7th Heaven (Seogwipo)
Review by Rachel Brooks, ETA 2014-2016 City: Seogwipo Restaurant Name: 7th Heaven Foods Served: coffee, juices, sandwiches, breakfast foods Restaurant Address: 409 Taepyung-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do 제주시 서귀포시 태평로 409 Directions: The cafe is not too far from the Dongmun and Jungang Rotary bus stops in Seogwipo. Cost: around 8,000 – 12,000 won for coffee and food While on our way to eat somewhere else one night, my friend and I tucked into this tiny establishment to avoid downpour from a thunderstorm and decided to try our luck here. Primarily a brunch spot for mid-morning customers, 7th Heaven serves an assortment of options food and drink options. We arrived around 7pm and well after the brunch menu had ended. With shattered hopes of brunch for dinner, we were pleasantly surprised when the kind woman behind the counter offered to make us grilled cheese paninis for 5,000 won. The panini, while not traditionally an option, was promptly added to the chalkboard menu at the end of our visit. The food did not disappoint and was the perfect meal to enjoy during the gloomy weather. I only wish there was a side of tomato soup. The toasty bread and blend of cheeses made for a great combination, but customers — especially those who are vegetarian — should note that the grilled cheese panini also came with a thinly sliced piece of ham inside. In addition to the kindness and flexibility of the staff, the homey decor and vibrant art for sale add to a warm atmosphere. I’ve only tried the hot white mocha (4,000 won), but they have your usual array of coffee choices. If you’re not in the mood for coffee, choose from their ade (5,000 won), smoothie (6,000 won), tea (4,000 won), and fruit juice (6,000won) options. Food includes pancakes (7,000 won), ciabatta (7,000 won), bagels (3,000 won), honey butter bread (6,500 won), cheesecake (4,500 won), and even homemade yogurt (4,000 won). If you find yourself hungry in Seogwipo, certainly stop by this hidden gem.
Cafe Sunbike (Jeju-si)
Review by Rachel Brooks, ETA 2014-2016 City: Jeju-si Restaurant Name: Cafe Sunbike (카페 썬바이크) Foods Served: coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, burritos, and more Restaurant Address: 제주특별자치도 제주시 연북로 527 1층 Cafe Sunbike Directions: A short walk from Jungang Girls’ High School, the cafe is catty-corner from the CGV movie theater. Cost: around 5,000 – 12,000 won for a beverage and food item After hearing positive things about Cafe Sunbike from word-of-mouth, I had been itching to visit and finally went with a friend last semester. A cafe that doubles as a bike shop, Cafe Sunbike quickly became one of my favorite coffee shops. The menu boasts an impressive selection of beverages and food items, and you can check out bicycle parts while you wait for your order. With a sporty, youthful vibe, Cafe Sunbike’s beverages are surprisingly affordable considering you get to keep the water bottle that contains certain beverages, including the smoothies, frappes, and smoothies. For a mere 500 won extra, you can upgrade other beverages, like the coffee selection, to include the water bottle keepsake. The establishment has your typical coffee and tea choices as well as ades, pongdang lattes, smoothies, and frappes. Quench your thirst with a blue lemonade, apple mango, green grape, or grapefruit ade for 5,000 won, and strawberry, mango, and blueberry smoothies are available for 5,500 won each. For 6,000 won, choose from strawberry, blueberry, or mango pongdang lattes, which combine fruit, ice, and milk. My friend’s strawberry smoothie was milk-based, so the taste was delightfully creamy and reminiscent of strawberry milk in slushie form. Frappes cost between 5,500 to 5,800 won, and the flavor options are chocolate, green tea, cookies and cream, and vanilla. I was pleasantly surprised by rich, tiny chocolate chunks in my chocolate frappe. Both my friend and I were impressed with the high quality tastes and textures. If your sweet tooth is especially large, the massive strawberry or chocolate banana “triple tower” beverages feature a mix of yogurt smoothie, fruit, and lots of chocolate. Food options range from sweet to savory. Depending on your mood, you can top your honey bread with caramel, blueberry, strawberry, or garlic flavors. After much deliberation, my friend and I ordered the blueberry honey bread to share and were ecstatic when it arrived with generous helpings of whipped cream and blueberry topping. Other food includes bulgogi, ham and egg, or maple ciabatta as well as sausage, chicken, or bulgogi burritos for between 4,000 and 5,000 won. A short walk from a Megabox theater, the cafe is spacious and clean. It employs a friendly staff, and an English translation of everything on the menu is readily available. While my friend and I visit in the evenings after school, Cafe Sunbike opens at 8am, so it’s the perfect place to stop by for anything from a boost of caffeine in the morning to a sweet treat after work.
With us, Travel (Jeju)
Review by Rebekah Morton, ETA ’15-’16 City: Jeju City Restaurant Name: With us, Travel Foods Served: Brunch Restaurant Address: 아라일동 6113-16, Jeju City 690121 View Map Directions: The cafe is in “ara dong,” a suburb of Jeju-si. If you take the Inda Maul bus stop, it’s about a five minute walk from there. Cost: ~10,000 won for brunch + coffee Here is the cafe’s Facebook page. The cafe is very cozy, with a fireplace and blankets in the middle of the main room. It also has great specialized coffee drinks, like real chocolate mochas and white mochas, which makes it a really great place to check out in the winter. Food-wise, they have typical brunch food options like pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, and a “full breakfast” with eggs, bacon, and toast. They are known, however, for their waffles, which can come plain or with ice cream, berries and cream, or a variety of other sweet toppings. All the food and drinks I’ve had here have been great, especially given the moderately low prices. Additionally, the cafe and bathrooms are always clean and well-maintained. It’s a bit small, but never seems to be crowded.