Blue Room • 블루룸

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?

Here’s the video of the place:

Note: These photos and video were taken before the pandemic.

 

Blue Room • 블루룸

Address: 서울 종로구 대명1길 16-7 1층
Telephone: 010-8030-0427
Hours: Tue-Fri 13:00-22:00 | Weekend 12:00-00:00 | Close on Mondays

Instagram: @_blueroom

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Cafe Onion Anguk • 카페 어니언 안국

At this point in time, I think Cafe Onion has became one of the more popular cafe to visit in Seoul. Having been to their main branch in Seongsu (Click here to see my post on Cafe Onion Seongsu), Cafe Onion Anguk (카페 어니언 안국) is the second branch that I visited and is the third location that they opened in Seoul. If I’m not mistaken, Cafe Onion Anguk was opened to the public in early March 2019 and I visited the place during mid April 2019, just a month after its opening. Back then, just like any other popular place that just opened, the cafe was pretty crowded. I went during a weekday so the crowd wasn’t as bad and I didn’t really have to line up to enter. But still, the place was pretty packed and I had to wait for a couple of minutes to get a table.

Compared to its Seongsu location, the interior of the Anguk location is definitely different. Although the design of their coffee bar/ordering area still resembles their Seongsu location’s, which is also a nice touch for branding consistency, the vibe of the rest of the cafe is heavily dictated by the traditional hanok structure the cafe is housed in. I personally always find hanok cafes to be charming because of the combination of the old traditional aspect of Korea and the more modern day coffee/cafe culture of today’s generation. And this place is no different. The first thing you’ll be greeted with when you enter the main area of the cafe is a view of an open sand yard with hanok structures standing on four sides of it. The hanok area is divided into two sections, half for ordering area and half for seating area. There are definitely plenty of seatings around the cafe and even more chairs are available on the garden area near the front entrance of the cafe.

Other than their coffee, Cafe Onion also has an abundant selection of delicious baked goods and pastries you can choose from. During my visit, I tried their honey seaweed fulvescens bread (허니매생이감태). The name is pretty weird and I honestly didn’t know what I was putting on my tray at the time. But I felt like trying new things that day so I ended up picking the toasted bread with the weird name. Turns out, it actually tasted pretty good! I remember thinking of getting seconds but because I was there quite late in the afternoon, I opted not to since I didn’t want to be too full for dinner. And per usual, I also ordered milk tea and their milk tea was pretty solid too.

All and all, Cafe Onion Anguk is probably one of those places I would recommend people to go visit, especially if you’re visiting Bukchon Hanok Village since it’s around the area. They have nice interior and good food and drinks. The only downside is the place might be a little crowded if you’re coming on a busy time or during the weekends. But hey, at least there are plenty of spaces for you to wait around and take interesting photos at.

Here’s the video of the place:

Note: The photos and video were taken before the pandemic.

 

Cafe Onion Anguk • 어니언 안국

Address: 서울 종로구 계동길 5 카페 어니언
Telephone: 070-7543-2123
Hours: Monday to Friday 07:00-22:00 | Saturday to Sunday 09:00-22:00

Instagram: @cafe.onion

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Seogyo Rotary • 서교로터리 커피바

Seogyo Rotary Coffee Bar (서교로터리 커피바) is a small coffee bar in Seogyo-dong (서교동) area located close to Hapjeong (합정역) and Mangwon (망원역) station. The cafe itself is relatively small but the set up of the interior definitely reminded me of a bar, only this is a day time bar that serves non-alcoholic beverages. I actually found the place quite cozy and charming. Maybe the wooden interior combined with the marble and metal surfaces used around the space have something to do with it. A play between the modern and traditional elements, making it looks cool but inviting at the same time.

It was in the middle of peak summer when I visited the cafe so the cool breeze from the air con felt really nice against my skin when I walked in. I placed my order on the counter—original ice Seogyo Milk Tea—and opted to sit at one of the leather bar stools, hoping to see some action from behind the counter where the bartender was busy making drink orders. The place wasn’t very crowded, but there were a couple groups of people who were there so overlapping animated conversations eventually drowned the music playing in the background. I actually welcomed the distraction that day, having fun listening in to snippets of conversations that I have no way avoiding and the speakers didn’t seem to mind sharing in the public space.

Eventually, some of the patrons left and the place became quieter. I was left enjoying my milk tea while watching the barista move around and listening to the music that’s playing from the speaker. After two glasses of ice milk tea (yes, I ordered a second glass because it was that good and it was a hot summer day), I left with the feeling that this was probably going to be one of my favorite cafe visit (and I was right).

Here’s the video of the place:

Note: These photos & video were taken before the pandemic.

 

Seogyo Rotary • 서교로터리 커피바

Address: 서울 마포구 동교로18길 15
Telephone: 02-322-0969
Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 18:00 | Closed on Weekends

Instagram: @seogyo_rotary_coffeebar

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1989 Bistro • 1989 비스트로

My sudden craving for steak was the reason why I had an impromptu dinner at 1989 Bistro (1989 비스트로) during one of my neighborhood explorations in Seoul. There were a couple of other restaurants in the area but its outdoor seating really what sold me. It was a summer evening after all and enjoying the breeze outside was more appealing than spending my time inside an air conditioned restaurant.

I seated myself on one of the outdoor seatings and the friendly staff took my order immediately after. I ordered their Korean Beef Sirloin Steak (한우 스테이크) which came out not too long after. The meat and the vegetables were perfectly cooked and well seasoned and it came with a side of fried rice, which I found interesting because before this, I don’t think I’ve ever had steak with fried rice (even if I have, I can’t remember the last time I had it). Dinner was quiet and delicious and I spent a bit of a time people watching afterwards before I head back home.

Note: These pictures were taken before the pandemic.

 

1989 Bistro • 1989 비스트로

Address: 서울 용산구 회나무로13가길 37 1층
Telephone: 0507-1416-0185
Hours: 12:00 - 21:00 Wednesday - Sunday

Instagram: @1989_bistro

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Fritz Coffee Company Anguk • 프릳츠 원서점

Opened in 2015 by Park Geunha and five of his friends, Fritz Coffee Company (프릳츠) has became one of South Korea’s famous specialty coffee brand that is well known for its wide variety of house roasts. The iconic seal holding a cup of coffee brand even has a growing international following these days since a lot of coffee drinkers are fond of Fritz’s house roasts. Apart from a good cup of coffee, you can also enjoy a wide range of delicious French and Korean baked goods that are available at the cafe.

This is actually their second location in Seoul that I’ve visited after their main branch in Dohwa-dong (프릳츠 도화점) and I have to say after finding out about this location, I frequent this location a lot more than the other one just because of their convenient location that’s close to Anguk Station (안국역).

Just like their main branch, the mix of old and new concept is carried over to this location as well. The main area where the pastries are displayed and where you place your order is located inside a more modern building opposite the Arario Museum in Space Theater (아라리오뮤지엄 인 스페이스), while the seating area is mostly inside the small hanok structure building as well as the outdoor seating in the yard area.

If you find yourself looking for a caffeine fix or perhaps a good pastry when you’re visiting Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을), Samcheongdong neighborhood (삼청동), or even the Arario Museum in Space Theater (아라리오뮤지엄 인 스페이스), I would definitely recommend this place.

Here’s the video of the space:

Note: These pictures & video were taken before the pandemic.

 

Fritz Coffee Company Anguk • 프릳츠 원서점

Address: 서울 종로구 율곡로 83 아라리오 뮤지엄
Telephone: 02-747-8101
Hours: 10:00 - 21:00 Everyday

Instagram: @fritzcoffeecompany

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