Cafe Layered | Yeonnam | Seoul Cafe Review
Today we’ll be doing a review of Cafe Layered in Yeonnam, Seoul!
Your view of Cafe Layered as you approach on a cold winter night
This location is definitely about the aesthetics; with all the cute branding, people taking photos & Instagram-worthy decor, it’s easy to see why this location is so trendy that nearly all the pastries end up selling out.
Show up too late and you’ll be seeing a lot of this…
Today’s snacks will be their Simple Bread Scone (a self-proclaimed signature of the cafe) and an Einspänner.
Today’s treats
1. Simple Bread Scone Signature item -
Despite being “simple“ the texture of this loaf is very thick, soft & chewy. This isn’t in a bad way, it just kind of reminds me a little of mochi or something. For a bread it’s very flavorful and can be a snack on its own as it’s sweet & also a little savory. I’ll likely be back again as I want to try it with their jam next time.
It’s hard to say if this pastry is dessert-adjacent bread or bread-adjacent dessert.
Score:
On its own it’s a 7/10 but with some jam it could be an 8 or 9/10. I’d like to try the in-house jam next time.
Cutting into the bread scone you can see the thickness of the pastry.
The vibe here definitely works in bringing aesthetically conscious people.
In the time I wrote this review and had my treats Lots of well dressed people came through photographing themselves & their food not just with their phones but also with digicams.
One person even came through with an iPad & was drawing very editorial-like illustrations!
2. Einspänner Latte -
An Einspänner is a Viennese coffee drink consisting of espresso ("Mocca" in Viennese terminology) topped with whipped cream. For those like me who didn’t know what it was.
To go with our bread scone, I ordered their einspanner as it was their signature recommended drink.
An image of a freshly served einspanner, featuring some of the cafe’s plethora of decor.
Immediately I noticed that the whipped cream on top is SO yummy. It was thick, sweet and had some nice cinnamon (?) powder on top. However, the espresso underneath is really bitter so they balance out nicely. ^^
Eventually I wanted to try the milk, cream & coffee together so I mixed them. Not sure if you’re supposed to but it softens the bitter-edge of the coffee. I wish they had oat milk options though so I ended up with regular milk at the bottom of my drink.
Score:
First time trying this type of latte but 7/10
Closing Thoughts:
This was a cafe I’m glad I finally made the time to visit! I frequent a film lab in the area so I always walk by and have been wanting to check out what they’re about. Between all the cute (albeit often tacky) quotes, intrigue of the images I see online and just loving cafes I knew it wouldn’t be long before I’d come through.
As I’m always in the area, I’ll likely come by again and try something less “simple”. Ideally, I’d love to stop by during the day and see the cafe lit up with natural light. The bright white aesthetic of the interior would surely be beautiful. :)
Address:
223-20 Yeonnam-dong
Mapo-gu Seoul
Gallery:
Here are some images from my night at the cafe. :) Typically I find that darker images aren’t really my thing but they fit the vibe of this trendy cafe as the day ended and night took over Yeonnam.
