Tea tasted like

The signature Respire Latte was the main item my friends chose, and as soon as they took a sip, they nodded and said, “Wow, this coffee is really good!” It is a latte with an impressive nutty yet deep flavor.

Provence Tea was my choice because I wanted to stay away from caffeine! It had a bright, tangy-sweet hibiscus-base flavor, so it was wonderful lightly paired with dessert or salt bread.

We were full this time, so we only had drinks and salt bread, but looking around at the other tables, lots of people were ordering the well-rounded brunch dishes even in the afternoon! Next time, I am definitely going to come early for breakfast or lunch and conquer the brunch menu 🍳

There are restrooms on both the first and second floors, with the first floor reserved for women. Wi-Fi is available, and pets are welcome too. If you want to enjoy peaceful tile-roof views, salt bread, and brunch in Seochon, do stop by! Simply looking out the window and feeling the breeze amid the woody atmosphere made this a truly healing space. I am planning another weekday visit 🌿💙