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The Pie Hole: Sinchon's famous handmade pie café (Seodaemun, Seoul)
The Pie Hole is a long-running Sinchon dessert café famous for its dozens of handmade pies, tarts, and cookies, all set in a cozy, photo-friendly space. If you are deciding where to go for dessert in Sinchon, this is an easy and confident recommendation.
Where it is
The Pie Hole sits in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, the name that always comes up when you search for a Sinchon café. The exterior is charming on its own and sets your expectations high before you even step inside. There is also a second branch on Sharosu-gil, so if Sinchon is out of the way, consider that one instead.
Don’t give up if the first floor is full
When you walk in, the first floor is packed and it looks like there are no seats. We almost waited outside, sizing up the room. But there is a door at the back that leads up to a second floor. The upstairs fills up too, but tables turn over, so a short wait usually gets you a seat. Always check the second floor before you stand outside.
What to order
Once you sit down, the real challenge begins: the showcase by the entrance is full of pies and choosing is genuinely hard. Pumpkin pie, pistachio cream pie, banoffee pie, lemon-lime cake, earl grey pie, carrot cake, matcha tiramisu, pistachio rose pie, espresso chocolate cake, hojicha pie, lavender berry pie, maple pecan pie, and more, with extra pies and a big range of cookies stacked on top of the case, so look high and low.
We ordered the strawberry yogurt cheese tart, which looked gorgeous and tasted even better: bright and fresh but not heavy, with cheesecake that is soft in just the right way. For drinks we had an iced americano and an iced Marco Polo tea, and the Marco Polo’s distinctive sweet aroma paired beautifully with the pie. Our friend took a vanilla milk chocolate cheesecake to go for family, and even a seasoned dessert lover loved it.
The personal MVP, though, was the maple pecan cream pie we got as takeout. The sweet aroma of maple syrup meets the nutty richness of pecans, and you just lose yourself in it. When it comes to pie, the nut pies are the kings.
One warning: popular pies sell out if you go late. I tried to take a banoffee pie to go and it had already sold out by the time we left, so order the one you want right away.
The vibe
The interior is full of cute little objects and walls covered in framed pictures, every corner pretty. With great food and a lovely space, it is the kind of place you want to linger in. While we were there we even watched a huge batch of pies being moved out, maybe headed to the Sharosu-gil branch, maybe a big order, a small mystery.
Verdict
I went in with high expectations and it exceeded them. It is genuinely impressive that a café can offer this many kinds of pie and have every one taste this good. There is a reason it has been loved for so long, and you understand it the moment you take a bite. If you are weighing up cafés in Sinchon, The Pie Hole comes strongly recommended.
Frequently asked questions
Where is The Pie Hole in Sinchon?
The Pie Hole is in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Address: 20, Yonsei-ro 5na-gil, Seodaemun-gu. There is also a second branch on Sharosu-gil (95, Gwanak-ro 14-gil, Gwanak-gu).
Is there seating on the second floor?
Yes. The first floor fills up fast and looks full, but there is a door at the back that leads up to a second floor with more seating. Always check upstairs before giving up on a table.
What should I order at The Pie Hole?
The maple pecan cream pie is the standout, plus the strawberry yogurt cheese tart. Popular pies like banoffee sell out, so order what you want as soon as you sit down.
Why is The Pie Hole so popular?
It has been a Sinchon favorite for years thanks to a huge range of handmade pies, tarts, and cookies that are consistently delicious, set in a warm, photogenic space.