A Sweet Tour

Café Illda & Dokyo 990 Bakery

Reviewed and photographed by Cami Ismanova.

In the era of social isolation, masks, and hand sanitizers, an impromptu tour of a new café nearby can make our daily life a little more entertaining. Luckily, we have a full spectrum of choice starting from popular franchises to small cafés on street corners. The latter are growing into a new trend that attracts “caféholics” all around the City of Light. Nowadays, people are interested in cozy cafés that do not have a lot of visitors, yet have a lot to offer in terms of menu and interior design. Therefore, I am here introducing two recently discovered gems at the well-known humun (후문, back gate) of Chonnam National University (CNU).

Café Illda was opened in December 2017 by Youngseo Kim. Since Youngseo was a young girl in high school, she always dreamt of opening her own café or bakery. After studying and gaining more experience, she finally decided that it was time to open her own place. One thing she knew for sure was that she wanted her café to have a special atmosphere created by authentic design. Youngseo says, “The world keeps changing and the modern generation is actively pursuing change,” meaning that trends appear quickly and disappear even faster. She wanted her café to be comfortable just like grandma’s house where people from the neighborhood could come over to enjoy hot coffee with mouthwatering cakes.

The vintage interior design of Café Illada brings back vibes of the 20th century. The café is full of pages from magazines and newspapers on the walls and ceiling. Also, decorated mirrors, old posters, a sophisticated china collection, and inspirational quotes can be seen around the café. The interior gives off a warm, old-fashioned impression. The café is located in a two-story building with the café on the first floor and a living space on the second floor. The exterior is vibrant and flamboyant. It clearly stands out among the gray buildings nearby due to its colorful decorations. What makes Café Illda noticeable is a harmonious mix of details that immediately catches the eye.

While the design is definitely something that we consider when making up our minds on where to go, the menu is what might truly steal our hearts. Café Illda has a lot to offer, including scones, tarts, tons of cookies and candies, and most importantly, delicious cakes. It is basically a dessert paradise where you can fill your stomach with heavenly sweet treats. My favorites are the strawberry and blueberry cakes that go along perfectly with a hot cup of Americano. Those two are totally a hit! They do not have this commercialized plastic taste with two strawberries floating on a cloud of whipped cream from the refrigerator. Quite the opposite, I would say! They are instead fresh out of the oven, home-baked goodies. The desserts are served on delicate porcelain, which contributes to the atmosphere. You can expect a regular beverage menu that consists of coffee and tea served either hot or cold. Overall, the staff is nice and foreigner-friendly, and the price matches the quality. The business hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday (and half an hour later on weekends). Prices start at 3,700 won for a cup of Americano.

Now, on to the next spot on the list. It is time to let you know about the best bakery in the back-gate area, the not-so-widely-known Dokyo 990 Bakery. I heard about this place several times from an acquaintance, so I decided to check it out. As a cheesecake lover, I am sure I discovered the most amazing cheesecake! Dokyo 990 Bakery has a great variety of goods including bread, cookies, cakes, scones, tarts, croissants, scones, cupcakes, macaroons, and just about everything else! Their seasonal cheesecakes change flavors, from cherry and strawberry in the spring to blueberry in the hot summer. The cheesecakes are always a treat, so they are usually sold out in a matter of two to three hours from the time of opening.

Now, on to the next spot on the list. It is time to let you know about the best bakery in the back-gate area, the not-so-widely-known Dokyo 990 Bakery. I heard about this place several times from an acquaintance, so I decided to check it out. As a cheesecake lover, I am sure I discovered the most amazing cheesecake! Dokyo 990 Bakery has a great variety of goods including bread, cookies, cakes, scones, tarts, croissants, scones, cupcakes, macaroons, and just about everything else! Their seasonal cheesecakes change flavors, from cherry and strawberry in the spring to blueberry in the hot summer. The cheesecakes are always a treat, so they are usually sold out in a matter of two to three hours from the time of opening.

Unlike the café I mentioned earlier, this bakery is not much about looks and fancy interior. It is a small bakery in an alleyway, but the quality and quantity of its baked goods are above average. One of the special features of the bakery is that you can order a personalized cake that suits your taste in advance. Designs vary from typical “Happy Birthday!” messages to face caricatures and character drawings. Their business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to around 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. The staff is friendly and welcoming. I recommend that you check this bakery out anytime you are around. If you work or study nearby CNU, I suggest you stop by this bakery in the morning to grab something for breakfast with your morning coffee. It is sure to be an amazing start of the day!

Café Illda
Address: 43, Uchi-ro110-beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju
광주 북구 우치로 110 번길 43

Dokyo 990 Bakery
Address: 410-6 Hodong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju
광주 북구 호동로 10-6

The Reviewer
Cami Ismanova is a student at Chonnam National University majoring in economics. Writing has always been her passion. She writes about the environment and traveling around Korea and abroad. She has dozens of hobbies that keep her happy and busy all year long. Instagram: @camidisman