Uijeongbu café with outdoor sculptures and black sesame Basque: Forerest

A forest café in Uijeongbu where nature blends in

Give myself a pat on the back for finding this place~ 😊 Tucked away in a quiet part of Uijeongbu, it was perfect for a peaceful, unhurried visit. Thoughtfully designed sculptures are placed throughout the nature-filled grounds, too, so there was plenty to enjoy while looking around. Forerest is an Uijeongbu café I’d recommend when you want to step away from a busy everyday routine for a while.

Following the navigation, my first thought on arriving was, “Could there really be a café in a place like this?” But once I went a little farther down the road, sculptures appeared here and there, making it feel like an outdoor art museum—and giving me the feeling that it would be great for photos.

Cool scenery from the outdoor tables

The cool, sunny weather that day definitely helped, and I thought it would be nice to sit at an outdoor table rather than indoors and leisurely enjoy the surrounding view.

I had worried about the angry autumn mosquitoes and bugs that always seem to arrive with fall, but perhaps they had gone off to enjoy this early autumn themselves. It was clean and comfortable, which made it even better.

Seats around the café were occupied by guests who had arrived before us, but it felt calm and relaxed rather than crowded or hectic. It was a lovely place to put aside the stress and bustle of city life for a moment, rest comfortably, and recharge.

The exterior had a compact, exotic feel, a little like a small European chapel. Blending into the greenery, it looked like a tiny hidden spot in the forest, so I was strangely excited even before entering the café. 😊

Even the entrance was too good a photo spot to simply walk past. It was a great place to snap a picture before going into the café.

Can you visit with a pet?

Forerest also allows pets. On a beautiful day like this, there are plenty of outdoor places to sit, so it seems like a nice spot to spend a relaxed time with your pet. There are rules to follow when bringing a pet, so it would be best to check them before your visit. 🐶🐾

High ceilings and room-style indoor spaces

Inside, there is a main area with high ceilings and an open feel, along with cozy room-style spaces divided off separately. The weather was lovely that day, so the windows were open, and even indoors I could fully enjoy the cool outdoor air and the fresh atmosphere of the forest.

Of all the spaces, this was personally my favorite seat. The atmosphere was great and I loved the table, so I have a feeling there might be some quiet competition for it. If I visit again, I want to claim this spot first.

There were guests visiting in groups, but I also saw people who had come alone to work leisurely on their computers. It felt like a good space both for coming with others and for quietly spending time by yourself.

Hot coffee with black sesame and matcha Basque

Forerest’s signature-style Basque cakes were a nice choice to have alongside a drink. The menu says that the items are listed in order of popularity, so if it’s your first visit, it might be fun to choose from the popular options one by one.

After a little seat-selection game, we managed to claim the spot we wanted! I felt secretly pleased as I photographed our drinks and food—how pretty they were,, haha. Thanks to the chillier weather, I chose hot coffee that day. For dessert, we ordered black sesame and matcha Basque cakes.

When I tried the desserts, they had a dense, creamy texture and a flavor that was not too strong, so I think anyone could enjoy them without feeling overwhelmed.

I preferred the black sesame while my companion said the matcha suited them better. As we had a small conversation about which was tastier, my gaze naturally drifted out the window, and the green landscape spread before us felt like a cleanse for the eyes. 🌿

It is nice for lingering over tea, but the scenery is so pretty that there were also many guests taking their best-ever photos. I loved the view as it was, but I thought it would be even prettier when autumn deepens and the leaves take on their colorful shades! It was only a brief stay, but it was the kind of place that made me forget real-life worries for a moment, welcome a new season, and want to come back again.