With the endless amount of cafes in Korea, how could I not do another cafe hopping post.
Truthfully I haven’t been lugging my DSLR around so there aren’t many pictures, but I thought it would be nice to just write about a few more cafes. Here we go…
Coffee Lab
As pictured before the cut.
Coffee Lab is located in Hongdae (right across the road from where they filmed the drama ‘Coffee Prince’). It’s a lovely and chill place to study or hang out with friends. It has all the normal cafe characteristics: free wi-fi, nicely decorated (coffee themed, as you can see from below) and an extensive menu of drinks.
They also sell bags of coffee beans, cookies and some coffee/tea utensils that aren’t pictured.
I visited the Coffee Lab a little later in the afternoon, so I didn’t want any caffeine keeping me up all night and went with the simple grapefruit-ade. It was very refreshing and made with fresh grapefruit, so woohoo. My friends ordered coffee on their own and they said it was extremely delicious and I take their word for it.
Overall it was a very nice little lab for coffee (and other drinks) and if I didn’t live on the other side of Hongdae, it would have been my hangout place for sure.
De Ttoma (드또마)
Cafe De Ttoma is close to the Hapjeong area. I walked over from Hongdae area one late night with some friends and we were blown away by the large bird-cage (which led to a downstairs area) inside and we walked straight in. And that’s why I only have one photo. I can’t even remember what I ordered but I remember it was very nice.
For those who are avid Korean drama watchers, this is where they filmed Reply 1997. It has an absolutely lovely ambience and very uniquely decorated, with the theme of a half worn-down cafe but being completely new at the same time. Their menu was very extensive from assorted cakes, treats to wine, coffee, ades. The most peculiar aspect of this cafe was their playlist. They were playing the greatest hits of 2000s or something. They had it going on with Usher, Ciara, Chamillionaire; it was extremely bizarre. My friends and I had a good kick out of it as it was such a cute, spacious cafe with a playlist that didn’t quite match.
We stayed until we got kicked out (they closed at midnight), so that’s saying something.
5 Ci Jung (오시정)
5 Ci Jung has to be one of my favourites. Apparently they have a few chains in Seoul, but I’ve only ever been to the one in Apgujeong (close to Garosugil). I tried to find the one in Hongdae but I’m pretty sure it was replaced buy a leather bag store and a sock vending machine. :(
5 Ci Jung has one of the most unique menus with fresh ginseng milk, soft persimmon smoothie, banana radish peanut smoothie. They also have some crazy rice wines like blueberry rice wine, citron rice wine, etc. They also have a lunch/dinner menu. Their full menu can be found here: http://www.5cijung.com/menu1.html
My favourite from the menu is the iced blueberry vinegar ade. Every time I say this to something they always react with “…what?”, but it is seriously the most delicious drink ever. I probably should have ordered something else, but the few times I have visited this cafe…this is what I’ve ordered. I really ought to try out those rice wines before I leave though.
This little place is very homely, that could probably fit about 20 or so customers. They have knick knacks everywhere around the cafe and they also serve them with your drinks. And if that’s not enticing enough, they give out free scones (which are extremely delicious) with every drink.
My advice? VISIT THIS PLACE.
Dango House (당고집)
Recommended by some fellow KISSmes, this place is close to the Hapjeong area. It’s in a little street, practically without any other stores. But it is a serious delight to your tastebuds.
This cafe is a little badly decorated (gasp, what?! A badly decorated cafe in Korea). Okay well, it’s not hideous. It’s definitely very, very homely with the odd furniture everywhere. But don’t let that put you off as it as a very special menu of rice dumplings and Japanese sodas.
Cherry Blossom bingsoo.
Cherry Blossom soda, rice dumpling skewers (fruit flavoured).
Their sodas was made from syrup, of course. It was a nice try, but I don’t think I’d try it again…as it was too sweet. The skewers and bingsoo were another story though. A must try! It was really lovely to stumble upon this little shack on a hot summer’s day.
La Eskimo
Photo courtesy of Foursquare.
A cafe located directly on Apgujeong’s garosugil. Its menu features a wide range of cakes and tarts.
The interior was extremely spacious and, to my delight, not the most “coupley” atmosphere. It’s definitely more suited towards large groups of girlfriends or even family. Woohoo for finding a non-couple-ish place!
I tried their apple tart (which is making me salivate as I write about it), which had thinly sliced apples on the top of the whole tart. They had so many fruit-flavoured choices that I didn’t know what to choose. They were all very big portions as well. As for drinks, they are probably more well-known for their coffee but I opted for their berry ade and, my friend, a lemonade. It was a little too syrupy, but they redeemed themselves with a few pieces of fresh fruit.
I’m not sure if I’ll have the chance to do more cafe hopping before I leave. Perhaps tonight I will visit the sheep cafe again and take some pictures. :D
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