If you want to try Korean traditional sweets that are hard to find anywhere else, this is my favorite spot in the neighbourhood. DAMCCOT (담장옆에국화꽃) is a korean traditional dessert cafe in Insadong where you can sit down to a plate of yakgwa, juak, yanggaeng and baked rice cakes, paired with a pot of warm traditional tea. It’s the kind of place I bring friends when I want them to taste real Korean traditional sweets — not the trendy stuff, but the classics you rarely see anymore.
Getting there (안녕인사동 2층)
DAMCCOT sits on the second floor of the Annyeong Insadong building, right on Insadong-gil.
- From Anguk Station Exit 6: walk straight about 90m, then follow Insadong-gil for roughly 3–4 minutes. It’s on the 2nd floor, to the left of the elevator. (About 230m total.)
- From Jonggak Station Exit 3-1: about a 5-minute walk (390m). Look for the Annyeong Insadong entrance to the right of Nine Tree Hotel, head in past the GS25, and go up the escalator.
Look for the building name 안녕인사동 — the cafe is upstairs. (Google Maps)
The space
The interior is large with a lot of tables — but don’t let that fool you into thinking you can stroll in anytime. I’ve come by around 3–4pm on a weekday and found it packed. Being in Insadong, and being one of the few places serving proper traditional sweets and tea, it draws a steady mix of locals and international visitors.
The signature dessert set — four sweets to try
The star here is the DAMCCOT Signature platter (around ₩13,800 on its own, or ₩21,000 as a set with two Americanos). It comes with four traditional sweets on one long plate, which makes it the perfect way to taste things you’d otherwise struggle to find. The menu is in both Korean and English, and cards are accepted.
Here’s what’s on the plate, and what each one actually is:
Baked rice cake (구움떡) — glutinous rice cake baked in the oven, so it’s crisp on the outside and chewy inside. This was my favourite of the four. The cafe also does a whole platter of these in several flavors if you fall in love with them.
Yakgwa (약과) — a traditional Korean honey-glazed cookie, deep-fried then soaked in honey and grain syrup. Worth noting: the yakgwa here isn’t the usual flower shape you’ll see in shops — it’s cut into neat brick-like rectangles. The texture is less chewy and closer to a dense cookie, with a gentle ginger aroma. If you want the full story on this sweet, see our full guide to yakgwa, Korea’s honey-glazed cookie.
Gaeseong-juak (개성주악) — a glutinous-rice dumpling from the Gaeseong region. Sweet-rice flour is kneaded (traditionally with a touch of makgeolli, Korean rice wine), fried, then coated in honey and grain syrup so it turns glossy and sticky. The name comes from its little pebble-like shape. Chewy and honey-sweet — it competes with the baked rice cake for best on the plate.
Yanggaeng (양갱) — a firm, jelly-like sweet traditionally made from red-bean paste. The version here is topped with strawberry, which sounds odd but works: the fruit’s tartness cuts the sweetness. Toppings are seasonal, so what you get may look a little different from the photo.
The tea is the other reason to come
Coffee is on the menu, but the traditional teas are what set this place apart — a real gift if you’re sensitive to caffeine and want options. The Healing Tea and Sweet Tea lists run around ₩6,800 each and cover things like flower tea (국화차), jujube tea (대추차), and cinnamon.
I ordered the Omija Ginger Tea (오미자진저티, around ₩6,800). Omija is the “five-flavor berry” — sweet, sour, and a little tangy all at once — and here it comes with a soft warmth of ginger underneath, not overpowering. Best of all, it’s served in a tumbler, so it stays hot right down to the last sip. (If you dislike ginger or strong aromas, pick a different tea.)
If you’d rather something rich and chocolatey, the Deep Chocolate Milk (진한 초콜릿우유, around ₩7,300) isn’t too sweet, so it pairs surprisingly well with the sugary sweets.
Good to know
- Hours: 11:00–21:00 daily (last order 20:30)
- Payment: cards accepted
- Menu: Korean and English
- Ordering tip: the four platter sweets can also be bought individually and packed to go — handy if you find a favourite and want to take some home.
- Menus at traditional dessert cafes shift with the seasons, so for the current lineup it’s worth a quick check on Naver Map before you go.
Verdict
DAMCCOT is where I’d send anyone who wants to actually taste Korean tradition rather than just shop for it in Insadong. Four rare sweets on one plate, a warm pot of tea that lasts, and a calm second-floor room a few minutes from Anguk Station — it’s an easy, rewarding stop on any Insadong walk. If the sweets hook you and you want to understand what you’re eating, start with our guide to yakgwa and Korean traditional sweets.
