Category: Travel
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Book Cafe Jaeum and Moeum | 자음과모음 북카페
Major Korean publishers Jaeum and Moeum (자음과모음) releases the latest bestsellers via their flagship bookstores, as well as this dainty and elegant book cafe situated in central Yanghwaro, Hongdae. An all-day set menu includes a cup of coffee bundled with new releases. Book cafes are where publishers highlight noteworthy books that haven’t received much publicity or marketing opportunities.…
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Ways of Seeing | @ 한남동 이태원
A perfect collision of art and coffee culture – what better way to kick back in appreciation of art installations with a coffee in hand! Ways of Seeing is a cafe slash art gallery along Itaewon. The local indie artsy-types would definitely know this place – it’s probably their favourite hangout. They have the standard coffee menu plus sandwiches,…
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Glamorous Penguin | 글래머러스 펭귄
Glamorous Penguin is established within the expat-friendly Itaewon locale which is home to a myriad of private and national art museums, and also a walking distance from Hannamdong Cafe Street. Despite being a weekday mid-morning, Glamorous Penguin was already bustling with a caffeine-hungry crowd! Itaewon is the artsy-fartsy neighbourhood similar to Gangnam, but with less self-established private corporations. The entire Itaewon is more or…
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Thanks Nature Cafe | 양카페
Only in Seoul, you get to dine with a lamb! With the proliferation of overrated cat and dog cafes, Hongdae’s first and only sheep cafe (양카페) has been making headlines. Owner of the cafe, Kwang-Ho Lee, is spotted feeding the frisky little ones in their outdoor enclosure. Much to my surprise, the sheep didn’t smell…
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This is HELLO and GOODBYE
Bidding farewell to the room and bed @ BLU Home Guesthouse that has kept me warm and well-rested for the past 6 nights. And this is me saying: HELLO JEJU ISLAND! Embracing the next part of my adventure with KRISPY in Jeju!! Will meet her at Gimpo airport before our flight, and since I’m checking…
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Zoo Coffee | 주커피
Need I say more? The name speaks for itself. It’s a jungle in here! I love this wildlife, amazonian concept. There are different animals and wildlife knick knacks in each Zoo Coffee house. Found this chain coffee house on my walk to Yeouido and popped in for dessert! Tiramisu…my love. Off…
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Neal’s Yard | 닐스야드 홍대점
A little bit of London in South Korea. They also have branches in Itaewon and this one’s near to the bustling crowd at Hongik University! Yep, this one’s for you, if you’ve got a weakness for desserts too. Some lemonade to kick this digestive system into gear. 163-16 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea xoxo, Viktoria Jean
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Caffe Bene | 카페베네
At the IFC Mall after a walking along the Hangang Park. In Korea, the Caffe Bene cafes (a chain of coffee houses) is stocked with books for its diners to pick up and read. Honestly, there’s nothing special about their food. Much like Starbucks, McDonalds’ and Coffee Bean in a strange foreign land, it’s a…
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Orange Cafe – Espresso of Street | At 여의도
Only in Seoul, you get an insanely good cup of iced latte on the go! Espresso of street, you’ve said it right. Nothing gives a better energy boost than coffee to keep you going on a long long walk in Yeouido Park and across the Han River thereafter. The barista is a kind young man…
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Tous Les Jours | 뚜레쥬르
A shot of caramel macchiato before heading off to Yeouido Park for a long long afternoon! Tous Les Jours is this French-Asian bakery in South Korea that’s wildly popular as breakfast-to-go for the young adults. Coffee on the go!! ^^ The cakes are so pretty, I had to sneak a few shots! The photos from…
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Deux Crèmes | 듀 크렘
Gangnam’s Garosugil is laden with patisseries, cake-shops, chocolatiers and coffeehouses. Deux Crèmes is one of the most popular and renowned pastry houses that occupies a standalone 3-storey building along the main street, drawing in a steady stream of dessert-seeking locals and foreigner everyday, and feeding this steady stream with their very special pie-tart-cake hybrids. Read: Deux…
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50 Fifty No Stress Cafe | 피프티
Reminiscent of a warehouse and appearing somewhat like a garage amidst reformation, the high-ceilinged 50 Fifty Cafe in uptown Apgujeong is hip and trendy with a rustic Junk-Style appeal. Diners can choose between smoking and non-smoking seating areas to enjoy a truly stress-free meal amongst the company of friends and tasteful lounge music. Kick back…
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Bloom and Goûté | 블룸 앤 구떼
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower.” Nothing else better invokes purity of thoughts than innocence of youth. In this rustic foliage of greens and florals, William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence springs to mind. Off the beaten track on Gangnam-Gu’s Garosu-Gil is my favorite cafe by a…
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Coffee Chu | 커피츄
What’s good here? Blueberry and peanut churros! A churros specialty cafe was exactly what I was keeping an eye out for. Opened by the CEO of Pledis Entertainment (Afterschool, NU’EST, Son Dambi), the cafe is decked out in signed paraphernalia from their artistes. If you’re looking for a particular cafe on Sinsa-dong, blink and you…
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A Twosome Place | 투썸플레이스
Exploring Apgujeong Rodeo Street led me to CGV Cinema at Sinsa-Dong, Gangnam-Gu. This dessert cafe used to be A Twosome Place by 51k, owned by actor So Ji Sub, until the 1st of January this year when this was turned into a normal Twosome Place cafe. Linked directly to the cinema, you can purchase coffee and…
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Angel-In-Us Coffee | 엔제리너스커피
For the ultimate convenience I tamed my hunger with breakfast from Angel-In-Us Coffee! It’s one of those coffee-chain giants but not as common at every corner as Tom n Toms or Caffe Bene. Had me some Honey and Cheese Thick Toast! And a Blueberry Smoothie. 엔제리너스커피 Hongdae xoxo, Viktoria Jean
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Retail Therapy | SEOUL DAY THREE
오늘은 명동에 갔다. 새로운 부츠 안경 메이크업과 몇 가지 책을 샀다. 집 내 물건을 가지고 새로운 가방이 필요합니다 ~ ㅋ ㅋ Behold my loot, in the span of 2 hours at Myeong Dong. It’s really not a lot, actually. Amazed by the good quality of my new spectacles! LookOptical only took half an hour to…
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Kona Beans | 코나빈스
Hot Chocolate before heading homewards – ain’t I glad Kona Beans Cafe (as well as many coffee chains along Hongdae) are open 24hrs to keep us well-fed on coffee and happiness. Kona Beans is heavy on the Hawaiian theme, considering they use a premium Hawaiian roast. There are actual trees in the middle of the…
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Cafe Organic | 카페오가닉
Junk and instant food is the bane of my existence and yet I’m a sucker for anything that’s quick, ready-to-eat and hence highly-preserved. In a bid to have something less artery-clogging for a change, I had been eyeing this beautiful cafe at its Hongdae location all afternoon. Cafe Organic is a double-storeyed healthy alternative to…
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Cafe Da Vinci Coffee | 다빈치 커피
Nestled in the artsy-fartsy district of Hongdae (my favourite place in Seoul) is Cafe Da Vinci Coffee, where works of the celebrated artist come alive within these four walls. In this area, there’s practically a coffee-house at every turn. Cafe Da Vinci’s intricate wall art and clear polystyrene sheltered patio caught my attention. The primacy…
Viktoria Jean 