Seoul restaurants

A Girl’s Guide to Gangnam, Day Two: Apgujeong and Cheongdam-dong

This is part two of a two-part, two-day itinerary focusing on the best shopping, eats and cafes in Seoul’s Gangnam district.  To read part one, featuring Sinsa-dong, please click here. After having a simple breakfast at your Airbnb, hop a bus or hail a taxi to Apgujeong, a short 5-10 minute ride from Garosugil. Although Apgujeong Rodeo Street …

A Girl’s Guide to Gangnam, Day One: Sinsa-dong

Psy may have put Gangnam on the map with his bow-ties and “gentleman”ly behavior, but the fact of the matter is… Gangnam is for girls. Recently, I took a bit of a staycation in Seoul’s upscale district in search of the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment facilities and made a point to take plenty …

A Blast from the Past: Exploring the Market Streets of Euljiro

Before the days of discount supermarkets and department stores, markets were the primary locales for shopping, trading and gossiping in Korea. Unfortunately, due to rapid modernization and an increase in more convenient shopping facilities over the past few decades, the country’s traditional markets have continuously lost patronage and are quickly diminishing both in size and …

Music, Melodies, and Metal at Jazz Story

One of my favorite things about Seoul is that it is chock full of hidden gems, unsuspecting and obscure, that offer those that are lucky enough to discover them a real treat. Restaurants, cafes, galleries and bars are easy to find in Korea’s capital city, but it’s the ones tucked into back alleys and inconspicuous …

Dae-oh Book Store 33 Cafe: A Place of History, Culture and Family

When I first moved to Korea, I spent every minute of my free time getting lost in the neighborhoods of Seoul. Wandering the unknown became a hobby and through it, I was able to learn a lot about my new home and discover many a hidden gem, whether it be a cafe, an interesting sculpture …

Hanok Hideaways

The creak of old wooden floors.  The sliding of beautifully crafted doors.  The upward curves of tiled roofs and the enchanting calm of courtyards.  Hanok, or traditional Korean houses, are delightful dwellings where those who enter them can’t help but be hypnotized by their charm.  Constructed in accordance with nature and geographical location, hanoks were …

The Best Things to Do, See and Eat in Insadong

Once the country’s largest market for trading antiques and artwork, Insadong has over the years developed into a bustling yet quaint destination that is now recognized as one of Seoul’s most iconic neighborhoods. Fairly well preserved and organized to represent Korea’s culture of both the past and the present, Insadong is the premiere locale to …

A “Zen”-Course Lunch at Barugongyang Buddhist Temple Food Restaurant in Insadong

Barugongyang offers up authentic Buddhist temple cuisine using only fresh, local ingredients. Read on for my personal review of the restaurant’s peaceful atmosphere and thoughtful course meals. It’s only been fairly recently that we’ve learned how eating greener and cleaner rather than focusing on calorie and fat counts can positively affect the health of our …

Tong-in Market Dosirak Cafe: The Ultimate Korean Lunch Box

When I was in elementary school, I refused to anything that the school cafeteria spit out. I was an extremely picky eater and because of this, my mom had no choice but to prepare a lunch box for me everyday. I would get so excited to see what she had packed at lunch time: a …

The Definitive Guide to Hongdae

Perhaps no other neighborhood in all of Seoul embodies Korea’s youth culture as well as Hongdae. Here, the streets are alive with a youthful spirit that fosters a creativity evident in the sounds of busking musicians, in the colorful graffiti on the walls and in the unique fashion and hair styles sported by the young …