Top Bakeries in South Korea

Tartine Bakery Seoul (Hannam) ★ 4.7 · Seoul

Itaewon and Hannam · 22 Hannam-daero 18-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

The Seoul outpost of Chad Robertson's San Francisco bakery, in Hannam-dong since 2018, quickly setting the standard for open-crumb sourdough in Korea.

Fritz Bakery (Dohwa) ★ 4.6 · Seoul

Hongdae and Yeonnam · 17 Saechang-ro 2-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Fritz operates its bakery counter from the same Dohwa building as the roastery, and the baked goods match the coffee programme in seriousness.

OPS Namcheon Main Branch ★ 4.5 · Busan

Gwangalli · 37 Hwangnyeong-daero 489beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan

OPS has baked for Busan since 1989 and this Namcheon main branch still sells the hagwonjeon custard cakes and cream puffs the city grew up on.

Tip: Hagwonjeon at 2,400 won is the one bake everyone carries out; boxes go fast after school hours.

Baekgudang ★ 4.5 · Busan

Nampo and Jagalchi · 3 Jungang-daero 81beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan

Baekgudang has baked in Busan's old downtown since 1959, three generations deep, and its croison and pie manju still queue out the Jungang-dong door.

Tip: Evening visits after eight catch the bread and cake discounts; the croison sells out first.

Artist Bakery Anguk ★ 4.5 · Seoul

Bukchon and Samcheong · 45 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Artist Bakery is the salt-bread sister project to London Bagel Museum, set in a restored hanok off Yulgok-ro with more than 20 versions of the viral salt.

Weirdough ★ 4.5 · Seoul

Seongsu and Dongdaemun · 32-7 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Weirdough in Seongsu is a small-batch vegan bakery renowned for seaweed sourdough and plant-based pastries, rated 5.0 on HappyCow across 28 reviews.

Ma Pause ★ 4.5 · Seoul

Hongdae and Yeonnam · 33-1 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Ma Pause in Hongdae is a French-trained baker's response to Seoul's generic patisserie scene, producing black sesame canele and laminated pastries.

Passion5 ★ 4.4 · Seoul

Itaewon and Hannam · 272 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Passion5 is the patisserie arm of Paris Baguette's parent company SPC, but it operates on an entirely different level from the parent chain.

For Four Bread ★ 4.4 · Seoul

Hongdae and Yeonnam · 12 Wausan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

For Four Bread in Hongdae specialises in dairy-free and egg-free Korean bakery classics, with vegan tangzhong milk bread that rivals any conventional version.

Lee Heung Yong Bakery ★ 4.3 · Busan

Dongnae and Oncheonjang · 30 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan

Lee Heung Yong runs Busan's master-baker shops, and the Busan University branch keeps salt bread and myeongnan baguettes coming from the ovens.

Tip: The myeongnan baguette at 3,500 won is the Busan-only order; get it warm if you can.

Cafe Onion Bakery (Seongsu) ★ 4.3 · Seoul

Seongsu and Dongdaemun · 8 Achasan-ro 11-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Cafe Onion's Seongsu warehouse space runs a bakery counter with honey butter thick-cut toast that draws a pre-opening queue on weekend mornings.

Gentz Bakery ★ 4.2 · Busan

Nam-gu · 111 Bunpo-ro, Nam-gu, Busan

Gentz Bakery counts among Busan's big three bread names, and its LG Metro City main shop keeps the fish-shaped cream bread line moving all day.

Tip: Free basement parking sits left of the entrance; the fish bread travels well as a gift box.

B&C Bakery Gwangbok ★ 4.2 · Busan

Nampo and Jagalchi · 6 Gwangbok-ro 39beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan

B&C has made its manju and cream puffs the same way since 1983, and this Gwangbok branch puts the Busan bakery staple a block from Gukje Market.

Tip: The manju box is the Busan souvenir move; pair a puff with the market walk next door.

Hongokdang ★ 4.2 · Busan

Gwangalli · 49 Namcheondong-ro 108beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan

Hongokdang cooks its own red beans for danpatppang and old-style patbingsu near Gwangalli in Busan, a small shop built on one ingredient done right.

Tip: Summer patbingsu queues start before noon; the red bean buns travel better than the ice.

P.Ark ★ 4.1 · Busan

Yeongdo · 180 Haeyang-ro 195beon-gil, Yeongdo-gu, Busan

P.Ark bakes its bread wall fresh through the day above Yeongdo's shipyards in Busan, pairing the loaves with harbour views over three terraces.

Tip: Bread trays refill through the morning; the seasonal bakes sell out before the classics.

Upper East Bakery ★ 4.0 · Busan

Seomyeon and Jeonpo · 62-14 Seojeon-ro 46beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan

Upper East Bakery laminates some of the Jeonpo quarter's best croissants in Busan, a second-floor room worth climbing the stairs for at nine sharp.

Tip: Morning batches sell down by early afternoon; delivery covers the neighbourhood if you miss out.

Puff Bakery ★ 4.0 · Busan

Seomyeon and Jeonpo · 56 Dongcheon-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan

Puff Bakery bakes cream-filled croissants and dirty pain au chocolat off Dongcheon-ro in Seomyeon, Busan, a takeaway counter with a cult queue.

Tip: The classic croissant at 5,000 won anchors the case; arrive near opening for full choice.

Baguette Jejakso ★ 4.0 · Busan

Seomyeon and Jeonpo · 19 Jeonpo-daero 199beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan

Baguette Jejakso bakes limited runs of traditional and organic wholewheat baguettes on Jeonpo's cafe street in Busan, and sells out most days.

Tip: The 5,000 won traditional baguette is a limited daily bake; reserve by phone for late pickup.

Paris Baguette (Gwanghwamun) ★ 3.7 · Seoul

Jongno and Insadong · 58 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Paris Baguette is the ubiquitous Korean bakery chain that appears on every high street, but the Gwanghwamun branch is the right flagship to experience.