Tag: photography
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CAFE 5CI JUNG | 까페오시정
Post-lunch coffee at Cafe 5Ci Jung is akin to spending the afternoon at a friendly neighbour’s home. A very warm welcome awaits you the moment you step through its doors, right up till you leave its premises. Each barista made an effort to greet every guest, and never seemed to stop smiling. I was further impressed when the…
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SEOUL DIARIES 017: SSAMZIEGIL ARTS AND CULTURE 쌈지길
Indeed, Ssamziegil is the ‘Special Insa-dong within Insa-dong’. This arts and cultural heaven is made of over 70 shops, including handicraft and souvenir stores, art galleries, restaurants and eateries. Following a spiral-like staircase, you’ll arrive at Haneulmadang at the top of Ssamziegil, where you get a really good sky-view! Found: the legendary DUNG-BREAD! Bread shaped like…
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Miss Lee Cafe | 별다방 미스리
My first shake-em-up Korean lunchbox meal, also known as dosirak 도시락! At Star Cafe Miss Lee (별다방 미스리): I didn’t exactly shake it, because the lady who served my lunch told me I didn’t have to unless I wanted the egg yolk to explode, and I dislike my rice soaked in yolk. But damn, this was sooooo…
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SEOUL DIARIES 013: BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE 북촌한옥마을
For history buffs who wish to experience a well-preserved slice of Korean history, Bukchon Hanok Village is where you need to be! The residential district of Bukchon (literally meaning north village) housed high-ranking government officials / nobility during the Joseon Dynasty. Here, traditional Korean houses known as Hanok (or Joseonhouses) were re-built or re-furnished from the olden days. Tourist information centers are tactfully located in all…
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SEOUL DIARIES 012: ART @ ANGUK STATION
The thing about travelling alone is this: you’ve got to find ways to entertain yourself. Every empty street and silent alley is a selfie moment… or in my guesthouse room, every morning, before I see the world. On my way to Insadong and Bukchon Hanok Village, I captured these paintings at Anguk station’s underground platform. To…
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Travel Cafe Hongdae | 트래블 카페 @ 홍대
비행기 타기를 즐기십니까? Do you love plane rides and travelling?Personally I’m a huge fan of the Travel Cafe in Hapjeong/Hongik University district. Amongst an abundance of travel inspirations and books on various attractive destinations, this is the perfect place to plan for your next trip, or simply to relive the excitement of a plane ride. When you order something to…
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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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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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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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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 