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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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 Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:02 pm Post subject: Seoul-Where to find cafes and good bread |
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Making the trip up to Seoul this weekend and even though I've lived in Korea for 3.5 years, I've only been to Seoul 3 times.
Is it possible to find cool, European style cafes, or non-Starbucks, Angel in us coffee, Holly's, A twosome place ie., Korean style cookie cutter coffee shops in Seoul? If yes, where?
Is it also possible to find good quality NON SUGARY bread. Specially I'd like some quality sour dough bread and even some good cheese.
I guess I ned to find a good market for these items, any suggestions?
Thanks. |
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climber159
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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Passions Bakery near Hangangjin subway station (1 stop from Itaewon) has decent bread. It'll cost you though. The Bakery is the 1st floor of the black glass building.
As for Euro-style coffee shops...HA! I never found one that I could deem an improvement over Starbucks or Hollys in Korea. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Paris Baguette, I think thats how it's spelled. Anyhow there bread is very good, usually fresher than any place else and they have a lot of delicious varieties. I like their pumpkin bread personally. Paris Baguette is everywhere. Although the price may not be right for you. Good French Baguettes are easy to find at any place that has a bakery. |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| climber159 wrote: |
Passions Bakery near Hangangjin subway station (1 stop from Itaewon) has decent bread. It'll cost you though. The Bakery is the 1st floor of the black glass building.
As for Euro-style coffee shops...HA! I never found one that I could deem an improvement over Starbucks or Hollys in Korea. |
I just returned from 2 weeks in Japan, so after the costs there, I'm sure I can buy some bread. I'll try to find the bakery you mentioned. Thanks. |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| young_clinton wrote: |
| Paris Baguette, I think thats how it's spelled. Anyhow there bread is very good, usually fresher than any place else and they have a lot of delicious varieties. I like their pumpkin bread personally. Paris Baguette is everywhere. Although the price may not be right for you. Good French Baguettes are easy to find at any place that has a bakery. |
I'm sure your post is well intentioned, but maybe you have never eaten real sour dough bread. It's thick, has real substance to it and a slight sour taste. The stuff at Paris Baguette is sugar tasting fluff. |
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climber159
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Paris Baguette along with Tous Les Jours do not produce what I would consider quality bread. Some of it will do in a pinch, but if you're able to make it to Passions Bakery your taste buds will thank you. |
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banjois
Joined: 14 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| I didn't try the bread, but there's a place in Seorae called (I think) Paris Bakery that had the best pain au chocolat I've had since I lived in Montreal. |
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Kissmykimchi
Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Seoul
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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OK nice links. I think you gave the same recommendation as another poster so it should be OK then. I'm a bit of a cafe snob though, I lived the yuppie cafe life a few years back at home but I realize this is Korea, and should be grateful they have cafes at all. |
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Kissmykimchi
Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Kurtz wrote: |
OK nice links. I think you gave the same recommendation as another poster so it should be OK then. I'm a bit of a cafe snob though, I lived the yuppie cafe life a few years back at home but I realize this is Korea, and should be grateful they have cafes at all. |
You may like Cafe Noi in Hongdae or Coffee Smith on garousugil. |
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indieROK
Joined: 16 May 2010
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| Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:34 am Post subject: |
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While Passion5 is worth it for the spectacle, the only bakery I'd write home about so far is Guillaume.
http://maisonguillaume.com/eng/
It's the only place where I've found croissants without that weird sugar glaze Korean bakeries put on everything. Other breads (fougasse, baguette) were good too, and they had a selection of cheese as well.
Locations in Hannam and Gangnam. If you go to the Hannam location it's fairly close to a decently hardcore coffee place called Coffee King, it's next door to the Barista Association of Korea.
What exactly are you looking for in a cafe? Atmosphere, coffee skils, location? In my experience you can find all kinds of decent cafes with different combos of attributes. Seems like if you head over to Buam-dong or Samcheong-dong it's hard not to trip over decent cafes. |
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PigeonFart
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:05 am Post subject: |
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"We cannot change the recipes to suit Korean tastes," said a PR representative of Paul Korea. "We cannot change the recipes at all. They are the same the world over."
That's what I wanna hear! |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:13 am Post subject: |
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| indieROK wrote: |
While Passion5 is worth it for the spectacle, the only bakery I'd write home about so far is Guillaume.
http://maisonguillaume.com/eng/
It's the only place where I've found croissants without that weird sugar glaze Korean bakeries put on everything. Other breads (fougasse, baguette) were good too, and they had a selection of cheese as well.
Locations in Hannam and Gangnam. If you go to the Hannam location it's fairly close to a decently hardcore coffee place called Coffee King, it's next door to the Barista Association of Korea.
What exactly are you looking for in a cafe? Atmosphere, coffee skils, location? In my experience you can find all kinds of decent cafes with different combos of attributes. Seems like if you head over to Buam-dong or Samcheong-dong it's hard not to trip over decent cafes. |
Thanks for the links.
I like many types of cafes. Basically what I'm NOT looking for is a weak tasting latte served in a gigantic mug, with some fluffy milk on the top, and being surrounded by K-princesses taking pictures of themselves, in a cookie cutter Starbucks style shop, or some fake wood paneled job that looks like it was built yesterday.
The coffee taste is essential, but so is the atmosphere and clientele; having a good menu with some good bread, croissants, or chorizo sausage in a tomato sauce would be lovely too.
Perhaps there is a market for this kind of thing in Seoul. As more and more Koreans travel abroad, and more and more expats come to live here, maybe a business venture is on offer. Some people want more than Starbucks. |
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Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| For good quality bread (not necessarily sourdough, though), you can go to the Grand Hyatt Hotel Bakery; Tartine's Bakery; Paris Croissant. |
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