Mela, Hongdae
Brunch Inside Noudit Art Space
Hello, this is Artyshine.
Have you heard of Noudit in Hongdae?
It’s a bright, well-kept mixed-use art space.
A friend visiting from the UK recently stayed at the Local Stitch lodging inside the building.
She said the stay was comfortable and the price felt reasonable.
An artist I know also held an exhibition here,
so I’ve visited a couple of times myself.
Terrarosa used to be on the first floor.
I heard it closed not long ago, which was a little disappointing.
This time, I went to Mela for brunch.
I wanted to introduce Mela and also show you the interiors of Noudit. I’ll start with Mela, then look around Noudit’s space.
Location & Hours
Address
Mela, Suite 105, 1F Noudit Hongdae
41 World Cup Buk-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- 7 min from Hongik University Station Exit 1
- 7 min from Mangwon Station Exit 1
- 12 min from Hapjeong Station Exit 2
Look for the giant yellow Sticky Monster at the entrance.
Hours
Daily 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Last order 6:00 p.m.
Check Naver or Instagram before you visit.
Parking
On-site parking
First hour free, then ₩800 / 10 min
Weekends fill up fast — public transit is easier.
Mela Exterior
When you first arrive at Noudit,
a big yellow Sticky Monster is crouched by the entrance,
with one sock off.
Its pear-shaped, rounded body is impossibly cute.
You’ll see an escalator behind it.
Don’t go down — stay on the same floor as the Sticky Monster
and look toward the back.
You’ll spot the Mela sign with a red apple.
On the way to Mela —
Noudit seen from behind.
Mela is a brunch restaurant.
Outside, their signature brunch plates and main dishes are on display.
They’re also serving peach bingsu. Gelato with peach sounds delicious.
The roasted cabbage salad and the mushroom, poached-egg, and avocado salad both looked good.
I love avocado, so the poached-egg avocado one appealed to me more.
Mela opened in 2019. It’s a café where you can have brunch and coffee together.
Interior & Atmosphere
I arrived around 10:30 a.m. A few people were already having breakfast.
I went at that in-between brunch hour, so it wasn’t crowded.
The space felt very comfortable, and the atmosphere was lovely.
The seats are spacious, and there’s a wine fridge too.
Extra wet wipes, napkins, and cutlery are self-serve.
Water is self-serve too.
They also sell croissants. They’re quite large, and only ₩4,000.
While I waited after ordering, I noticed Mela cups on display. There was no price tag, so I’m not sure if they’re for sale.
Mela Menu: Food, Desserts & Drinks
Mela requires one menu item per person. You order first, get a buzzer, and wait.
If you have any allergies, let them know when you order.
I wondered why there were so many apples — then I learned that mela means “apple” in Italian. I like that it’s an all-day brunch spot. I really love brunch.
The steak is around ₩40,000.
Other brunch plates are ₩19,000–₩23,000.
Drinks are ₩4,000–₩7,500.
House wine (red or white) is ₩10,000 a glass.
Beer is ₩9,000.
They also have cinnamon apple French toast as a snack.
It looked good. It’s ₩19,000.
At the time, I didn’t realize Terrarosa had closed. I thought I’d get coffee somewhere else, so I only ate and left.
If you leave a Naver review or a receipt review, they give you fries. I was too full to write one then — I’m writing this now instead.
What I Ordered
Water dropwort vongole — ₩23,000
Classic French toast — ₩22,000
That’s what I ordered.
Classic French toast:
potatoes, bacon, French toast, egg, and honey on the side.
It was sweet enough without the honey, so I ate it as is. Overall, it was really good —
soft and fluffy French toast.
The minari vongole pasta was mildly spicy. The water dropwort with pasta was really good.
There were clams, as you’d expect from vongole, but minari was the star, so the clams felt a little scarce. Still delicious. I’d happily pay a bit more for a version with more clams.
This combo was a really good choice. Sweet and salty together.
I’m glad I ordered both. It was my first time at Mela in Noudit Hongdae, and I left satisfied.
Looking Around Noudit
I was full, so I wandered around Noudit.
I still love the Sticky Monster. I kept circling it. There are cute chairs in the back, too — it’s a great photo spot. If you go, take lots of pictures.
Local Stitch Creator Town Seogyo is on the basement floor.
It’s listed as 3-star, but it’s a shared creative space, so the rating seems tied more to the location. If you pick the dates well, it looks like decent value.
Inside, there’s a check-in counter, a shared kitchen, and several common spaces.
There’s a plant shop too.
If you’re looking for a place to stay near Hongdae, it’s worth considering.
After wandering around looking for Terrarosa
and realizing it was gone, I found MOHO.
I didn’t go in, but the glass walls made the inside easy to see.
My mom and I hesitated — the seats didn’t look that comfortable —
so we skipped it, though it was busy.
Outside, there were water bowls for dogs on the bench.
So sweet.
There’s also a Korean restaurant called Seogwan Myeonok
right next to Mela, if you want another option.
There’s also a tableware shop for 1616 / Arita Japan.
There was also Desker, plus shared studios for people making work.
I’ll leave you with the Sticky Monster from the front and the back.
The clouds were beautiful that day.
Visit Rating
Space
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very comfortable. The building is fairly large, and I liked the interior.
The Sticky Monster mascot is adorable.
Mela itself was clean and easy to reach on Noudit’s first floor.
Only the first hour of parking is free, which is a small downside.
We just had lunch and left, so it was fine.
If you stay longer, expect extra parking fees.
Food
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was good — generous portions, and I wanted to try more of the menu.
Would I go back?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yes, when I crave brunch again.
It’s a nice spot for a date, parents, or friends.
If you need a place to stay near Hongdae, Noudit is worth a look.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
I’ll answer as best as I can!
I’ll be back with another review next time.
“If, you found this helpful”
Thank you
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