Mapo café for peach melba and Earl Grey coffee: Pip Espresso Bar

After dinner in Hongdae with my lovely former coworker, we took a walk through Yeontral Park and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park. The weather has been so pleasantly cool lately—just perfect for walking~

We weren't quite ready to say goodbye, so we decided to go to a café. We chose this place, which I'd previously visited and paid for myself (though I never posted about it, sob sob)!

Pip Espresso Bar after a Yeontral Park walk

In the end: a mood-filled space, sweet desserts, and seriously delicious coffee! Let me introduce Pip Espresso Bar, the perfect spot for solo studying or a good chat in a great atmosphere.

It's tucked into Yeonnam-dong, about a 13–15-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station. Since the weather is perfect for walking, how about passing through Yeontral Park and stopping by this café for a Hongdae or Yeonnam date, or a get-together?

This is a Blue Ribbon-selected spot, with two entrances. Open the door shown above and you'll find the ordering area right away.

Coffee and desserts, with a decaf option

The desserts have absolutely crazy visuals...! Every coffee on the menu can be switched to decaf!! If you're visiting in the evening, switching to decaf for a deep sleep is a good idea~

• Pip Coffee (₩7,000)
• Americano (₩5,000)
• Switch to decaf (₩700 each)
• Peach melba (₩12,000)

This is what we went with!

There are lots of different financiers, too!

From outdoor seats to a stylish interior

There are outdoor seats like these, so in a season like this, it would be so nice to spend an evening outside~ It isn't huge, but it still gives you that big Hongdae café feeling~

The interior is decorated with stylish furnishings and objects, so there's plenty of visual pleasure~

Such sparkly, pretty spaces! It's all so well decorated that it's fun just looking around!

There are seats across several areas, each decorated with a different feel. With so many seats, it would be great for Yeonnam groups and gatherings, too. It must be even prettier at year-end, so I really hope you visit then!

There's a water station set up on one side~ You'll get thirsty while chatting away, haha.

They also have a happy-hour buy-one-get-one event when you visit from 17:00–19:00~

Peach melba and Pip Coffee taste test

Our order is hereee~

The peach melba, with its delightful vanilla ice cream and berry sorbet! It also came with cherries and yellow peaches.

A sweet-tart and soft dessert...!

Pip Coffee had an Earl Grey base topped with cream! They recommended taking a sip first, then stirring it~ I loved its smooth, gently bitter, deep character.

The Americano was also sooo good, with just the right amount of acidity and bitterness. This is a place with delicious coffee~

The dessert was genuinely so good that here's another close-up shot~

For time with someone special or focused time alone

Pip Espresso Bar is such an ideal space both for spending time with someone special and for focusing alone on work, creative projects, or studying.

My former coworker had studied English in Australia and was now preparing for a working holiday there. It was a precious time to offer heartfelt encouragement to a friend made for a wider world! We put the sadness of parting aside for now... promised to meet again before her departure for Australia, and wrapped up our day!

If you have a date, meet-up, or appointment planned with someone dear or your partner around Hongdae and Yeonnam, I recommend this café that has both desserts and atmosphere covered~