I went to the Cheongdam flagship-style store to buy a cake, but the quiet second floor was the part that made me want to return.
FIRST-HAND KOREA DESSERT GUIDE · CHEONGDAM / SEOUL
I visited Knotted Studio Cheongdam because I needed a cake. I expected the cake display to be the main event, but there were far more donuts than ready-made cakes, while the second-floor café was much calmer than I expected.
This branch makes more sense if you want to sit down and enjoy Knotted rather than simply grab a donut. The first floor is bright and busy with ordering, while the second floor was noticeably quieter during my visit.
Best forDonuts, celebration cakes and a Cheongdam café stop
October 2026 hours10:00–21:00
Layout1F ordering · 2F seating
My surpriseMuch more donut choice than ready-made cake choice
I came here for the cake
Knotted has become one of the better-known Korean donut brands, but donuts were not the reason for this visit.
I needed a whole cake.
The Cheongdam store looked more polished and spacious than the small takeout-style Knotted shops I remembered. The large sign outside made it very difficult to wonder whether I had found the right building.
Knotted Studio Cheongdam
15 Dosan-daero 53-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울 강남구 도산대로53길 15
The first floor is where nearly every decision happens
The first floor is visually busy in the way a dessert store should be.
Donuts fill much more of the display than whole cakes. The staff were also continuously organizing the counter, so the room felt clean despite the traffic.
There were enough donut choices to make the cake look lonely
During my visit I saw milk cream, low-sugar milk cream, classic vanilla, mango cream, banana pudding, chocolate pudding and Earl Grey flavors.
| Donut | Price at my visit |
|---|---|
| Milk Cream | KRW 3,900 |
| Low-Sugar Milk Cream | KRW 4,200 |
| Classic Vanilla | KRW 3,500 |
| Mango Cream | KRW 4,500 |
| Banana Pudding | KRW 4,500 |
| Chocolate Pudding | KRW 3,900 |
| Earl Grey | KRW 3,500 |
For a first Knotted donut, I would start with one of the simpler cream flavors. The brand is already sweet and rich enough without needing the most complicated seasonal option first.
The ready-made cake selection was smaller than I expected
I expected a large Cheongdam branch to have many complete cakes ready to buy. During my visit, the selection was much more limited.
After I chose mine, only a couple of cakes remained visible in the display.
That is the main reason I would not leave an important birthday cake entirely to chance. Knotted's official site currently supports advance pickup reservations, which makes much more sense when one particular design matters.
If the cake matters more than the donuts:
Check the current pickup menu before going. Walk-in cake choice can be much narrower than the donut selection.
Check the current pickup menu before going. Walk-in cake choice can be much narrower than the donut selection.
Upstairs was much calmer than downstairs
This was the part I liked most about the branch.
Downstairs naturally had people moving around the display and ordering. Upstairs had much more breathing room.
The rounded seating, tables and quieter atmosphere made me think that next time I would stay for coffee and one donut rather than treating the store only as a pickup point.
I used the building parking during my visit
That was convenient because I was buying a whole cake and did not want to carry it far.
I would not publish a permanent parking fee or validation rule from that one visit because those conditions can change.
For central Cheongdam, I would check the current parking arrangement before deciding to drive specifically because of parking.
What international visitors should know
Korean name:
노티드 스튜디오 청담
Address:
서울 강남구 도산대로53길 15
Phone:
070-8860-9377
Hours listed in October 2026:
10:00–21:00
Pickup:
Official advance pickup ordering is currently available.
Best reason to choose this branch:
The second-floor seating makes it more useful as a café than a small takeout-only Knotted branch.
Overseas card:
I did not separately test an overseas-issued card.
FAQ
Does Knotted Studio Cheongdam have seating?
Yes. The second floor had a substantial seating area and was considerably quieter than the ordering floor during my visit.
Can I just walk in and buy a whole cake?
I did, but the ready-made selection was limited. For a specific birthday design, I would reserve rather than depend on the display.
Is the Cheongdam branch only for tourists?
No. It functions as a normal dessert café, although the larger space and brand design also make it more interesting for visitors who specifically want to experience Knotted.
What should a first-time visitor buy?
For donuts, I would start with a basic cream flavor. For a cake, I would check the current official pickup selection first.
Would I return?
Yes — and next time I would probably stay upstairs.
I originally came only to buy a cake.
The cake selection was smaller than expected, but the donuts gave me plenty of choice and the second floor was much calmer than the first.
For me, that upstairs space is what separates this branch from simply buying a Knotted box and leaving.
I originally came only to buy a cake.
The cake selection was smaller than expected, but the donuts gave me plenty of choice and the second floor was much calmer than the first.
For me, that upstairs space is what separates this branch from simply buying a Knotted box and leaving.
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