(Seoul) travel guide: Theme Cafe Hopping in Seoul

Seoul, South Korea offer a lot of themed cafe experience that you don't want to miss.

Starting from Hongdae area, there's a unique One Piece themed cafe. My husband knows all the character and story behind each of them all while I just have no clue about One Piece. The themed decoration was top notch, I mean look at that gigantic Thousand Sunny ship!

Cafe de One Piece
343-10 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

For Potterhead, 943 Kings Cross Cafe will be your next destination. Since we're not, we just passing it by on our way back to the hotel from dinner in the other cafe. They said inside this cafe you'll be spoiled with detailed decorations and we saw ourself that lots and lots of people queing to get inside.

943 Kings Cross Harry Potter Cafe
417 Seogyo-dong. Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Not only cafes, when in Hongdae don't forget to also hunt instagram-worthy storefront coffee shop. We were just walking around behind our hotel early in the morning for a coffee before heading back to Jakarta, but then found lots of cafe option and ended up coming inside this below one with a bear / cat (?) statue, just because they also sell cute stationaries, which is my weakness..!

Moving to Myengdong area, the home of skincare shops. The top on my list at that time was this Style Nanda Pink Hotel. Some thought it was a hotel, but it wasn't. It simply a boutique & make up store that also sells dessert with Pink Pool Hotel themed. This one in Myeongdong is their flagship store while they also have shop & cafe in Hongdae area.

Style Nanda Pink Hotel
37-8 Myeongdong 8-gil. Jung-gu Seoul.

While still in Myeongdong don't forget to snaps a picture of this huge giant Brown from Line Character at the Official Line Store. They also sell a cute Line Caracter Ice Cream. Their store here in Myengdong doesn't have a large cafe / photospot like the one in Garosu-gil.

Line Friends Flagship Store

9 Myeongdong 8na-gil. Jung-gu, Seoul

Still in Myeongdong area, ok this one below is not a themed cafe.. but still I want to mention this rose-shaped ice cream called Milky Bee. The flavour range is not too many, but they also sell youghurt and honeycomb ice cream.

Milky Bee
11 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul.

Now, moving to area where we spent our day by strolling around Bukchon Hanok Village.

Just by walking from Gyeongbokgung Palace, we reach to SsamJiGil in Insadong area. Mainly to buy souvenir (this Ssamjigil place & the road towards it known for their cheap souvenir place) then fueling ourself in this quirky Poop themed cafe. 

Enjoy sipping hot cocoa in the toilet shaped mug and eating a poop shaped waffle.

Ddoong Cafe

Ssamjigil 4th Floor

38 Gwanhun-dong

In Garosugil area, that known for their themed store/ boutique (will post about themed boutique in this area soon) has the largest Line Friend themed cafe / store & a huge photospot area inside it.

Line Friend Store / Cafe

535-15 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu.

(Seoul) 6 Things to do in Seoul, Korea for your first visit.

Seoul is really an interesting city. From the exiciting attraction, the clean air, the amount of things to do and visit, the mouthwatering food yet super cute themed Cafes to the undeniable shopping palace.

Here's 6 Top Things to do in your first visit:.

1. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace & Visit Bukchon Hanok Village wearing Hanbok.

First thing first, a traditional trip and a complete package of visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, enjoy walking around in Bukchon Hanok Village, the super instagram-worthy strolling area, while wearing South Korea traditional attire, Hanbok.
Nearest Station: Gyeongbokgung or Gwanghwamun

2. Go to Namsan Seoul Tower.

How to get there:

1. By Bus: There are 3 number of shuttle bus that goes to Namsan Tower. No 2 from Donguk and Chungmura Station, No. 3 Seoul STation, Itaewon & Hangangjin Station, and No. 5 from Myeongdong & Chungmura Station >we chose using this bus no.5

2. By Cable Car

From Myeongdong Station - exit 3 - walk to Pasific Hotel in the right and walk 10 minutes.

3. Go to Edelweiss Swiss Village.

This is just outside Seoul, around 2hours by bus/ car. Nestled in Gapyeong area, this themed village copied some of Switzerland's iconic thing ie, Big Teddy Bear, The Nutcracker, also a Chocolate and Cheese museum.

4. Go to the Highest tower in Seoul: Lotte World Tower.

Lotte World Tower is the tallest building in South Korea to date. The elevator speed ride going up is 600 metre per minute. The observatory itself have a 360* panoramic view across Seoul.

Nearest station: Jamsil Station 

Ticket Price Oct 2018: 27KRW (adult), 24KRW (children)

5. Go to Theme Cafe.

Seoul has too many, waaaay many themed cafes to explore.. from Poop themed cafe in Insadong  (yes, poop) to One Piece Cafe in  Hongdae Area and Pink Pool Cafe themed in Myeongdong Area.

Click here for more Theme Cafe in Seoul. https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/seoul-travel-guide-themed-cafe-hopping.html

Add caption

6. Visit Myeongdong and Garosugil Area for shopping.
Shopping lots and lots of skincare in Myeongdong Area and try Garosugil area for a more high end boutique.

Myeongdong Area

Garosugil Area

(London) Top 4 Instagramable PhotoSpot with St Paul Cathedral as your background

St. Paul Cathedral is one of  most famous landmark of London. The 111m building was the tallest building in London until 1967. You can easily located this 300years old building by looking at the dome from distance.

For another London Photoguide Series, click:
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/londons-blooming-storefront-guide.html
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/top-3-photospot-with-londons-tower.html
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/london-blooming-storefront-guide-part-2.html

1. From One New Change
You can reach One New Change from St. Paul's tube station. Basically it's an openair shopping mall (remind me of CiTos in Jakarta) overlooking the gorgeous St Paul's Cathedral.
Try standing between the modern looking glass

2. From The Festival's Garden
Take left from the first spot and turn right entering the Cathedral from the Festival's garden, you'll find this favorite spot of mine. Not only one landmark, but also two: London red phone box and St Paul Cathedral.

Don't forget to snap a picture from the rose bushes while in the Garden overlooking the dome to get this angle of St Paul's cathedral.

3. From the St Paul's Churchyard
When you exit the cathedral toward the Thames River, just outside the churchyard you can take a picture infront of the Cathedral to get this huge-looking dome angle. And if you're lucky, some London trademark red buss may passing by as well.

4. From Millenium Bridge
Just go straight from the Churchyard crossing Queen Victoria Street to Peter's hill then you'll find youself in the Millenium Bridge already. The helical shaped steel with the dome in distance and also the clear blue sky (again, if you're lucky getaway with London's weather) makes the picture's even better.

(London) Top 3 PhotoSpot with Tower Bridge as the background

Tower Bridge is the London's most snap Landmark. While I believe this bridge is photogenic from wherever angle you take but with some hints of spot you'll get a better looking photo for this landmark.

For another London Photoguide Series, click:
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/londons-blooming-storefront-guide.html
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/top-4-instagramable-photospot-with.html
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/london-blooming-storefront-guide-part-2.html

1. From More London Place.

More London Place located in the South of the Thames River, with some futuristic buildings as your frame and adding some splash from the fountain just infront of the cafes and office building area makes the view even prettier.

If you walk towards the bridge, with Potter's field on your right side you can step yourself standing in between colorful bunting flag and London's street lamp.

PS: Borough Market is near this area, there's also lots of Cafes near the fountain. Both will have this nice scenic view.

2. From The Bridge itself.

While acrossing the bridge from One More Place area don't forget to snaps some pics while walking under the tower bridge. The 65ft tall bridge with coloured blue steel and additional London's red bus -if you're lucky makes your pictures looks more eye catchy.

3. From girl with the dolphine statue

In this North side of the Thames you can find this 'Girl with Dolphine Statue' right on the bridge right side (near the dock). This one is my favorite..! 

PS: Sometimes during the weekend there's lots of yummy food trucks. You can admire the view & this landmark(s) while eating there.

Enjoy your walk crossing the Bridge..!

(London) Chasing-Storefront PhotoSpot Guide Part 2: Mayfair (& some Seven Dial Area)

So here's part-2 of my London post, still about chasing-storefront in one area.

Now in Mayfair and started from Oxford Circus tube station in Oxford Street.



For another London Guide Photo Spot Series, click:
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/londons-blooming-storefront-guide.html
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/top-3-photospot-with-londons-tower.html
https://www.holaaquila.com/2019/08/top-4-instagramable-photospot-with.html

PS: Oxford Street is the 'main street' here which connects to Bond Street, mainly decked with big store like John-Lewis, Debenhams, Zara, Next, etc whilst smaller street behind the long Bond-Regent Street is the one that we’ll explore.

From Oxford Circus take right to Regent Street then another right after 2 junction and you’ll find Maddox Gallery. Their decorated galleryfront always full with seasonal floral arrangement or other themed depends on what the exibition inside.

Maddox Gallery Wisteria Decoration

From Maddox Gallery if you turn right to Pollen St then turn left, you will spot the huge super colorful -not a flowers but balloon instead- installation of Fenwick.

Fenwick's Baloon Installation

Take left from Fenwick junction then walk go straight to Cork St then you’ll spot this angel shaped ‘backdrop’ infront of Stork Restaurant.

Supercute Angel Wing shaped Flower Installation

From Stork, just head to Grosverner Square you then greeted by full-flower storefront of 34 Restaurant. Look at those flowers though..

34 Restaurant's Full Flower-Storefront 

Okay, moving on..

If you decided to then wandering to another area, I suggest you go to Seven Dials.

Seven dials is basicaly a roundabout that branched to seven street.

The famous Covent Garden, Neil’s Street and Neils Yard is connected through this roundabout.

If you head to Elham Street at the end of the road you’ll find the iconic London pub, Crown and Anchor.

Crown and Anchor

From here if you turn left then another left to Short’s Garden, find a small alley on your right then there you go.. the famous Neal’s Yard -which is really packed when we get there. 

The packed Neal's Yard

Enjoy your walk from one to another places that I mentioned here, we ourself stopped by in every store on our left/ right side just because the stores are so colorful outside, quirky and unique inside.

Enjoy London...!