Pierre Herme's first Korean cafe flagship at 63 Building in Seoul (Hong Yoo/The Korea Herald) The rose, lychee and raspberry combination known as Ispahan has spread across Seoul patisserie counters in recent years. At the 63 Building in Yeouido, western Seoul, it is now available from the chef who invented it.Pierre Herme Paris opened its first cafe-style flagship in Korea earlier this month, moving the French maison beyond the department store counters where it has operated here since its debut pop-up at The Hyundai Seoul.The store sits in the same building as Centre Pompidou Hanwha, and the brand has leaned into the adjacency. Herme, often called the Picasso of pastry, has built a career on treating dessert as composition rather than confection, making this flagship a fitting stop before or after an exhibition.A circular counter anchors the room, with a showcase, cafe seating and a gift collection display arranged around it. Brass fittings, walnut-toned wood and travertine set a warm but restrained tone. Seating is generous and cushioned, and tables filled well even before lunchtime on a recent weekday morning. Macaron showcased at Pierre Herme's first cafe flagship in Seoul (Hong Yoo/The Korea Herald) Ispahan macaron is the reason many will come. Herme developed the flavor while at Laduree, and it has since become a category of its own.The macaron shell here is soft rather than chewy. The rose comes through gently, and a raspberry jam hidden in the cream cuts the sweetness with a burst of acidity. The result is fragrant and only lightly sweet, which suits Korean palates that tend to reject heavy sugar.Venus, another signature macaron, pairs rose with quince. Rose in dessert can easily tip into the sensation of eating perfume. It does not here. The floral note spreads pleasantly.Among the non-macaron pastries, the Eclair Infiniment Vanille stands out. Its mascarpone filling is flecked with Madagascar vanilla beans and carries a clear vanilla aroma without turning heavy, while a chocolate coating adds the sweetness the filling holds back.Macarons and pound cakes are flown in from Paris. The remaining desserts are produced in Korea, and Herme reviews them virtually each day before they go into the showcase, according to the store.The soft serve is exclusive to the flagship and new to Korea. Infiniment Vanille, Infiniment Chocolat and Ultime translate three of the maison's core flavors into a cold format, using recipes brought over from the Paris stores.The Korean operation of Pierre Herme Paris is run by Hotel IPark.