Hands Coffee (Busan)
Review by Breanna Durham, ETA ’15-’16 City: Busan Restaurant Name: Hands Coffee Foods Served: Specialty coffee and desserts Restaurant Address: 1 Millak-dong Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea View Map Directions: Once you get out of the Haeundae Station stop, walk until you get to the street opposite the beach. The shop should be on the right side before you cross the street. Cost: 5,000 won + It’s a two story coffee shop that has a classical style with wooden walls and old style lamps. The low lighting makes the atmosphere romantic, but you can still comfortably work in it. Decorative teacups and plates line up on shelves beside the ordering counter. A mix of soul, blues, r&b, and big band music filters through the shop. If you want privacy, an enclosed room awaits you on the second floor- no smoking too. The floors were well swept. And at 3:34 pm on a Saturday, the shop didn’t have a large crowd, meaning a shorter wait time for whatever you get. As for your order, they serve specialty drip coffees. The staff knows a little English if you need it to order. I bought the Momora, an Ethiopian coffee. It came in a teacup accompanied by a sugar cube on a saucer. Sipping it, it felt soft and velvety. Even with the sugar cube, it retained a nice bitter taste to it, but wasn’t strong enough to need milk. No watery taste here. It had a tang to it. I enjoyed it.
Venzamas (Gyeongju)
Review by Stephen Speers, ETA ’15-’16 City: Gyeongju Restaurant Name: Venzamas Foods Served: Coffee, Bingsu, Cheesecake Restaurant Address: 경상북도 경주시 동천동 160 View Map Directions: The establishment is in Gyeongju, on the opposite side of the river from downtown. To find the location, it is best to look it up on Naver (벤자마스). The easiest way to access the cafe is to take the taxi, which will take approximately 4-5 minutes from the train station and around 4,000 won (add 1-2 minutes from bus terminal). Or, you may take bus 70 to cross the bridge then walk around 5-10 minutes (best to keep your Naver app open to bus 70 if you choose this option). Cost: Venzmas’ prices are a good deal considering how high end the establishment feels. Coffees and desserts are priced slightly more than chain cafes, ranging around 4,500-7,000 won for a coffee. Their cheesecake is only around 5,000 won! [slideshow_deploy id=’3635′] Atmosphere / Decor Ever want to feel like you own an expensive mansion in Beverly Hills, where you can sit inside or outside drinking a perfect cup of coffee? Perhaps the Fulbright budget doesn’t cut it for your Hollywood dreams but Venzamas is a close alternative. The cafe is very modern and contemporary (Okay, so I don’t understand the difference— but once you’re there, it won’t really matter. You’ll be too busy taking photos and selfies). The cafe is designed by a famous Korean architect. As you walk in, you first feel like you’re walking into a fine mansion. You’ll find the counter on the first floor with a display case filled with various styles of cheesecake. The main building has two floors, including a private room. There is also a very nice outside patio with what appears to be an empty little swimming pool filled with glass beads. Another small glass building is in Venzamas’ backyard, and it is the perfect spot for a small group to conquer. Due to the success of the establishment, there are also three cafes to the side of Venzamas imagined by the same brilliant designer. Whether or not you dine at these locations, you should definitely stroll by and see their unique designs. Wait time While Venzamas is always busy, it is also QUITE large. If the main establishment is full, then there are three accompanying cafes designed by the same architect and their menus are similar. In my history, I’ve never waited longer than five minutes for my coffee and dessert (bingsu may take slightly longer). Service The service is excellent. The menu is in both English and Korean (typical cafe konglish-ish). It’s very easy to order at the counter. They’ll give you a buzzer as per usual. Specialties Venzamas is famous for its melon bingsu. That being said, I have not actually tried it! I can never pass up the opportunity for coffee and cheesecake. But, you should totally try it and I’ll include a photo of it so you can plot its demise (*I did not take this specific photo). You cannot go wrong with any of their coffees. There’s something for all coffeeholics— hot, iced, frozen. They have one coffee that’s loaded with marshmallows and my sweet tooth loves it. I strongly recommend the raspberry drizzled New York styled cheesecake to accompany your coffee. High class. You won’t regret it. Why I always come back This is the most famous cafe in Gyeongju and many tourists mark it as a stop after their visits to Cheomseongdae. I have surprised friends by taking them to this cool spot and they’re always quite impressed. I often go with teachers too— so even locals cannot pass this place up!
Cafe Mayb
Review by Rebekah Morton, ETA ’15-’16 City: Seogwipo Restaurant Name: Cafe Mayb Foods Served: Coffee, Cocktails, Snacks Restaurant Address: 416-2 Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do View Map Directions: The cafe is in Seogwipo, in the trendy downtown area called “Art Street.” If you walk there from the Dongmun Rotary, one of the major bus stops in Seogwipo, you should take a right at the 7/11, then take a left when you hit the daily market (marked clearly, a big covered market area). From there, it’s a straight shot at the bottom of the hill. Cost: Espresso drink ~ 5,000, Won, Cocktail ~ 6,000 Won [slideshow_deploy id=’3602′] Cafe Mayb has a very laid-back, bohemian atmosphere. There are tables in and outside of the cafe, which is fairly small–one room, with an open wall facing Art Street. The bathrooms and cafe in general are clean and well-kept, with lots of cute/quirky decor. The drinks (all of your standard espresso drinks, tea, wine/beer, cocktails) are excellent, especially given the moderate prices. The staff, and especially the owner of the cafe, are very friendly and attentive. Most of them speak English, including the owner, who often spends time chatting with customers. You’re likely to run into lots of non-staff English speakers hanging out there, as it is a popular spot for foreign teachers. There is also a sleepy cat and a friendly dog that are known to hang around looking for cuddles. TL;DR: Bohemian, English-friendly, moderate prices, good coffee and cocktails. 10/10 will come again~