Cherry Blossom Cafe: Down the Rabbit Hole at Panier De M. Moone

A storybook cafe that perfectly ushers in spring

As I rounded the corner of a small street, away from the main strip of Gangnam, a beautiful cafe caught my eye. I knew what I was looking for, but what I found was even more spectacular than I expected. Panier De M. Moone Cafe is what I would imagine a storybook bakery would look like in the worlds of Alice in Wonderland or Winnie the Pooh, or maybe even both combined.

As I walked closer, I was immediately captivated by this little cafe and the stunning cherry blossom trees welcoming passerby into this cafe wonderland, complete with various rabbit photos scattered throughout, giving it a subtle Alice and Wonderland vibe.

Patrons dressed in cute spring outfits took turns getting their photo taken with the trees before heading into the cafe for a yummy drink or delicious pastry. The outside of the cafe featured a minimalist white aesthetic, complete with string lights strung above.

Upon entering, I was greeted with a farmhouse market interior, full of wood decor, plants, baskets, copper vases, and more. I instantly felt like I’d been transported to a bakery in a storybook, matching the whimsical essence of the exterior. Along with the ordering counter on the first floor, pastries of various sizes, shapes, and flavors dotted the tables and open spaces lining the walls.

Each floor contained its own surprises, coming together to create a unique and beautiful cafe experience. One corner even seemed reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh with stuffed horses, stuffed bears and a rabbit enjoying their own tea party. Plants hung from the ceiling of one room and plants grew from doors and pots lining the route to the terrace on the roof.

Once I stepped out onto the terrace, I was met by the warm sun on my face, many seating options and a photo op with a mini “house” sitting at the end of the terrace, complete with a giant bow and string lights attached to the rooftop.

I am convinced that this is where the fairytale rabbit who owns this cafe lives ;)

Though it was difficult to choose what to order from their available pastries and drinks, I finally decided upon the cherry blossom croissant and cherry blossom latte (How could you go to a cherry blossom cafe and not get the cherry blossom themed goodies??)

The latte art was done in the form of a cherry blossom tree, and was delicious. I don’t know what I was expecting when I took my first sip, but I was met with a taste that reminded me of a chocolate milkshake (albeit not as thick as a milkshake) with a floral flavor to it. The drink was sweet, but not too sweet, and was honestly the perfect drink for the weather and the cherry blossom mood.

The croissant was striped with two different shades of pink and had a real flower petal garnishing the top. The flower petal also had two “water droplets” on it. Curiosity won out, and I did try the “water droplets” to see if they were edible. (They were!)

Though I am not enough of a foodie to know what the droplets were, they had a nectar/honey type taste. Definitely yummy!

The croissant itself was also delicious, and I really appreciated how soft and flaky it was. It was easy to pull into pieces with my fork, and I was surprised to find a filling inside. Though, again, I’m not exactly sure of the flavors, it tasted like a buttercream/vanilla flavor with a fruit jam mixed in.

This cafe was an Instagram find thanks to my sister, Torey, and I’m so glad I got to try it while I was in Gangnam today. If you’re looking for a super cute and aesthetic place to see cherry blossoms and eat with friends or work, I would definitely recommend this beautiful cafe.

Address:

664-22 Sinsa-dong

Gangnam-gu Seoul