Seoul's Themed Cafes

In this post I would like to summarize all of Seoul's themed cafe's that I have been to so far, and as I visit more I will continue to update.

Hello Kitty Cafe - Myeongdong
My very first themed cafe was the Hello Kitty Cafe in Myeongdong. I didn't order at this cafe; I only met my friends there. However, let me tell you I have never seen such a PINK place in my life, and pink just isn't my color. Haha. If you love the color pink or are one of those Hello Kitty obsessed people then this place is definitely for you, but it wasn't for me. It felt too upscale childish for me, which sounds funny considering I am fairly childish...but just wow...it really isn't my style. I will give it some credit though, the decorations were well done and the menu did seem very creative and followed the theme well. There must have been hundreds of stuffed Hello Kitty dolls in that cafe too.

또옹카페 - Seoul's 'Poop' Cafe - Insadong
My next themed cafe was staggeringly different from my first - Seoul's Poop Cafe. Now, maybe I am just strange, but this was much more my style. It was incredibly amusing to me. The waffles and other foods are shaped like the poop emoticon, the meals are served in troughs that resemble the squatter toilets, and the coffee comes in toilet shaped mugs. It was brilliant. I felt like if I tried to eat fried rice from a squatter toilet trough that it would make me a bit squeamish, but it made me giggle seeing others doing it. If you want to go here, it is located on the 4th floor of the Ssamzigil Mall (쌈지길) in Insadong. You can get there by taking subway line 3 (Orange Line) and getting off at Anguk Station (안국 역), exit 6. Careful, this entire area is an amazing wonder of Korean tourists traps mixed with traditional and shiny things, all of which you will want to buy.

My gorgeous toilet Mojito Latte :)

The Menu - just look at the dishes hahaha

Where you order

I went with two other friends. This menu was posted next to our table, and it all looked so fun and delicious that we each decided to try a different one. We ordered one of each, which are pictured next (Front - back: Rose Latte, Flower Ade, Mojito Latte). We all tried each others drink, and while I loved mine, the other two were also delicious. The flower ade was especially refreshing and good, since it had a much different taste than the coffee.

All the little poop messages people can leave stuck to the wall. No better memo than one in the shape of a cute little pile of sh*t .... LOL

So much fun.

Cat Cafe - Insadong
Coincidentally, this cafe is practically across the street from the last one I went to. I adore cats and have always had them growing up, however unfortunately I am mildly allergic to them. Since I had lived with cats my whole life, it was just a bit like living in a fog, but ever since I moved and lived away from the furry felines coming into contact with them again has made my reaction stronger. I had been wanting to visit a cat cafe since coming to Korea; I was deeply in need of some fuzzy cuddles, but worried it would just make me sick. Then came the weekend of my birthday, and I went to Seoul to spend it with my friends. Somehow, we ended up at a cat cafe. Everything inside was cat themed...and it was adorable. There were cats either roaming about or just laying around chilling throughout the room. The price for drinks was a bit higher, maybe closer to 10,000 won, but that includes getting to play and pet the cats for as long as you'd like. We drank our lattes and petted the cute cat asleep on the ledge near our table. Not all the cats at the cafe were nice.  A couple of the cats swatted at me when I tried to pet them, and one even snapped at me once. I assume this kind of behavior can come about if you are constantly being petted and pulled around all day though. At some point the cats have had enough love. Some cafes are better than others and this one was good in the way it treated their cats. They were not supposed to be picked up, petted in certain ways and etc, but you know that sometimes families with children probably terrorize them. The cafe also rotated them out, and would put the cats in a different room for privacy if they seemed to need it, so that was good. I thought that the munchkin cat that they had was irresistibly cute, with its short, pudgy legs. My favorite cat was the sleepy one at our table though. We stuck around until our drinks were empty, the cats seemed uninterested in us, and my allergies kicked in and I began sneezing. That was the sign it was time to get some fresh air and wash my hands. It was nice to be able to pet the cats and toss toys around for them though, and seeing various cat breeds was cool too. :)

The message's meaning meant well, however the translations...were a bit off.

I think I giggled about the "Don't smash their ass" part for about a good three hours after reading the sign. I just could not forget it, it was too funny. 

Edible Cafe

The Edible Coffee Cafe I had heard about from a friend of mine, and he really wanted to visit and try this cafe's menu. The reason being...it's a cafe where the menu contains edible insects. Naturally nearly anyone would understand why I was hesitant to join him. However I met with two of my friends and we went to check out this 'edible bug cafe'.

Since we were unsure of the taste or our ability to be brave enough to drink anything on the menu, we decided to get two drinks and split them between the three of us. The drinks we chose were the 300 meal-worm shake and the grasshopper tea. I was skeptical; I didn't want to drink it. Everything in me shouted...that's a bug...don't you dare drink it, but I did. AND I SURVIVED. It was actually quite delicious. I will say that the grasshopper tea was my favorite. It tasted very fresh and natural but it didn't taste well...like a bug. It was a greenish-yellow tea containing a tea bag filled with grasshoppers. Once my friend took the tea bag out and hid it from our sight, we drank it happily. Unless you look at the the tea bag, you would never guess it was grasshopper tea.

The meal-worm shake was a little different. Its taste screamed protein. I knew that bugs contained lots of protein but wow, it really tasted like a hard core protein shake. I can only imagine what the 500 meal-worm shake tasted like. I think if you're one of those people that are into protein shakes then this would be a good choice for you. It not only was heavy on protein flavor, but oddly enough it also tasted somewhat like cookies. It was a strange combination, but it was delicious. My only issue with this drink was that after a while the taste got to be too much for me. I don't think I could have finished off an entire drink on my own, especially since the taste seemed to grow stronger towards the bottom of the shake. In my opinion, it was the perfect shake to share with two of my close friends. It was just the right amount of protein for the three of us. So if you are ever in the mood for some protein filled bug drinks, Edible Coffee Cafe may be a place for you to visit.

Edible Inc. About Us Page

Seoul Rage Room

In the search for new and exciting things to occupy my time while visiting Seoul on the weekend, my friend and I came across the Seoul Rage Room. Located in Hongdae, it is exactly what it sounds like, a room where you can literally just smash stuff. I think it can be a very therapeutic experience to anyone who has pent up anxiety or stress. There are several different packages that you can choose from, which vary in price depending on how much you want to break. My friend and I opted for the 40,000 Won package, which was the third most expensive out of the five packages that were offered. Included with that price we were given about 20 ceramics, a printer, 2 bats and 15-20 minutes inside the room. It sounds a bit on the pricey side, but I assure you it was certainly worth it. It was so much fun. 

You can make reservations online for any specified time, and I recommend heading there early. It took my friend and I awhile to find it since it is on a side street and Korean streets can feel like a maze at times. Even following my map we got briefly lost. Once you arrive you will be asked to sign a waiver so it isn't the establishments fault if you get injured, then suit up, and smash. They provide suits so that any debris, fragments, or dust stay off your clothing, as well as a helmet equipped with a full face shield to prevent shattered ceramics from flying back into your face. If you desire, there are also headsets to block out some of the noise, but I thought the sound of shattering glass was the best part. The rules were also simple, please try to aim your throws at the target, refrain from hitting the walls with the bat, and not to hit the storage container.

It may seem like 15-20 minutes is not a long time, but I think it was more than enough time to smash what we were given. By the time 15 minutes had passed we were both exhausted, out of breath, and muscles we had forgotten existed were aching. 

When we first began, the music was turned up load and blaring, which created the perfect atmosphere for shattering things. The rules were explained and the worker showed us a place we could mount our phone if we wanted to record. It seemed to me that they really had thought things through, the phone mount was such a simple addition that showed they were up to date with modern times. Of course anyone who came would want to record themselves. Once he left the room my friend and I jumped straight into it. First, we started by throwing the ceramics at the target on the wall. The shattering sounds were really great. I was surprised a few times however, when one of the ceramics wouldn't break and I would have to try again. This pleasant surprise made it more fun. It felt like the dishes were saying, 'You have to throw us harder than that!' 

Then we moved on to the bats and played a bit of ceramic baseball, taking turns pitching each other plates to hit. When I reviewed the video I recorded later those hits were some of the most impressive to see. Out of ceramics, it was then time to smash the printer. My friend and I beat it until it was nothing but a crumpled piece of metal and shards of plastic. Finally, we assaulted the dummy in the room with our bats. The poor dummy looked like he had seen much better days; his head was nearly detached he had been hit so many times. My friend and I competed to see who could hit the dummy the hardest, so it received an onslaught of hits, attacked from both sides. 

Exhausted and out of breath, we ran out of things to break so we packed up and left. It is an experience I am glad to have tried and if I had some extra money or a bad day I would do it again. Unfortunately I think the price is too expensive for frequent visits. 

The rage room is also very close in proximity to Hongik University, which is either a coincidence or very well planned. What better way to make money than open up a rage room near a university that I am sure is filled with stressed students, and also in an area known for its popularity and foreign presence. 

This is the address for anyone interested in checking it out!

서울시 마포구 와우산로19길 15 3층

3F, 15, Wausan-ro 19-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hot Spots to Visit in Seoul

Over the recent holidays of Buddhas birthday and Children's Day I had a 5 day weekend, which I spent visiting friends in Seoul. This post will show some of the popular places in Seoul that I visited.

The first spot I visited the day I arrived was Cheonggyecheon Stream (청계천), where there were many lanterns strung up for the celebration of Buddha's Birthday that day, May 3rd. The lanterns were quite a sight. The soft glow and array of colors set a very romantic and comforting atmosphere around the stream. Many people, families, and children wandered about and played in the water. Even though it was after dark, the stream was full of people. There also were gorgeous flower arrangements hung up along the walls lining the stream and many lanterns strung above it, creating a makeshift ceiling of light. I have been to this stream several times, and every time it has been decorated differently, but it never fails to impress me.

The following day I found myself in Myeongdong, which is a hub for street food and tourist shopping. I have been here several times as well, but there is always something new to find. This visit I tried an ice cream desert that was a fish shaped waffle, filled with vanilla ice cream and a small honeycomb on top. I am not sure the honeycomb was authentic, but it was certainly very sweet. It was almost too sweet for me, but it was worth trying if you like sweet foods. I went to my first truly themed cafe, the Hello Kitty Cafe, to meet some friends. It was all a bit too pink for me though. Hello Kitty isn't really my thing...

I also tried Dr. Fish while I was there. Dr. Fish are the foot therapy where you put your feet in a vat of fish and they eat all the dead skin from your feet. Now, it definitely works. My feet were softer when I finished, but I think the longer you do the treatment the better the results you will have. That being said, if you are a super ticklish person you may not be able to handle it. I have never experienced something so ticklish in my entire life. It was nearly impossible to sit still without flinching as their tiny little lawnmower like mouths buzzed all over my feet. It tickled SO MUCH. I paid 10,000 W for about 15 minutes with the fish, but given the chance to do it again I would do it for longer. Before calling it a night, I also did some shopping along the streets and bought some new clothes.
















On day three I visited Seoul Forest for the first time. It seemed to be a really great outdoor area for being located within Seoul. There were many families and children celebrating Children's Day with picnics and playing in the water fountains. There were also many events for the children to participate in and many places to see. There was an insect zoo and butterfly house that had free entry. The free entry was the most appealing thing for me. I have been in many similar insect/butterfly/plant observatories, but never one that was free. I think the fact that it was free really promoted parents to bring their children to learn about the different insects, which was great. There also were some really enchanting areas that looked like they could've been straight out of a fairy tale. They were hot places for couples to take photos together. The forest even had a deer corral, where you could get up close with some deer and feed them. The deer looked a bit different then those from home, so I was curious as I watched them. The adults still had spots, and they looked a bit fluffier then deer I am used to seeing. The forest was filled with bike paths, sports areas where people could play everything from basketball, frisbee, and ping pong to volleyball. I think the abundance of areas open to sports around Seoul is very positive. I like how hard they try to integrate exercise into daily lives of the people who live there.

Later that night I went to the Han river and had dinner with friends at Ttukseom Hangang Park (한강시민공원 뚝섬지구). Most of the photos I took are poor quality since it was dark out, but the atmosphere was perfect. There was soft lighting and the river was right nearby. The cityscape with all the lights across the river made for a breathtaking view and all around were people on blankets or in tents lounging with loved ones having a relaxing evening. We ordered some Korean fried chicken (soy chicken is my favorite) and ate and visited as we listened to people who were performing nearby. It was really great.


The next day I acted as a tour guide for a fellow friend who had come to Seoul for the first time, so we went all over the place. We started the day off at Naksan Park, walking along the old Seoul City Wall and seeing a great view of the city. From there we went to the National Folk Museum and Gyeongbukgong Palace. We wandered throughout the palace and took photos, ate some subway, taunted some pigeons nearby, and enjoyed daydreaming about a time when a palace as magnificent as Gyeongbukgong would've actually been in use. The palace is so huge and the historical elements take your breath away. Especially if you are from a Western lifestyle, seeing something so drastically different makes your imagination flourish with visions of what palace life would've been like.

From there it was off to Insadong, where we spent WAY too much money on traditional souvenir items. If you want to buy souvenirs or gifts for family that is the place to go. Everything you can buy is so pretty there, but most of the multitude of shops sell the same things. I bought myself some hair clips and decorations for my apartment, as well as real calligraphy ink to go with my brushes I had previously bought elsewhere.

My friend and I also ended up in a rather large underground museum dedicated to King Sejong and Admiral Yi near Gwanghwamun Square. Initially we saw the sign for the museum and thought it was a small one. We were wrong. The steps took us underground for an expansive museum, complete with a large turtle ship replica, replicas of inventions of King Sejong, and much more. It was a very well laid out museum and I think it was rather high quality. The exhibits were gorgeous and detailed, the atmosphere was very educational and inspiring, and the staff was very friendly.


Some of Sejong's Analects included relational and communicational leadership.

Relational Leadership: "One of the most essential ingredients of great statecraft is trust, and especially expressing trust. How can a king who should rule over all people and all things in the country with impartiality treat those of low birth any differently from the way he would treat others?"

Communicational Leadership: "A wise ruler should not neglect minority opinions and give careful hearing. Nevertheless, it would be foolish for a monarch to make decisions based on a single person's opinion. Although those of superior ranks are wiser than their subordinates and should be able to make the right decisions, the subordinates must not hesitate to correct their superiors, if they feel with certainty that the latter's decisions is wrong."

Analects of King Sejong

Sejong's Statue - Museum Entrance

Admiral Yi

Inside the Turtleship Repl

Korean, Chinese, and Japanese Ship Comparison

Calligraphy Experience 

Next stop on the day of tours was Namsan Tower near Myeongdong. If you take the subway and get off at Myeongdong Station Exit 1, the tower is close enough that you can walk to the cable cars from there instead of paying for a taxi or bus. The tower is exactly as I remembered it, with the exception that this time there were many more love locks then a little over a year ago when I visited. The tower was also lit a different color this time, green rather than blue. I didn't go up in the tower this time since we didn't have enough time before the subways closed to make paying worth it, but the views from the bottom of the tower are still breathtaking.
N SEOUL TOWER

Love locks and the city background

On my last day in Seoul we made a trip to K Star Road for some celebrity hunting....well we didn't see any, but we did get to see these:

KStarRoad 

Aren't they cute? We also were able to visit SM, JYP, and FNC entertainment. We saw many "celebrity vans" or at least they had the potential... and some suspicious characters who were rather covered up for such a hot day, but no celebrity citings were confirmed. Maybe someday...


Lastly, I want to post this election poster for the recent Korean Elections. They were posted all over Seoul. I think Korea has many election candidates, but I appreciate the fact that they all get decent promotion. In the USA, other than the 2 main candidates, I feel like the others are sort of shadowed. Here I see promotions for all the different candidates no matter what area of Korea I am in. People drive around and promote their party and posters and banners show all the candidates fairly equally, which I think is respectable. I also think the fact that schools and many places of work are closed on election day is an admirable aspect of election day that should be considered in the USA. I think it would boost voting numbers if people had the day off...

15 Election Candidates....but the first 5 are the most popular