Guest Author: Lindsey Gorfine
Located in the heart of Itaewon, this breakfast bistro offers the atmosphere and food to amply help anyone pass the day. The flying pan has a lively menu that seeks to reinvent ‘Momma’s’ old brunch favorites, and brunch is served all day from 10:30am to 11pm.
Guest Author: KungPyo Rhee
Often, when people think of cafes, they think of quiant little shops where couples, families, and friends can drink coffee, eat sandwiches, and have a few pasteries. This is such a place. Adorned with a diverse selection of ornaments, Buccella provides you a range of visual satisfaction while you have delicious sandwiches!
D6
Just as you occasionally feel the need to stomp on the accelerator to escape from everyday mundanities, the millions of taste buds that have served you well (hopefully) thus far in your life deserve the same. When you feel like it is time to reconcile conflicts of culinary extremes between extra creamy chicken penne alfredo and aged kimchi jjigae (spicy kimchi soup), it is time you visit a newly-opened fine-dining restaurant in Cheongdam titled D6.
Korea has always had an obsession with organic products. Although selling organic products in Korea is often used as a gimic, Café 5 CiJung offers original Makkeoli cocktails and drinks, which are complimented by private art exhibitions, all organized by the owner, Oh(5 in Korean) CiJung.
Between Terrace
Campari and orange as a mixed drink in Seoul? As I read over the drink menu at Between, I was pleased to find a change of pace from Itaewon’s standard cocktail list, and their dinner menu impressed me as well. Although I was a bit skeptical coming into Between because it had only been open a few weeks, I left feeling impressed with their architecture as well as their drink and dinner selection. This venue has the potential to become one of the most well-known lounges in Seoul.
The name Cafe aA has always been under debate — some call it a cafe, others call it a museum, and there are even some people who consider this venue a showroom for designer’s furniture. But no matter what you call it, aA Design Museum (Cafe aA) provides a multitude of visual, historical, and culinary experiences that are sure to delight even the pickiest of cafe critics.
Having a private party in Korea always comes as a challenge. Hotels are pricey and it can be hard to make reservations, while karaoke places usually don’t provide enough space for a large group of people. The solution to this problem is Awesome Lounge — a hidden gem in Cheongdam which offers private rooms with sufficient space for your event, as well as an extensive bottle menu and finger foods.
Along with one of the best art schools in Korea, Hongdae boasts an eclectic assortment of fine cafes and novel restaurants. Deciding where to go for coffee or food in this area is always a challenge. Moreover, since Hongdae is always packed, I like to find a quiet place to have a cup of coffee or read papers. If you don’t mind wandering a bit off the map, Cafe Wonderland, with its cozy atmosphere, is one of the best places for you to take time to relax.
Cafe Wonderland is located just behind SeoKyo Elementary School, about a 15-minute walk from Hongik University. It’s refreshingly removed from the clutter of central Hongdae, but be careful not to miss it: The alley down which it appears is full of wine bars and cafes, and Wonderland’s second story location makes it doubly easy to go unnoticed.
In Korea, Cafés are a dime a dozen. You can’t walk a block without seeing a Coffee Bean or a Tom & Tom’s. Although you can find huge corporate chains on every block, the smaller, more intimate cafes can often be hard to find, especially if you are unfamiliar with an area. In the last few months, I have found some very unique and upscale cafes which are well worth the extra dollar or two for a good cup of coffee. My favorite has been Baek Eok (100억), which means 10 billion in English.
