After checking out of my hotel with a few hours to spare, I wanted somewhere to sit down with a coffee and not feel rushed. Jeonpo Cafe Street in Seomyeon tends to be the answer to that kind of afternoon in Busan — the neighborhood has the right mix of low-key and interesting, and Upper East Bakery Busan was the one that caught my eye.
I went alone. I came back recommending it for two.
Upper East Bakery is a pastry-focused cafe on Jeonpo Cafe Street, Busanjin District, Busan, South Korea. The specialty here is laminated dough — croissants, kouign-amann and egg tarts in multiple variations — baked in-house and displayed in a case that is difficult to walk past without stopping. The building itself is a converted residential structure, which gives it a warmer feel than most purpose-built cafes in the area.
Table of Contents
Basic Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Upper East Bakery |
| Address | 2F, 62-14 Seojeon-ro 46beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan |
| Nearest Station | Jeonpo Station Exit 7, Busan Metro Line 2 (160m / approx. 2 min walk) |
| Hours | Daily 11:00 – 21:00 (Last order 20:30) |
| Parking | None — public transport recommended |
| @upperyeast.bakery |
Getting There
Jeonpo Cafe Street sits between Seomyeon and Jeonpo stations on Busan Metro Line 2, which makes it easy to reach from most parts of the city. The neighborhood is well known for not having convenient parking, and Upper East Bakery has no lot of its own — taking the subway is both easier and faster. From Exit 7 of Jeonpo Station it is a two-minute walk.
What You Walk Into
The ground floor of the building has a separate restaurant called Pickles. Upper East Bakery is upstairs on the second floor, and the smell of butter hits before you even reach the top of the stairs. The counter runs along one side of the room, and the display case has more going on than you expect for a place this size.
On the weekday morning I visited, the room was calmer than I anticipated — but a steady stream of people came in, grabbed boxes to go, and left. The freshly baked egg tarts were stacked in a pile on the counter, which told me something about what this place is known for. The menu leans into pastry with real focus: croissants in around ten variations, multiple kouign-amann options, egg tarts, and a few seasonal or trending items like the Dubai chocolate croissant and matcha versions.
The interior is white walls and warm wood furniture — cozy without being fussy. A window seat near the front of the room was open when I arrived, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of spot you want for a solo coffee stop. There is also a terrace, though I skipped it — the night before had been rainy and the tables were still damp.
What I Ordered
I ended up with three pastries and a coffee, total ₩22,900 (~$15 USD):
Cream Schpeanner — ₩6,200 (~$4 USD) A cream latte topped with a thick layer of soft cream and dusted with cocoa powder. Rich but not heavy, and sweet enough that the pastry alongside it did not feel necessary — though I ate the pastry anyway.
Double Chocolate Croissant — ₩6,100 (~$4 USD) Chocolate laminated into the dough and more chocolate somewhere in the middle. Larger than it looks in the case, with a satisfying pull when you break it.
Egg Tart — ₩4,900 (~$3 USD) The signature item. Smooth custard in a short pastry shell — not overly sweet, with enough wobble in the center that you know it was baked properly. I could see why people were coming in just for these.
Cinnamon Kouign-amann — ₩5,700 (~$4 USD) Caramelized and layered, with cinnamon running through. Dense in the right way. I packed this one to go along with the others.
Decaf is available for any espresso-based drink for an additional ₩500 (~$0.30 USD).
Other items worth knowing about:
| Item | Price (KRW) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Almond Croissant | ₩6,000 | ~$4 |
| Pistachio Kouign-amann | ₩6,500 | ~$4 |
| Dubai Chocolate Croissant | ₩6,400 | ~$4 |
| Matcha Chocolate Croissant | ₩6,700 | ~$4 |
| Tiramisu Croissant | ₩6,000 | ~$4 |
| Pain au Chocolat | ₩5,400 | ~$4 |
| Hot Dog Pastry | ₩6,800 | ~$5 |
| Apple Pie | ₩6,200 | ~$4 |
The full menu is on Instagram at @upperyeast.bakery.
Drinks run from ₩4,800 to ₩7,200 (~$3–$5 USD). If you order cream pastries, they travel best in the cold — a hotel room fridge works fine, but they are best eaten the same day.
A Note on Timing
I went on a weekday morning and had no trouble finding a seat. Popular items sell out as the afternoon goes on, so if there is something specific you want — the egg tarts especially — earlier in the day is safer. The cafe is open until 21:00 with last order at 20:30, so there is room to plan around a meal nearby.
On that note: the street-level restaurant below, Pickles, handles the meal part if you want to turn this into a full afternoon. And if you are staying in Seomyeon, Central Seven Hotel is about a kilometer from Upper East Bakery — well-placed for getting around the city on Line 2. You can browse options here.
If you are already on Jeonpo Cafe Street and want to keep eating, Yeonhwa Dupbab is about a ten-minute walk away — a fusion Korean rice bowl place where the chicken genuinely surprised me more than the beef, and where the kiosk handles orders in English and Japanese. Full details here.
If pastry brought you to Busan and you have time for a day trip, Cafe Choi in Yangsan is worth the subway ride — run by Korea’s 2024 croissant competition champion, with dozens of breads and a rooftop over the Nakdonggang River. You can read more here.
Solo or Together
I came alone and had a good time. I brought pastries home for my family and had a better time. Upper East Bakery Busan works either way — it is calm enough for a solo stop and interesting enough to bring someone to. The converted building, the window seat, the pastry case that requires a second look: it adds up to somewhere you leave wanting to come back with company.
If you are building a day around Jeonpo Cafe Street, this is a reasonable place to start or end it.
Where is Upper East Bakery in Busan and how do I get there?
Upper East Bakery is on the second floor of a converted residential building at 62-14 Seojeon-ro 46beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea. The nearest station is Jeonpo Station Exit 7 on Busan Metro Line 2, about 160 meters or a two-minute walk away. The area has limited parking and the bakery has no lot of its own, so public transport is the easier option.
What are Upper East Bakery’s opening hours?
Upper East Bakery is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, with last order at 20:30. Popular items like the egg tarts tend to sell out as the afternoon goes on, so earlier visits give you more options.
What is Upper East Bakery known for?
Upper East Bakery specializes in laminated pastry — croissants, kouign-amann and egg tarts in multiple variations. The egg tart is the signature item. The menu also includes trending options like a Dubai chocolate croissant and matcha versions of several pastries. All items are baked in-house.
What should I order at Upper East Bakery Busan?
The egg tart (₩4,900 / ~$3 USD) is the signature — smooth custard in a short pastry shell, not too sweet, worth trying on a first visit. The cinnamon kouign-amann (₩5,700 / ~$4 USD) is well made and packs well if you are taking things to go. For something with more going on, the double chocolate croissant (₩6,100 / ~$4 USD) is substantial and satisfying. Drinks run from ₩4,800 to ₩7,200 (~$3–$5 USD). Decaf is available for any espresso-based drink for an extra ₩500 (~$0.30 USD).
How much does it cost to eat at Upper East Bakery?
Pastries range from ₩4,900 to ₩6,800 (~$3–$5 USD) and drinks from ₩4,800 to ₩7,200 (~$3–$5 USD). A coffee and three pastries came to ₩22,900 (~$15 USD). It is on the slightly higher end for a casual cafe stop in Busan, but the portion sizes and ingredient quality reflect the price.
Is Upper East Bakery good for solo visitors?
Yes. The cafe has a calm atmosphere, and window seats near the front of the room work well for solo visits. I went alone on a weekday morning and had no issue finding a comfortable spot. That said, the variety of pastries is more enjoyable with someone to split things with — and the place suits a couple or small group just as well.
Can I take Upper East Bakery pastries to go?
Yes, and it is worth doing. Cream-filled pastries should go in the fridge — a hotel room fridge is fine — and are best eaten the same day. Plain pastries hold up a little longer but are still best fresh. Several people on the morning I visited came in specifically for boxes to take away.