I frequent Hyehwa area (혜화동) quite a bit back when I was still living in Seoul. Haven’t been to the neighborhood for a while, I decided to pay the area a visit during one summer day in 2019 just to see if there are new places that have sprung up in the past couple of years. One thing I noticed right away was that the neighborhood has changed quite a bit. I didn’t recognize many of the buildings, restaurants, and cafe that I passed by and there seemed to be a lot of constructions going on to. I remember wondering if the turn around of businesses in this area was pretty quick.

After walking around the streets and alleys to see my options, I decided to get something cold and sweet after lunch at Blue Room (블루룸). The medium sized cafe sells coffee, non-coffee drinks, as well as alcohol. The concept carries through the interior where the space definitely feels like a cross between a bar and a cafe.

This is one of the thing that I actually like about Korea where you can find places that sell all kinds of beverages from alcoholic to non-alcoholic drinks all at the same place. It makes choosing a place to hang out with friends a little easier, especially for me who doesn’t drink coffee or alcohol often. And having the option to drink alcohol in places that don’t play blaring music like those in a club or a bar while having conversation with your companion without having to shout is really something that I actually quite like.

Anyway, I ordered their Strawberry latte (딸기라떼) which was okay and spent a good hour at the cafe just chillin’ and escaping the heat outside with other strangers who probably had the same idea. It was a summer day after all and what better way to spend it other than being indoors in an air conditioned cafe, right?