Sinnonhyeon café: three desserts at a window seat, Upper and Under

Upper and Under, a Sinnonhyeon Station café that's great for catching up over dessert.

Last week I visited Upper and Under, a Sinnonhyeon Station café! I met my sister after ages, we had a good meal, and went here for a proper chat afterward. The desserts are so varied that I'd recommend it even to people hunting for a Gangnam Station dessert spot — a Sinnonhyeon Station café with really nice vibes!

What kind of café is Upper and Under?

Upper and Under is a Sinnonhyeon Station café located between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station, and true to its name, it's a large café that uses the entire building from basement to upper floors. The vibe was great, and on a nice-weather day like today, it was perfect for a long chat!

Dessert heaven: the baked goods and cake lineup

The first thing that catches your eye the moment you walk into Upper and Under is definitely the long dessert showcase in the center. The moment I saw it packed with cakes and baked goods, my inner bread-lover woke right up ^-^ Today's a cheat day!!!!! Financiers, canelés, tarts —

There are so many kinds of cakes too, it's honestly overwhelming. My sister and I circled the display case several times going "what should we get?" In the end we ordered pretty decisively: an Einspänner, iced Americano, honey cheese cake, canelé, and financier!

It's still hot outside, but the inside is cool, so it was a great dessert spot to sit by the big window, watch the outside, and chat away in the air conditioning!

Tasting three desserts: honey cheese cake, canelé, financier

Honey cheese cake (highly recommended)

I usually love sweet-and-salty honey cheese desserts, so I grabbed this one without hesitation. Rich cheese sponge layers alternate with yellow honey cheese cream, and the moment you take a bite, that distinctive salty-savory honey cheese flavor fills your mouth. It's not an artificial or cloying cheese taste — more like a deep, thick 'Ppoppo cracker' feel, that salty-sweet combo that doesn't get old, so I kept going back for more. If you're a cheese fanatic, you have to try this.

Canelé

A textbook crispy-outside, moist-inside canelé! Splitting it in half, the inside was packed with air pockets and clearly moist. The outside was crackly and firm with a caramel flavor, while the inside was soft and moist like pudding. The subtle vanilla aroma felt luxurious and paired really well with the Americano.

Financier

You can't skip the classic, well-made financier either. The outside is baked to a golden brown with a slightly crisp bite, while the inside is dense and moist, with buttery aroma spreading through your mouth.

What does the Einspänner at Upper and Under taste like?

Einspänner

I heard the Einspänner is one of Upper and Under's signature drinks, so I ordered it. The visuals alone were a pass! On top of a bitter, heavy Dutch coffee base sits a generous mound of dense, soft, chewy cream.

I scooped up a spoonful of the cream first — it was just sweet enough with deep flavor, the kind of taste that melts your mood like snow. The balance between the coffee's bitterness and the cream's sweetness was excellent. If you love sweet cream coffee, this is a must-order.

Is Upper and Under a good café for long chats?

Upper and Under is a large Sinnonhyeon Station café where you can sit comfortably without worrying about anyone watching, and the desserts were genuinely delicious too! Eating great food and chatting with someone you like is truly healing. With its spacious, atmospheric interior, it's a great café for dates or catching up with friends or your sister, and if you're looking for a café with a wide variety of desserts, I'd really recommend this place! Saving it as a spot to come back to next time!