Other than Jeju Island, Gangwon Province (강원도 Gangwon-do) is another popular destination where Koreans flock to during summer, as the general temperature is 6 degrees cooler compared to Seoul. One of the must-visit in Gangwon province would be Terra Rosa Cafe 테라로사 커피공장, where visitors can enjoy a “forest bath” together with quality coffee brews and perfectly baked goods!

Located right in the forest, this cafe is one of the biggest coffee brewers in Gangwon Province, with about 12 branches in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Busan and Jeju Island. It is also famed as one of the prettiest cafe in Gangwon Province. There’re indoor and terrace seating, a small bakery, a coffee roasting factory within the premise of the headquarter.

The cafe is extremely popular with the locals. It was a Monday afternoon with slight drizzling when I arrived and it was already packed with visitors. We decided to take the outdoor seat and ordered some coffee and cakes from the bakery. Since the cafe is located in the mountains the outdoor seats were quite cooling, it really lived up to the official Gangwon Tourism Organization’s campaign tagline: 6 degrees cooler during Summer.

My single origin Geisha Honduras El Puente (KRW 10,000)  was a beautiful brew brimming with a floral scent, sweetness from ripe melon and some refreshing orange peel aftertaste. One of the more complex and interesting coffee profile I have ever tasted.

Like many other indie cafes in Seoul, Terra Rosa produce fresh bakeries to go with their coffee. One of the head-turners was Mr. Lemington, a chocolate cake originated from Australia. The moist chocolate cake is coated with shaved coconut, the sweetness from the dark chocolate matches so well with my Geisha coffee.

The artisan bread was fluffy and packed with cranberries and walnut. It was a very filling bread I must say, a great selection for sharing.

Writer’s Note: Terra Rosa Headquarter has moved to its current location in July 2017, which is right beside the old location. The new space is decorated with new bricks and surrounded by a chestnut forest. I’ve yet to visit this place ever since they moved, but below are some of the photos I’ve found online for your information. The cafe is *extremely* popular, so it might look slightly different due to the busy crowd. If you prefer a quieter coffee time, I would suggest visiting this place early in the morning on a weekday.

A post shared by ?슈앤블랑 _handmade (@pinkladyya) on Aug 29, 2017 at 6:51pm PDT

A post shared by 으니 (@eeennn2) on Aug 29, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

Contact Details:

Directions:

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It is now my best go-to cafe whenever I need quality time with my friends, and an excellent hideout for some alone time. It is strangely a space befitting almost all kinds of dates – with a bigger group of friends, with that special someone, over afternoon tea or evening cocktail, to wine and dessert after dinner or even for proper meal.

Tucked away in the hidden gol-mok (alleyway) of Itaewon, the cafe requires its visitors a little patience to locate. It is hidden humbly at the end of a steep staircase off the main road – the kind of location you won’t even noticed unless given a tip-off. Behind the black metal door was a huge private garden with open terrace. I love having brunch at their outdoor terrace when the weather is fine.

The interior was a brilliant combination of industrial and traditional design. I love the wooden flooring, the rustic colonial settings and how the metal furniture, decorations and exposed bricks adding a nice industrial touch to the interior.

The cafe offers a wide variety of drinks, ranging from alcoholic drinks like beer, cocktails and wine to alcohol-free beverages like mocktail, juices and coffee. Having tried their red and white wine, gin & tonic and coffee, I would say their drinks are pretty decent, generally a 6-7/10 and above if you want a rating. After all, it is the variety that makes every trip down to Ando so enjoyable.

My brunch companion got herself an Iced Latte, and I took a sip of it. Personally I think it was a little too milky for my liking. I understand milk is what makes up a latte but it tasted mostly like milk with weak espresso lingering in the background. I once ordered their Americano, and it turned out great. It was smooth, velvety, full bodied but balanced, exactly how I like my coffee to be.

I have only dined in once at Ando. However, the pizza we ordered during the brunch date was only mediocre. It has a wonderful thin crust, slightly smokey and crisp as you can see from the pictures, but the toppings were a little weird. I did not truly enjoy the pizza, but I love the atmosphere and the relaxing jazz music in the background. It is a pity I only dined there once, and the rest of my visits were either in the afternoon or after dinner at elsewhere. I hope I can try out other dishes there soon. The salad and pasta from other tables looked great.

Ando Chocolate Brownie is my favourite dessert at the cafe. I love the combination of yogurt whipped cream with the sinful cake – the yogurt makes the cake tastes so much fluffier. Sprinkled with nuts, cranberries and drizzled with chocolate sauce, the soft and squidgy cake is a good dessert to share. I like to pair the brownie with some red wine.

Ando Tiramisu. The generous sprinkling of cocoa powder made it a visually seductive tiramisu. However, the chef seemed to overlook the amount of brandy in the crust. There’s no single trace of alcohol in it, which is quite a disappointment. Perhaps it was the lacking of alcohol makes the dish plain and uninteresting. It is such a waste since the mascarpone cheese topping was nicely textured. I still prefer the Tiramisu at Tutto Bene.

The atmosphere of the cafe turns helplessly romantic at night. I love having wine here with my friends and loved ones after dinner.

Much to my surprise, Ando also operates as a guesthouse. Their newly renovated and tastefully styled rooms, pantry and even the shower room is so Instagram-worthy it is an awesome space every hipster traveller would dream of. I look forward someday I will be able to spend a night or two there, and tell you my experience with Ando Stay 101. It seems positive judging from the pictures on Airbnb.

ANDO STAY 101 ITAEWON – Houses for Rent

House in 서울특별시, South Korea. It is an ANDO STAY 101 ITAEWON linked with CAFÉ ANDO. Clean environment and sensory interior can be found from recent remodeling. Very close to CAFÉ ANDO that any necessities can be fulfilled easily. ANDO STAY 101 ITAEWON is located in the center… View all listings in 서울특별시

Writer’s Note: Truly a hidden urban oasis in Seoul. It is a good brunch spot in downtown Seoul with a nice blend of home tranquility and city cosmopolitan. I would recommend the place for a group gathering, date night or even a post-dinner-chill-out session. For those who are interested in staying in the guesthouse, I would say it is not heavy-luggage friendly. This could be a nice find if you’re going to stay in Seoul just for a couple of days without heavy baggage.

Contact Details:

카페 안도 Cafe Ando
서울특별시 용산구 한남동 736-8
736-8 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel. 02-749-0619

Directions:

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Club Espresso is located in Buam-dong, one of the relatively-less-crowded-but-getting-popular-neighborhood (ugh!) in Seoul that offers high concentrations of quality food and coffee. Surrounded by impressive galleries, hidden restaurants, traditional teahouses and studios for many South Korean homegrown designers, Buam-dong makes a family and couple friendly location for a weekend outing.

I especially love the warmth of the wooden interior. It was a building made of red bricks, with rustic wooden furniture decorating the space. I love the wooden tables and chairs by the windows and the huge counter where visitors can sample different blends and single origin coffees before purchasing one that fits their taste and liking. The menu consists of three categories: drip coffee, single-origin espresso, and espresso variations, each category offer at least 5 different beans/beverages.

Up on the second floor of the café was a huge roasting area. Connecting the roasting room was a corridor, filled up with cupboards exhibiting a rich collection of barista tools and accessories any coffee fanatic would love spending hours exploring. I could vividly remember how delighted I was every time I swing open the wooden door and found the delicious smell of the coffee emanating from the bar.

Affogato (above). My personal favourite from Club Espresso. Creamy vanilla ice cream with two shots of vicious, dark espresso poured over. The chopped dark chocolate added a rich depth to the black intoxicating bitters. I love savouring these hot/cold, sweet/intense goodies –the most satisfying simple pleasure in life.

Iced Chocolano (below), another Club Espresso speciality coffee. It is a combination of rich chocolate, a luscious espresso shot and creamy whipped cream. Although we ordered the iced version, the drink was extremely potent — worth your daily calorie quota (once in a while!).

Club Espresso has been the place I constantly return to whenever I am in the area. I adored the tastefully decorated interior and personally felt it is what made the place stands out from the thousands of cafés out there. However, during my latest visit, I found the place has undergone some major renovations. They cleared all the woody interiors on the first floor and turned it into spacious, industrial settings. Obviously, they have remodelled the cafe into a trading friendly environment for coffee beans/ gadget buyers. Visitors may still take their coffee break at level two, which now serves as a seating hall.

All coffee including the eat-in orders is now served in takeaway cups. The espresso is still intact. My girlfriend and I had two servings each that afternoon. I am glad the coffee is of the same old good quality, but the experience of drinking my coffee from the impeccably presented, nicely warmed coffee cup and from a disposable coffee cup is just incomparable.

Doing away with the coffee cups is no doubt an economical and wiser business strategy, but something has gone missing. Substituting the finely chopped chocolate for chocolate fudge was another small disappointment after the renovation. I can’t help but miss the good old days. When I returned home that day, I scrolled down my Facebook timeline and found the photos I took on the very first time I visited the café with YJ and Mr Nice (It was in 2010!). I am glad the memories still echo in the time when things change very quickly.

Writer’s Note:  A café that impresses its visitors with the consistent good extractions in EACH cup of the espresso. They undoubtedly brew the best espresso in town, but I prefer the old Club Espresso, the red brick cottage that provides more than just a good cup of coffee.

Contact Details:

Club Espresso 클럽 에스프레소
서울시 종로구 부암동 257-1
257-1 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Tel. +82-02-764-8719

Directions:

1. Coming out from Gyeongbok Palace Station (경복궁역) Exit No. 3, walk straight about 100 meters until you reach the 2nd  bus stop. (check the  board, it should indicate buses number 1020, 7022, 7212.)
2. Board any of the 3 buses above (1020, 7022, 7212) and alight at Buam-Dong Community Service Centre 부암동주민센터 [read: Bu-am-dong Ju-min Sen-toh]. The bus journey is roughly about 10 mins. a total 6 stops (including destination stop) before alighting.
3. After alighting from the bus, try to locate this particular cafe, by walking towards the direction your bus had come from.
4. You’ll see this particular building below after 30-40 seconds of walking towards the direction where you came from before alighting from the bus.

5. That’s your destination! Enjoy your good cup of coffee!

Being an avid coffee drinker, tracking down a solid cuppa is like an everyday routine for me. Coffee Arco is on the list of the better finds I encounter along the trendy streets of Garosugil. A roastery itself, Arco’s in-house roaster is around every day to take care of the beans that go to your cup. Serving aromatic and perhaps, the most interesting speciality coffee, Arco is one of my usual coffee stops when I am at Garosugil.  

Coffee Arco serves a variety of coffee, from the single origin to different seasonal house blends. You’ll find standard espresso varieties including Espresso, Latte, Flat White, Americano,  etc. on their drinks list. Pretty common, but the surprise comes from the second page of their menu.

They serve drip coffee, coffee cocktails (sweet!) and their speciality coffee from the “Arco Story Coffee” range. Sorry dear readers, although I have been to Arco for at least 5 times, I have never ordered anything else other than Shakerato, and the addictive Orange Latte from their “Arco Story Coffee” range. Another interesting drink I noticed during my latest visit was Lady Latte. A coffee cocktail made of Kahlua, Baileys, Frangelico & Espresso — most excellent coffee combination imaginable! I am going to order this on my next trip.

Orange Latte — An Arco signature drink made with homemade orange syrup and espresso. I have to admit I was quite hesitant during my first encounter. I find the slice of fresh orange was floating on the dense latte form in my cup quite dubious. However, the drink was certainly a cuppa to be remembered: Rich and dense latte form, strong and thick espresso with a nice hint of zesty orange flavour at the background. Certainly a beautiful way to wake up the senses in the morning.

On various occasions, I happened to be at Garosugil in the early morning, and the first thing I would do was to head down to Arco and indulge in their signature latte. I am not a latte fan nor I love any milk infused drink, but I always make sure I don’t miss the good ones, Arco’s Orange Latte is one of them.

Shakerato. [Read: Sha- K – rato] One of the trending espresso-based iced coffee in South Korea. It is an espresso drink infused with syrup and then shaken with ice. A drink perfect for summer. If you are not a fan of Ice Americano, this is what you probably will like. The sweet flavour at the front of the pallet with a slightly dry, dark chocolate aroma was a pure luxury.

Writer’s Note: A cafe at Gangnam that offers various interesting (and good) espresso drinks. If you like coffee cocktails, Arco is a must visit. Just in case you’re interested, their roasted blends are available for sale too.

Contact Details:

Coffee Arco 커피 아르꼬
519-17, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul.
서울시 강남구 신사동 519-17
Tel. 070-8777-0316

Directions:

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Backed by its rich history backdated to 1971, Dok-dabang witnesses the development of South Korea and how the landscape of Sinchon had evolved since the 70s. It is not restricted to those who wants to study. They have a huge common area separated from the study area, catering couples or small group visitors who prefer a relatively quiet place to chit chat and relax.

The cafe offers a gracefully rustic, library-like ambience. The wooden tiles, ceiling-tall wooden shelves, wood patio doors with gold linings and classical music loops softly at the background; all sums up to this academically friendly, nostalgic hideout for visitors.

The overall atmosphere feels more like a home library to me. With the perfect lighting coming in from the huge glass windows at daytime, it is no wonder a popular study cafe among Yonsei students.

Up there on the mezzanine floor has one of the greatest sunset views in Sinchon. If you are planning a romantic date night, this is a perfect place to bring your significant other to wind down before heading off to dinner!

The strictly-no-talking reading room: Dok-bang.

Now this place feels more like real study room, with personal study lamp equipped with every single seat. It looks like a good place for some serious study, no? One strategy that Dok-dabang managed to capture its visitors is their refill policy. You can have a coffee refill once for every drink you purchase. A Good deal isn’t it ; )The cafe also has two private meeting room for hourly rental to cater different needs.

Now talking about the food and drinks here at Dok-Dabang:

Latte, Americano, Irish Coffee, Mulled Wine, etc. I have never ordered anything that disappoints me here at the cafe. Their coffee beans are of the top notch quality one can find in any coffee speciality cafe. If you’re unsure what to order, try the Dabang Coffee (Check picture somewhere at beginning of the post), a milk coffee using their speciality blend as the base. ( 3 words to describe the froth? Rich, smooth and velvety, very good!) Okay, that is 4..5 words! lol

Affogato (please refer to picture waaayyyyy above) was a piece of art itself. I did not expect affogato to look THAT pretty! The sun-dried orange chips and the strong espresso blends so well together. A delightful, must-eat dessert in Dok-dabang.

They serve good pastries and cakes to go down with your drinks. This layered hazelnut cake is one of my favourites. I can’t remember the name of the cake, but the rich, nutty hazelnut aroma was lovely.

Last but not least, if you visit the cafe in the Summer, here is what you should not miss out: The Melon Shaved Ice (Melon Bingsu!). It is a melon flavored shaved ice with melon balls and a scoop of ice-cream. This seasonal dessert is very popular here. Sometimes you might need to wait up to 20 minutes for it — I’d say it is well worth the wait. Look at the bowl made of melon, instantly Instagram-worthy already! ; D

Writer’s Note:

Highly recommended! Hands Down!!! Just bring one or two of your favourite books, or your laptop and spend half a day away in this beautiful cafe. It is a gracefully rustic cafe with good coffee, delicious cakes, and beautiful scenery. Remember to check out their outdoor terrace as well! You get the hustle and bustle view of the Sinchon Rotary area on one side, and the Yonsei University campus on the other side. Simply alluring.

Contact Details:

독수리다방 Dok-dabang
Seoul, Seodaemun-gu, Changcheon-dong, 31-4 Dok-suri Building (독수리빌딩), level 8.
서울시 서대문구 창천동 31-4 독수리빌딩8층
Tel. 02-363-1222

 Directions:

It looked quite far away from the station but trust me, it will not take more than 10 mins by walk. It is super easy to find as well!
1. Come out from Sinchon Station (line no.2) Exit no.3
2. Go all the way down the road.(towards Yonsei University Main Gate). Until you see Holly’s Coffee, a coffee chain brand with red signboard.
3. The cafe is located in the building right after Holly’s, building entrance look like this:

5. Go into the entrance, take the lift that goes to the 8th floor. There are two lifts, but only one goes to the 8th floor. (I think it is the right-hand side one)

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Seoul is never short of cafes. But cafes that capture its visitor’s heart don’t come common. Recently, I found a quaint little independent cafe hidden off a narrow alleyway at Euljiro. Brimming with the glorious bits and pieces of heritage and personalities, the cafe is as mysterious and enchanting as the femme fatale in the old Shanghai movies, keeping me going back for more.

Tucked away in the narrow alleyway nearest to Euljiro 3-ga station, Coffee Hanyak-Bang 커피한약방 offers a unique kind of experience with its Chinese décor, old Shanghai nostalgic ambience and a sense of intimacy, a true hidden oriental gem in downtown Seoul.

I do not intend to sound exaggerated, but the cafe is really well hidden behind the old shop houses along Exit no. 1 of Euljiro 3-ga station. It took me some time to finally locate it — back in this dark and narrow alley unfit for vehicles. Seriously, nobody would even think of the existence of such beauty at the back of this alleyway.

Stepping into the cafe was like entering a movie set by the highly acclaimed and renowned Chinese movie director Wong Kar-wai. Each and every corner of the cafe were tastefully arranged with antique furnitures. According to the owner of the cafe, the furnitures including the Chinese medicine cabinet, carved flower bar and coffee making table, ceiling lamps and chairs are all exquisitely flown from China.

“Hanyak-Bang” is the romanization version of  “한약방”, which means traditional Korean medicine room. The cafe was named after “Korean Medicine Room”, as the owner hopes to brew each and every cup of coffee just like how earnestly people brew traditional medicine centuries ago – Thick,  strong and pungent.

A huge patch of steel frame can be seen on the ceiling right above the counter, probably a result of crumbling cement — this little imperfection of the building has transformed into a piece of art during the renovation. I think this is another great location for some oriental beauty photo shoot or Wong Kar-wai movie inspired pre-wedding photo shoot, no?

Their menu at the bar, made of an old piece of wood.

Coffee wise, they have the normal hand drip coffee (KRW3,500) , special hand drip coffee (KRW4,000), which you can choose the origin of your coffee beans from the list they have. Other than hand-drips, they have Latte (KRW3,800), Cappuccino (KRW3,800), Caramel Latte (KRW4,000), Vanilla Latte (KRW4,000), Maple Latte sounds yummy! (KRW4,000), Mocca Latte (KRW4,000), Espresso (KRW3,000), Affogato another all time favourite of mine (KRW4,000), Espresso Con Panna (KRW4,000) and Dutch Coffee (KRW5,000).

Not a fan of caffeine? Here are some of their non-caffeinated drinks:
Fresh fruit juice KRW 4,000
Wine Ade KRW5,000
Fruit Tea KRW4,000
Hot Chocolate KRW 3,500
Iced Chocolate KRW3,500
Milk KRW2,500
Soda KRW3,000
Organic Flower Tea KRW4,000
5 Grains Latte  KRW 5,000

They do not serve meals, but they have sandwiches, cakes, cookies and chocolates to go with your drinks. I am more interested in their seasonal menu, which includes cup-Bingsu (shaved ice) and Sangria in summer and Glühwein (aka Vin Chaud or mulled wine) in the winter.

I ordered a “Special Filter” coffee on my very first visit and came back to my temporary seat, which the owner sets up using an antique stool and a chair. It is very nice for him to accommodate me despite having a full house at his cafe. It was interesting to sit right in front of the counter. No one would reject a great chance to observe how their cuppa was made, isn’t it?

Barista Yongbin Go, who worked with coffee every day for the past 4 years.

As I was taking photos at the seat, the owner came with a piece of chocolate truffles. “a small token of apology” he said, just because I had to take that temporary seat. Awwwww…. such a sweet gesture. ^^

They use single origins for their hand-drips. Hot water was slowly poured over the aromatic ground, water percolates through the filter, producing these dark, full bodied fluid — Here come my Hand-drip Special 필터스패셜 with Kenya Beans. As expected, it captured the strong and rich flavour of the beans, with smooth, dry finishing — exactly what I like. (Kenya beans can’t possibly go wrong in any case), but I prefer it thicker. Well, my bad, I should inform the barista about my personal preference beforehand, but the coffee was great nonetheless.

Interested to find out more about the cafe, I went on my 2nd excursion to the cafe to try out their non-hand drip coffee. It was 330pm in the afternoon and I knew I needed something sweet to perk me up– Espresso Con Panna, perfect for a cloudy afternoon like today. Topped with the soft and creamy whipped cream, this baby was served in a glass wine for an elegant touch. As expected, the sweetness of the cream balanced out the natural bitterness from the espresso, leaving an aromatic and smooth touch on your tongue, a dreamy marriage of espresso and the dense whipped cream.

It is also a cafe that roast their own beans manually — roasting their own coffee beans guarantee freshness. Typically, the aroma of a roasted coffee beans would fade after 5 days, and the overall cup quality would drop in 10 days. (So now you know how old your coffee sold at BIG brands and chain coffee stores actually is.) It is also cheaper by roasting their own beans manually so that customers can enjoy good quality coffee at a lower price!

The house pet is a parrot (?) befitting the overall oriental atmosphere of the cafe. No idea what breed is that but it is Über cute! Point your camera towards him and he’ll come closer to you and strike a pose for your camera.

Writer’s Note: A small cafe with quaint atmosphere very suitable for dating, gathering or even quality time alone. The settings are just oh-so-Wong Kar Wai movie, suitable for couple/pre-wedding photo shoot. Best of all, they serve good coffee in pocket friendly price tags. One black coffee costs KRW3,500 here and I am sure you’ll need to add one or two more bucks for the same thing at the coffee chains down the street. Life is too short, and there are so many things an independent cafe can offer that the international coffee chains seem to neglect. It is time we take a closer look at these independent/ indie cafes around us.

Have you been to any independent cafes in Seoul? What are your best “Hidden” cafes in Seoul? I am interested to know more about them ; )

Contact Details:

Coffee Hanyak-Bang 커피한약방
서울시 중구 을지로2가 101-34
Tel. 070-4148-4242
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Saturday 11am-9pm. Close on Sunday.

Direction:

1. Coming out from Euljiro 3-ga Station, exit no. 1. You’ll see shop houses at your right hand side.

2. Walk down the street, until you see the first junction, turn right. The construction site will be at your left hand side. Continue to walk down the street, where you’ll see this ginseng chicken restaurant at your right hand side.

3. The cafe is located at the back alley right beside the ginseng chicken soup.

I was with the two coffee experts hailed from Singapore one fine winter afternoon at Garosugil so we decided to visit Ikovox Coffee, a cafe that roast it’s own beans. The entrance was brimming with that lovely scent of freshly roasted coffee before we stepped into the cafe.

The interior of the cafe was simple, not overly adorned but furnished with taste and comfort in mind. It was pretty quiet in the cafe for a Friday afternoon. We decided on espresso — A very tricky drink for the barista, but a relatively easy drink for consumers to identify if the beans and the technique are good.

Ikovox’s espresso — Look at the golden fluid. Thick, smooth, foamy and dark crema was a visual beauty. Inhaling the deep, rich aroma just got me feverish. All I wanted to do was to just shut up, drink my coffee and embrace the moment. The moment of strong, rich and aromatic fluid running down my throat. The aftertaste lingers — so sensational, so good!

Cafes are everywhere in Seoul but roasters are relatively rare. More importantly, Ikovox’s coffee are made of freshly roasted beans everyday. Pricing are about the same as any franchise coffee you can get around in Seoul, but TWO shots of espresso are added to every single cup of coffee here in Ikovox — Now you know where to get stronger coffee at usual price at Garosugil.

My Verdict: It is hard to come out with a fair judgement since we only tried their espresso. However straight espresso is difficult to make, not to mention maintaining the consistency, so I guess this cafe is a keeper for future visit. Since coffee is their main focus, there isn’t many choice for food. Limited slices of carrot cakes and caramel chocolate cakes were available at the counter. Oh well, I am not complaining. Good coffee is the only thing a cafe is qualified as a good cafe afterall. ; D

Contact Details:

Ikovox Coffee 이코복스 커피 (가로수길점)
Apgujung-ro 10 gil-37, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
서울시 강남구 압구정로 10길 37.
Tel. 02-545-2010

Directions:

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If you want a room that is quirky, designer-inspired, yet not burning a hole in your wallet,  Becky Art Space (백희) located right at the Jeonju Hanok Village (very good location) could be what you are looking for. Now that I am writing about the trip, I find that allowing myself to immerse in a space of arts and to be able to enjoy the perks of starting my day in the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee throughout my stay, was a brilliant decision.

I reached Jeonju Station quite early that morning. Not a fan of carrying my heavy backpack as I roam around the city, I decided to try my luck and hail the cab straight to the guesthouse. Though their house rules were to only accept check-in at 3pm, I was lucky enough to be granted an early check in.

As the name suggests, Becky Art Space is a guesthouse for travellers, a gallery and a cafe. The guesthouse has 9 tastefully decorated rooms. Rooms come in different sizes. Bigger rooms could fit up to 5 people, which is very accommodating for group visitors, or even family outings. Room rates vary from KRW 60,000 per night to KRW 140,000 per night, depending on the size of the room and the amount of guests per room. **price listed here varies depending on peak and low season.**

The lobby of the guesthouse serves as a cafe-cum-art gallery, where the space is dedicated for talented artists to showcase their masterpiece and to reach out to the public. Interesting exhibits and exquisitely selected furnitures formed a harmonious ensemble.

 The Room:

Becky has 9 guest rooms. Each and every room is a living example of a perfect mix of Korean traditional and contemporary interior design. I especially adore Room 1, 2, 4 and 7, which has bigger windows that allow ample sunlight in the daytime. Another thing I like about Becky’s  is that each room has a beautiful bathroom attached.

Since the trip was decided in a rush, and it happened to be the year-end festive season, I was not able to secure myself with any of the rooms above that I prefer. However, I was still very keen on spending my nights at Becky so I settled with Room 6, the only small room available then. It costed me KRW 280,000 (peak season pricing) for two nights.

Room 6 turned out to be clean and cosy. It comes with a comfortable double bed, thick comforter, a TV, and a corner for tea. Basic amenities such as hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and toothpaste are provided. As I prefer natural sunlight, Room 6 was a tad too dark in the day time. However, the design of the room, the atmosphere and the cleanliness are above expectations.

The Cafe: Chosun Fantasy

The cafe at their lobby, the Chosun Fantasy serves unexpectedly good coffee. Coffee, herb teas, smoothies, burgers and shaved ice can be found on their menu. It is the only place in the building with WiFi access. Spending a relaxing morning, sipping a cup of goodness while surfing the Internet was the first thing I did every day during my stay.

The coffee Mocha and Americano me and my mom ordered. Seriously I did not expect quality coffee at a guesthouse cafe in the first place. The first sip of the Americano was a mind-blower. It wins any international franchise hands down. Though I think their Mocha is too sweet for my liking, I really like their black coffee (great choice of beans!). If you are craving for an excellent brew, and if you trust my taste buds for coffee, here is where you should visit. The cafe has a great sense of selecting their music as well. It is certainly a space with character and a great atmosphere.

My Verdict: My 3D2N stay at Becky Art Space (Becky Gallery Guesthouse) was a pleasant surprise. Although living with the art exhibits for about half a week did not change my charisma or anything LOL, it feels great waking up in an art space. More importantly, the room was cosy and clean. Hot shower supply and the heater were left on 7/24 (you know this is crucial in winter). Service was friendly, and the owner is very knowledgeable in terms of good restaurants around Jeonju. Everything was great, the only drawback was that the guesthouse does not provide drinking water. Guests will have to purchase bottled water from the nearby convenience store.

Contact Details:

Becky Art Space. Gallery. Guesthouse 백희(click me!) 
Jeonju-si, Wansan-gu, Gyeongwon-Dong 2 Ga, 40-35
전주시 완산구 경원동 2가 40-35번지(어진길94-6)
Tel. 063-232-6748
HP. +8210-9595-6748

If you read and understand Korean and resides in South Korea, you may make your reservation through their official website, which enables you to secure the room instantly after transferring the rental through a Korean bank account. If not, you may want to contact Becky Kim at bkartspace@naver.com or call for a reservation.

Directions:

]]> https://www.pheurontay.com/jeonju-guesthouse-review-becky-guesthouse-gallery/feed/ 13 https://www.pheurontay.com/latelier-monique-seoul-chungdam/ https://www.pheurontay.com/latelier-monique-seoul-chungdam/#respond Sat, 19 Jul 2014 04:37:44 +0000 https://www.pheurontay.com/?p=2610 Chungdam area is a place where all the possibly best things in Seoul could be found. A casual stroll around the area may get you a chance to “rub shoulders” with your favourite artist here at Chungdam. What I am writing about today is a highly raved Boulangerie located among all the big labels in the fashion industry: L’atelier Monique.

Update 2020:

This blog is created in the year 2014. As L’atelier Monique’s official site is no longer available as of the year 2020, please note that the store information provided here may not reflect the actual operating hours and information regarding the bakery.

Just a 4 to 5 minutes stroll up the street from Apgujung-rodeo station, this quaint and cosy bakery offers freshly grind and brewed coffee, alongside with a huge collection of freshly baked pastries and bread every morning. Their famous star item — “Fruits Haricot Rouge” bread, is very much enjoyed by actor Bae Yong Joon, and Lee Seung Gi. Actress Jeon Jihyun (Gianna Jun), Suzy from Miss A and also Minho from SHINee were seen purchasing bread from this particular bakery as well.

We went to the bakery on a late Sunday afternoon. Stepping into L’ atelier Monique, the sweet and intense aroma of baking bread and pastries immediately took over. In front of the counter are fresh loaves of bread, lined up beautifully on the tray, beckoning you forward.

Founder Mr Lee Won Young worked and trained under the Japanese Master baker Hiroharu Sugiyama in Japan. Gathering 5 years of know-how in the industry, Mr. Lee started the Boulangerie at Cheongdam area and has received so much love in the country, especially in this glitz and glamorous neighbourhood, where all the big shots in the Korean entertainment industry reside.

It was one quiet, hot and sleepy Sunday afternoon at the Boulangerie. I was promptly awakened by the smell of fresh bread that greeted my nose when I walked into the place. Gorgeous afternoon sunlight shines through the huge window allowing us to make ourself home at this cosy little corner of the Boulangerie, which is decorated in a fun and innocent, childlike atmosphere.

As the baker is trained in Japan, and also largely by the fact that the actor Bae Yong Joon frequented this place, the Boulangerie naturally became one of the top bakeries among the Japanese community in Korea. They even have a Japanese menu for their foreign customers from Japan.

In front of each bread baskets are these cute, chubby little nametag-stand made of bread dough. Mr Lee was saying that these dough balls are all baked hard so they won’t turn mouldy. It is such a great idea for a nametag-stand, isn’t it?  ^^

Spoilt by choices on the racks, we simply didn’t know which bread to choose from. Hence, we left it to Mr Lee to decide for us. The bread we had that day are all selected by the chef, some are based on the popularity, and some are from his recommendation.

Fruits Haricots Rouges (후류이 아리꼬르쥬)

The star item of the Boulangerie — Fruits Haricots Rouges (후류이 아리꼬르쥬) [read: Who-ru-i Arico-reu-tsu]. The “후류이” (Who-ru-i) is a kind of bread that contains assorted nuts and cranberries, which give off a “fruity” taste. That is how the name “Fruits” or the Japlish name “후류이” (Who-ru-i) came from.

What is so special about this “Fruits”/  “후류이” (Who-ru-i) is that the bread is made of real old, matured dough that has been fermenting for 72 hours. The old dough that was left overnight for 3 days contains lively yeast. Given real enough time for the flavour of wheat from the flour to develop, these lovely breads made of old dough has a full-flavoured palate and a lighter, open-textured crumb if compared to a straight yeast dough. Plus point is an extended shelf life!

Taking advantage of the full flavours of the wheat and the fruity note from the cranberries and nuts, Mr Lee added his secret recipe — red bean paste into the loaf. The mild sweetness of the red bean paste neutralised the strength of the citrusy taste of cranberry, giving off a softer and balanced taste. It is actor Bae Yong Joon’s personal favourite bread from the Boulangerie.

The red bean paste filling is certainly one of the best I have tried thus far in South Korea. Prepared daily to ensure freshness, their red bean paste is a refreshing competitor compared to those plain and overly sweetened red bean paste from the cans. It is moist and sticky, solid yet smooth, perfect already on its own!

Pumpkin Baguette 단호박 바게트

This is another bake on the rack that receives constant attention and love in the Boulangerie. A combination of the quintessential Parisian loaf, sweet pumpkin, cheese and sprinkled with parsley. Rustic and simple ingredients, yet the outcome looks so inviting and delicious.

This loaf is topped with a crisp and chewy crust. I like the cracker-like exterior and the “yeasty”, moist crumb, filled up with big and small air holes. Look at the beautiful sight of the air holes, adorned with cheese and pumpkin!

Sea salt Caramel Scone & Cream Cheese Tart

Bound to impress, this dessert tart featured velvety cream cheese with a generous layer of raspberry puree. The combination makes the light brown colour crust exceptionally rich and tender. A perfect dessert to go with after a good meal.

The sea salt caramel scone on the left-hand side was however slightly dry in texture. I thought scones are usually drier and denser, but their scone did not impress me. It was alright, but not memorable. Perhaps it was the sequence I had my bread that destroyed my taste buds before I can appreciate the mellow flavour of the scone. Or perhaps a little bit of butter would have been a great palate cleanser or I should have taken this semi-sweet treat before all the heavier flavour goodies on the palate!!!

Roasted Grain Cream Bread. 미숫가루 크림빵

미숫가루 [read: mi-sut garu] is some kind of mixed powder of various grain-beans, brown rice, barley etc. in Korea. For most Korean, it is a typical “Korean-Korean” type of flavour, that perhaps only Korean can appreciate it better. Most Korean mix it with milk and honey, chilled in the fridge and serve it as a summer delicacy. Sometimes it is also used as a substitution of a meal.

The appearance of this bread, especially its crust reminded me of the traditional red-bean or coconut filling bread we can get at those traditional neighbourhood bakeries. Very old-school, vintage outlook with the humble, inexpensive, everyday ingredient as fillings– the Korean mixed grain powder whipped to creamy texture. It gives off a nutty and creamy taste, with a texture slightly similar to custard. A very simple bread, easily top of Korean ajumma/ nanny’s choice. If you have the taste buds of an old   refined soul, you will probably like it.

Girly Sentiment – 소녀감성

What a beautiful name for a bread like this! In a dreamy, beautiful shade of pale pink colour, the bread is made into the shape of a flower. So soft and squishy, like golden nuggets candy — in cotton candy colour. Generous amount of dried nuts and raspberries were added to the bread, leaving it an interesting texture to nibble on.

Too girly and superficial? Don’t judge a bread by its appearance. The fillings are nonetheless a huge scoring factor. The pale pink cream cheese fillings is light and smooth, with a touch of the refreshing scent of sun-ripened, fresh raspberry. Raspberry mellows the grease from the cream cheese, leaving a sophisticated taste on the tastebuds. My personal favourite next to the famous Bae Yong Joon bread (Fruits Haricots Rouges)!

Verdict: Impressive bread with a touch of Japanese flavour. Good variety. Quiet and friendly environment suitable for intimate gatherings with your girlfriends. Foreigner visitors come here to enjoy bits and pieces of their idol’s way of life, while locals visit the place because of their excellence in baking. Come to think of it, the bread here can be an ideal gift for a casual visit to a friend’s house

Contact Details: 
L’ Atelier Monique Boulangerie 라틀리에 모니크 (click name to link to their site)
80-21, 1st level, Gangnam Gu, Chungdam Dong. Seoul.
서울시 강남구 청담동 80-21 주경빌딩 1층
Tel: 02-549-9210
Operating Hours: 10am to 7pm.

How to get to L’ Atelier Monique Boulangerie: (click on pic to enlarge) 

1. Coming out from Apgujung Rodeo Station exit No. 3, walk straight down 3 blocks where you’ll see ESCADA on your right-hand side.
2. Turn into the alley right beside ESCADA, and turn left at the end of the street. L’ Atelier Monique will appear on your left-hand side as you walk down the street.

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