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| On a nice summer day, you can find people hanging out more and more outside in open cafes in Korea. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to stop by an open cafe and enjoy some more of what Korea has to offer you, including the pleasure boat rides passing through each city, going up to the observatory for a bird’s-eye-view of the city, tasting traditional cuisines, and shopping at outdoor markets.
It’s nice to sit outside in an open cafe that offers nice cool cocktails under starry skies, and delicious coffee where you can people watch. Give yourself a nice memory, which evoke images from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at a pretty city open cafe right in the middle of the city of Seoul.
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| [Insa-dong] Ssamziegil Rooftop Cafe |
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The first floor to the top floor is connected by a long hallway that circles inside the entire building for a unique viewing experience and unique architecture, making Ssamziegil one of Insadong’s noted spot from day one of its opening. On the rooftop of Ssamziegil is a nice cozy cafe where you can relax, enjoy a bird’s-eye-view of Insadong especially the surrounding Hanok (traditional Korean architecture) buildings and passers-by. The simple cafe next to the entrance of the Korean restaurant ‘Omokdae’ on the 4th floor is a popular place, which has a miniature garden on the side with grapevines, tables, and parasols for you to relax. The cafe offers slush-drinks and fresh fruit juices. |
If you want a quieter, cozier place, you can try the rooftop cafe on the rooftop of Ssamzie Market building, which is connected to Ssamziegil. This cafe offers coffee drinks, juices, sodas, and beer.
>>Go to the Ssamziegil
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-Transportation: Take Subway Line No.3 to Anguk Station and go out Exit No.6 → Make a right onto the street where Crown Bakery is → Walk along Insa-dong Street about 200m to reach Ssamziegil, which will be on your left.
-Inquiries: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
-Business Hours: 11:00~21:00
-Beverage Prices: [Ssamziegil Rooftop Cafe] Pineapple, Kiwi, Tomato, Strawberry Juice 3,000 won / Orange, Grape Slush 2,000 won
[Ssamzie Market Rooftop Cafe] Coffee, Juice 2,000 won / Beer 3,000 won
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| [Insa-dong] Kyung In Museum of Fine Art |
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This cafe can be considered the original open cafe of Insa-dong, and although it has lost some of its original look due to time, it is still nevertheless a cozy place to relax and converse in. The gallery is a renovated Hanok and a two-story modern building standing on both sides of the cafe, so you can enjoy the gallery exhibition while having tea. Next to the Hanok gallery is a traditional tea garden, which is also a renovated Hanok.
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Next to the modern gallery building is a modern teahouse with unique chairs and tables, also exhibiting experimental sculptures. Kyung In Museum of Fine Art also has a small indoor garden inside where you can rest during your visit. Most of the exhibitions are free of charge, and you don’t have to drink tea, so feel free to stop by.
>>Go to the Kyung In Museum of Fine Art
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-Transportation: Take Subway Line No.3 to Anguk Station and go out of Exit No.6 → Make a right onto the street when you see Crown Bakery → Walk along Insa-dong Street for 300m → Pass Ssamziegil and make a left at Sudo Pharmacy → Make another left into the first small alley on the left.
-Inquiries: +82-2-730-6305
-Business Hours: 10:00~23:00
-Beverage Prices: Tea Garden Shikhae, Sujeonggwa, Insam Tea 4,000 won
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| [Dosan Park] GORILLA IN THE KITCHEN |
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Gangnam’s Donsan Daero is the new hip place to be, leading today’s trends, along with top designer boutiques such as Hermes, and other leading Korean fashion boutiques. Along with all the leading fashion designers opening shops, trendy restaurants are also opening their doors, and among those restaurants, Gorilla in the Kitchen is the most popular hip restaurant to dine in.
Gorilla in the Kitchen is the first local restaurant to make the concept of health food its main menu, showing the public that healthy food can be delicious. It is also famous because the main investor of Gorilla in the Kitchen is the famous actor Bae Yong Jun. The restaurant became famous even before it became known as the ‘Yonsama’ restaurant. |
Gorilla in the Kitchen does not serve any fried foods, nor does not use butter or cream in any of its ingredients, and is also very strict about how much salt is used in its foods. Therefore, the food may taste a bit bland. Next to the menu and counter on the first floor on the wall is a display of the calories and ingredients for each dish. If you want to have a firm muscular figure like Bae Yong Jun, or just want a light healthy meal, Gorilla in the Kitchen is the ideal place to dine at.
>>Go to the Gourmet Restaurants in Gangnam
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-Transportation: Take Subway Line No.3 to Sinsa Station and go out of Exit No.1 or Apgujeong Station from Exit No.2 → Take a taxi to Dosan Park.
-Inquiries: +82-2-3442-1688
-Business Hours: 11:00~24:00
-Specialty Prices: Oven Baked Italian Tomatoes (12,000 won), Grilled Chicken Breasts and Orange Salad (14,000 won), Rice Covered Tofu Salad with Sesame Dressing (12,000 won), Baked Pineapple Chicken Breasts (24,000 won)
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| [Daehangno] O’Sulloc Tea House |
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O’Sulloc Tea House serves various teas and cakes, the main ingredient being green tea. There are currently four O’Sulloc Tea Houses in Seoul, and the one in Daehangno has an outdoor terrace area, where you can sit back and enjoy the live energy of Daehangno.
You can see theater actors selling theater tickets, or watch busy passers-by as you relax and enjoy your green tea drinks. Also, the location of the teahouse serves as a convenient meeting place. Extra employees have been hired to work only in the terrace area for your comfort.
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O’Sulloc Tea House creates new drinks and cakes for each season, and this summer, you can try their new bingsu. The ice-cold bingsu and sweet red-beans with green tea ice cream, or the green tea bingsu with fresh fruit is a must-try during this hot summer season, only at O’Sulloc Tea House. If you want more than just tea, you can try their amazingly delicious cakes and cookies.
>>Go to more information on O’Sulloc Tea House
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-Transportation: Take Subway Line No.4 to Hyehwa Station and go out of exit No.2 → Walk to KFC and follow the street to where Coffee Bean is located, toward GS25 convenience store.
-Inquiries: +82-2-741-5461
-Business Hours: 9:00am-22:30pm
-Specialty Prices: Cakes 3,000-4,200 won / Drinks 5,000-8,500 won
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| [Daehangno] MAMA FOOD |
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If you are in Daehangno, you probably won’t be able to resist stopping by this very noticeable place. This place is always busy with visitors, and the second floor displays various fresh fruits and vegetables. First time visitors many times mistake the displays as fake, but they are completely real and are actually used as ingredients.
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MAMA FOOD overlooks Daehangno’s most busy street, and because it’s on the second floor you get a nice view of the surrounding area. Every evening, MAMA FOOD holds live concerts, and is a popular dating spot. You can enjoy food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages all in one spot. Some of the most popular dishes are the fried rice, rib barbeque, grilled sausage, and more. The seafood fried rice and the rib barbeque is very affordable at less than 10,000 won per serving. If you are passing through Daehangno make sure to visit MAMA FOOD for a light beer or more.
>>Go to the Daehangno (College Street)
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-Transportation: Take Subway Line No.4 to Hyehwa Station and go out of Exit No.2, Walk to KFC and follow the street where Coffee Bean is located toward GS25 convenience store
-Business Hours: 17:00-02:00
-Specialty Prices: Fried Rice 9,000-11,000 won / 700cc Draft Beer 3,500 won / Baby Hot Pork Ribs Barbeque 9,800 won / Seafood Fajita 8,900 won / Cocktails 7,000-8,000 won
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