Brown Picnic: South Korea's Cafe in the Woods

Bakeries can be more than a place where you grab an espresso on the way to work. In their blog's English translation, Brown Picnic is where Tosil's House "felt real healing."

What makes Brown Picnic unique? First off, you won't find this cafe in a strip mall between a daycare and a nail salon. Brown Picnic resides in the Busan wilderness like a childhood secret. You won't have to hike for miles, but it's secluded enough that you can relax outside, admiring the white-tipped foliage and watching seed pods float through the air.

Inside, the cafe serves baked goods loaded with chocolate, fruit and cream, including Spanish cheesecakes that defy traditional recipes. Instead of shoving you through a drive-thru, Brown Picnic encourages you to sit down and linger. When's the last time that you really savored your coffee?

The Healing Forest

Tosil House's trip to Brown Picnic led them through the woods, following signs that directed them to a grey brick building with a yellow awning. The cafe resides in a clearing surrounded by trees, flowering shrubs, trimmed grasses and natural vegetation.

Guests who prefer outdoor dining can sit at one of the picnic tables with yellow umbrellas. Blogger Hani decided to go inside, reporting that the inside was smaller than they expected with about six tables and three window seats.

Nature dominates the interior, too. Potted plants decorate the shelves and tables. Sunlight streams through the windows, which reveal green leaves and yellow flowers outside. Brick walls, wooden tables and wicker seats emphasize Brown Picnic's rustic approach.

"It was a beautiful cafe with a perfect atmosphere," Fumon states in their blog's English translation. "A cafe where you can feel even more healed when you enjoy it."

Dining In

Guests approach the counter to find cakes, breads and pastries in a glass case with a wooden frame. Employees write labels on the glass: MATCHA BASQUE CHEESE CAKE, OREO [CAKE], DOJIMA, CORN BREAD, PECAN PIE. Beside the case, rows of financiers (French cakes) rest on a metal grille. Signs taped to a wooden board describe the flavors: plain, macadamia, crispy matcha, almond and chocolate, and fig and cream cheese.

Depending on the month, you could find seasonal items like corn Basque cheesecake with a hunk of sweet corn on top, old-fashioned bingsu smothered in red beans or refreshing green juice topped with foam. But Brown Picnic drives tourism with their Basque cheesecakes that you can enjoy year-round, cut into wedges like cheddar cheese.

Spanish Charm

Basque cheesecake originates from La Viña, a restaurant in San Sebastián, Spain. Chefs do what you're not supposed to do, which is burn the cake on high heat. But instead of ruining the dessert, this method creates a delicious brown crust and moist, creamy interior that you can scoop up with a spoon.

Brown Picnic shared an Instagram video of a Basque cheesecake before it's served. From the outside, the cake looks like a cheese wheel with a brown, shiny rind. The employee cuts out a wedge, revealing a rich white interior like melting cream cheese.

You'd expect these cakes to come with fancy cutlery, but orders appear on simple brown trays and white plates like a farmhouse table setting. Basque cheesecakes don't have toppings, either. The simplicity encourages you to savor the delicate flavors of "original," chocolate, matcha or black sesame.

The Quiet Life

On Instagram, Brown Picnic shares pictures of desserts alongside simple images: a toy wagon in the dirt, yellow flowers on a table, potted plants resting on a shelf beside a mirror. This showcases Brown Picnic's apparent philosophy of living a simple, earthy life, appreciating nature while you enjoy treats baked from freshly harvested ingredients.

"How precious an innocent day is," reads the English translation of one Instagram post. "I wish all of your daily lives to be healthy and safe." Finding Brown Picnic takes a little effort, but once you arrive, you'll want to stay at this cafe in the woods forever.

Have you been to Brown Picnic or another Korean cafe? What are your thoughts on Basque cheesecake? Let me know in the comments.