Video: Cafe Diaries in Cheongju
By Lisa Chang, ETA ’16-’17 With practically five cafes in every block of a city, Korea’s cafe culture feeds its social and dating culture. Having visited a fair amount of cafes in my placement city Cheongju, I documented snippets of my visual experience in these cafes, which has become part of my bi-weekly routine. Whether it be flower cafes, Lego-themed cafes, or minimalistic cafes made for coffee connoisseurs, there is a space for every kind of coffee dilettante. To check out some of Lisa’s reviews of two cafes featured in the video click here or here.
Monopot (Cheongju)
Photos and review by Lisa Chang, ETA ’16-’17 City: Cheongju (청주) Restaurant Name: Monopot (모노팟) Restaurant address: 충북 청주시 청원구 주성동 248-1 248-1 Juseong-dong, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do View Map Food Served: Coffee, teas, smoothies, dessert Price: On the pricer side. Approximately 4,500-5,500 won for lattes and cappuccinos, and over 6,000 for specialty drinks. Monopot is a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing cafe to spend hours in. It has two stories–the first of which houses a flower shop and seems like you can also take floral arrangement classes there. The second story is where the cafe is located. In addition to your regular Americanos and lattes, you can also order their seasonal signature drinks, including a Shrek Latte, a Summer Latte, and Vanilla Pompuccino. When I went, I ordered their Toffeeccino, which turned out to be a sweet, caramel-flavored drink with a frothy top layer with crushed toffee bits sprinkled over. The drink was pleasant, though a bit on the sweeter side. The atmosphere of the cafe was great, with plenty of seating. It’s the perfect Instagram-worthy place where you can sit and chat with friends, or get some work done. Since I went on a week-day, the cafe was not filled but I have a feeling that it is probably packed on the weekends, and often chosen as a hot spot for a date. I personally did not attempt to speak English to the staff, so I’m not sure about their English abilities. I enjoyed my experience here and would come back here. The only downside is that it is quite far from the center of Cheongju so it might take a while for you to get there, but it is certainly possible to get there via public transportation.
Moonlic Cafe (Hwacheon)
Photos and review by Susan Skaza, ETA ’15-’17 City: Hwacheon (화천) Café Name: Moonlic Cafe Address: 강원도, 화천군, 화천읍,상승로 3길 (Sangseung-ro 3 gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do) View Map Food Served: Coffee, Tea, Small Bakery Items Cost: About 4,000 – 5,000 won per drink Directions: Starting at the entrance of 김밥천국 (at the corner of the intersection of Hwacheon’s main street (중앙로) and 상승로, turn left and head straight down 상승로 until you reach 상승로 3길. At the corner of 상승로 and 상승로 3길 there will be a bike store, and another bike store, called “Peace Bike”, across the street. Turn left onto 상승로 3길. Moonlic should be on your left a few paces down the street. (It’s on the same street as the Hwacheon Technical High School and library.) This is perhaps my favorite cafe in Hwacheon. It’s slightly nestled away from the crowds on the main street during the Festival, and provides a comfortable atmosphere to relax with friends. During the summer it’s also a nice cafe to visit because it offers a picnic table and swing, so guests can enjoy their drinks while soaking in the sunlight. The service is quick and friendly, and they almost always provide small complimentary cookies, usually spritz or biscotti, with every drink. If you’re a chocoholic like me and are looking for a decadent chocolate drink, I highly recommend their Dark Chocolate Latte. It’s very rich, so if you’re not a chocolate person you might want to steer clear. While their selection of beverages may not be large, their options are varied and occasionally unique, so everyone can find something to enjoy. I have yet to try something I haven’t liked. Additionally, if you’d like an extra sweet, they frequently sell macaroons – made by the cafe owners – and while I may not be a macaroon person, they were definitely the best macaroons I’d ever had. (Assuming I uploaded the files correctly, the pictures below show the exterior of the cafe, and a strawberry smoothie with complimentary biscotti.)