Pat a Cake Jamsil

Pat a Cake is a fresh-fruit cake shop on the main street of Songridan-gil, a few minutes' walk from the East Lake of Seokchon Lake. It describes itself as using 100% dairy cream and fruit brought in daily, and the cakes show it: two tall sponge layers with fruit stacked through the middle and piled on top. The lineup follows the seasons, so you might find strawberry and chocolate-strawberry in winter, mango or melon in summer, and figs or Earl Grey fig in autumn, plus mandarin yogurt from about October to February. You can order a single slice with coffee or take home a mini whole cake, which is roughly palm-sized and serves one or two. The entrance is a red door on the ground floor; the cafe itself is upstairs, with an antique-style room that suits a slow afternoon. Weekends bring a queue, while weekday afternoons are usually easier. For photos, ask for the slice and cut it so the fruit layer faces the window light.