LEEDORIM Coffee & Vegan Bakery Gyeongbokgung Cafe — Restaurant in Seoul

Hidden behind opaque glass walls with small texts asking you to find out what they're hiding, we discovered LEEDORIM while trying to escape from the late morning heat.

After a short stone path moving through two floors in the building and some design installations, we wound up in a minimalist establishment with no-nonsense service and great offerings.

I had their cold brew and a honey potato bacon campagne. The cold brew has a light and slightly sweet taste to it, very refreshing in this late summer weather.

The campagne was the star of my experience in LEEDORIM. The bread was baked perfectly with its sweet outer crust having a great combination of soft and crunchiness. The crispy bacon on top was supported by two(?) kinds of melted cheese, fluffy baked potatoes, and slices of ham in its core. I would come back to LEEDORIM just for this bread.

My partner had the lemon kouign-amann which reminded of our local Filipino lemon square but glazed over and with a croissant-like pastry.

Our friend had the chocolate croissant and the Panama pour over. The Panama was brewed perfectly and was light and had notes of teas in its description by the cafe.

LEEDORIM is a definite Seoul experience if you're a coffee and pastry aficionado and I would recommend visiting if you're...

• Difficulty for Foreigners: Low • Price Range: High (around 8,000 KRW per drink except coffee) • Space: Multi-level (1F–3F), architecturally unique with rooftop view • Recommended Experience: Taking photos, rooftop view—not the drinks

• Pro Tip:

Don’t expect much from the drinks. They’re overpriced, small in size, and not particularly tasty. It honestly feels like you’re paying for the location, mood, and sculptural visuals more than anything else.

That said—take photos. You'll want to capture the space to make that 8,000 KRW feel somewhat justified.

This place isn’t really a café—it’s more like a nature-blended gallery on the slopes of Inwangsan, with coffee as a side character.

The layout from 1F to 3F can be a little confusing, but don’t miss the rooftop—the top floor has one of the best views and is the real highlight of the visit.

In short, skip it if you’re thirsty, but go if you’re looking for a unique experience and...

Great Coffee, Food, and Atmosphere!

I loved the vibe of this café—very stylish, spacious, and with just the right aircon temperature. It’s a great spot to relax or study since it’s not too crowded or noisy.

I had the pour-over coffee (Damarli Estate Panama), and it was exceptional. The delicate flavors of jasmine, plum, melon, and earl grey were perfectly balanced and came through with each sip. It's clear they take their coffee seriously, and this pour-over was one of the best I’ve had.

The food was just as good. I had the chocolate croissant, which was filled with plenty of chocolate. My friend ordered the honey potato bacon bread, and each bite was flavorful and satisfying.

I also tasted their cold brew, which was strong but very good.

The highlight for me was the lemon kouign amann. It had the perfect balance of tanginess, and the lemon glaze was amazing. I still can’t get over it ☺️

I’ll definitely come back when I visit...