Café De Lyon 코엑스점 COEX Mall (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★☆☆

I promised myself some Me Time on this trip — a quiet first evening alone in Cheongdam-dong (淸潭洞) while Jelloman and little nugget stay behind in Myeongdong. But that plan never materialized after our flight was delayed and traffic from Incheon International Airport slowed us down further.

Still, I never gave up on reclaiming my Me Time — and eventually, I did.

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Cheongdam-dong was to explore Starfield Library, one of the area’s most iconic attractions. Although it was slightly out of the way, the nearby Bongeunsa Station made the journey much more effortless.

After snapping a few selfies at Starfield Library, I wandered through COEX Mall soaking in the atmosphere before it was time to meet my team in Sinsa for dinner. But before heading off, I made a quick stop at Café de Lyon (코엑스점), a charming French cake shop known for its authentic Parisian pastries and beverages. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to check out their cozy café.

They are known for having some of the most authentic French pastries including mille-feuille and opera cakes.

Parisian chocolate (₩7,500) – This reminded me a bit of Angelina’s famous hot chocolate. Thick, indulgent, and absolutely decadent.

Vanilla mille-feuille (₩7,800) – I knew someone who’s a sucker for anything with vanilla.

I ended up sharing this with that 'someone' (who is fat and short).  The pastry was perfectly crisp and buttery, just as it should be, and the vanilla custard cream was rich, smooth, and spot on.

I also stumbled upon a few familiar names while cruising around COEX Mall. Remember DORÉ DORÉ? 

They were once a staple in Seoul’s dessert scene before quietly fading into the background during COVID. They’re still around offering the same old rainbow cakes, carrot cakes, and angel cakes. Honestly? A little boring.

While I didn’t find any gifts worth buying at COEX Mall, I didn’t leave the place empty-handed — thanks to that mille-feuille and Parisian-style chocolate drink.

Food Rating: 5.9/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: Starfield COEX Mall, 159 Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Closest Metro Station: Bongeunsa

Tel: +82 2-6002-3175

Opening Hours: 9:30am - 11:00pm daily daily