First, you can do your work with great snacks and beverages. You can read books that you bring or that are from the café. In addition to this, you can get your work done. I usually see some people do their work with their lap tops. There is also a public lap top for customers. Since the tables are wide, you can put on whatever you need for your work and do your work conveniently. Some soft chairs are also make you feel good to sit and do something. Moreover, what I like most in this place is delicious food. There are various drinks and snacks such as coffee, wine, beer, fruit juice, tea, bagels, honey butter toast, and so on. Drinking Americano coffee that smells rich with honey butter toast is fantastic! When you feel tired because of hard working or reading, try some yummy snacks, and you will feel better and recharged.

Another reason for my recommendation is the atmosphere. In fact, this book café is quite small. It can accommodate just around 30 people, so you will feel snug. The light is not that bright. It is dim. However, there are desk lamps, so your work or reading is rarely interrupted. Far from being interrupted, it makes the mood restful and cozy. Besides, when night comes, the staffs light some small candles around the café, and it becomes a really beautiful place. The music also makes the atmosphere rich. They usually turn on jazz music. When listening to the music, you may get comfortable and enjoyable. Moreover, there are diverse ornaments all around the café. As I went to the café for the first time, I thought the owner had a great sense of decoration. For example, there are cute toys and dolls on the book shelf, small flowerpots, candles, and other marvelous accessories such as a frog shape thermometer on the wall. One of the book shelves is formed as a figure of a snail. It is very interesting. Imagine this; you are reading under the warm light and really good jazz music with some cute friends, while eating sweet snacks. Isn’t it terrific?

Lastly, there are a lot of books, including latest releases in the café. The café owner is reportedly a free-lance writer. He opened the café to make a place where he could put lots of his books. Thanks to his efforts, we can read various kinds of books, covering novels, essays, and magazines. Since it is hard to buy all the books you want because of the expense, it is good opportunity to read some of those in the café, instead of you buying your own. However, it could be a problem that you are a foreigner who cannot understand Korean. Fortunately, if you can read Korean, I am sure you will find really great Korean literatures in that place. There are also some old books that you can even smell of aged ones. On the other hand, if you cannot read Korean, just bring and read your own book at first. I think you can order books you want to read, so you may find the books on your next visit. Try to read those varied books or to order the books you want to read. No matter what you read, you can enjoy your reading in the excellent mood.

Now, I believe you really want to go there. Am I right? When you go there, you will be surprised. At first, you will be surprised at the tasty food, at the cozy atmosphere that contains exquisite music and interesting decorations, and lastly at the various books. I will give you some further information of the café. It opens at 12 p.m. and closes at 2 a.m. Drinks range from 4,000 won for America coffee to more than 50,000 won for wine. The costs of snacks are usually between 5,000 won and 10,000 won. To get there, get off at Hongik University station on line no. 2 and come out through gate 5. Go straight and you can see a small crosswalk. Cross the street and right after crossing the street, turn left. Keep walking until you can see a jewelry shop and when you get to the jewelry shop, turn right. Go straight. You can see “Luxury Su Norebang (karaoke)” on your right side while walking. If you pass the karaoke you can find another crosswalk. Cross the street and keep walking for a minutes, and you can arrive at a convenience store named “Bestall.” There is a small street on the right. Go into the street and you can see the book café “Jak-up-sil” on your right. In front of the café, there is a yellow bicycle. It makes you find the café easily. I also put a map together for you.

Emily Park

The first reason why it attracts people is because of the cozy atmosphere. When you get into the store, you can sense a faint smell of coffee from everywhere and hear jazz music. The scent makes us feel fresh. With this scent, every chairs and tables is black and white colored. It’s simple and gives people ease. And every wall is made of glass, so you can see the scenery of outside. Especially, it’s romantic to drink coffee on a rainy day as you look at the scenery. Many people come here to be relaxed in comfort.

The second point is about the taste of coffee and sandwiches. There are many kinds of coffee, so you can choose what you want according to your taste. I want to recommand Vanila Cafelatte. It contains Vanila syrup, so it’s sweet like caramel melting in your mouth. Sandwiches are also various with ingredients like tuna, salmon and a variety of vegetables and they smell fresh. If you like coffee and a sandwich, there is no more perfect place than here.

Lastly, they provide a kind service. Every waitresses and waiters gives us warm smile and pleasant service. Last month, I went there with my friend and ordered a cup of coffee. Mistakenly, I spilt my coffee, but they brought me another coffee. They were still smiling, so I felt pleasant even though I made a mistake. Like this, their kind attitude is one of the attracting points.

As I said, Cafe Themselves is an amazing place for people seeking for rest. You can enjoy your time with a yummy sandwich and coffee in a comfortable place. Whenever you need help, waitresses and waiters will provide a good service. That’s why I would like to recommand “Cefe Themselves”. And it is located in Jong-ro 3ga next to the movie theater “Cine-Coa”. You can take the subway line number 1, 3 and 5. It opens from 9am to 11pm, and there is no holiday. Food price is from 3000 won to 5000 won. It is up to kinds of food. The price of coffee is about 4000 won. So.. Are you ready for it?

JO EUN HYE

First, it has a tranquil ambiance to be relaxed. The cozy sofa, natural decoration, tone-downed yellow light, and whispers of traditional Korean music in this cafe offer a comfortable mind to you, tired foreigners, because of the fatigue from a journey. Deep and soft sofas differ from other cafes. Then look around the cafe, and you can find simple decoration with old telephone, books, and paintings. Those are not sophisticated but indeed attractive. How about misty yellow light? It makes your eyes pleasant to appreciate all these atmospheres. The murmuring music sounds also reach your ear while you’re sitting on warm sofa. The traditional Korean music that is a long and distant sound with Korean string instrument makes you laid-back. Restful couch, simple and modest ornaments, soft and dim light, and breathe of pleasant music are enough elements to love this cafe.

Second, there are always traditional tea smells. “서울서 둘째로 잘하는 집” has six different kinds of Korean traditional teas and these aromas soothe your physical, mental exhaustion. For example, one of Korean teas ‘쌍화탕(Tsanghwa tang)’ which is served in the café is famous for therapy method as a folk medicine with a special fragrance like Chinese herb medicine smell, but never tough to savor. Furthermore, all Korean herb teas are not too strong although it has bitter taste; instead, they are usually sweet-smelling. Thus anyone can try to smell and enjoy them at will. These various traditional soothing smells are not only one of the extraordinary point of the cafe, but also another attraction point for foreigners who hesitate to visit where in Korea.

Lastly, the essential reason that you should visit the cafe is the cuisine. No doubt, 90% of visitors come in to the cafe to taste ‘단팥죽(Danpatjuk)’, the most popular item on the menu. It is a Korean style soup made of red bean, and Korean used to eat since long time ago. Although people make it artificial way now, ‘Danpatjuk’ of “서울서 둘째로 잘하는 집” is all made through hand-made process. It means that you can just taste its flavor as well as artisan’s soul. ‘Danpatjuk’s mystic flavor, excessive sweetness which has long aftertaste and unique color ‘deep purple’ tempt the appetite. It also seizes your sensitive palate with its special texture which is thicker than liquid like fluids or baby formula. In addition, the ingredients of 단팥죽 are full of nutrients; chestnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, jujubes, and the core ‘새알(Se-al)’, which is a chewy, sweet white wheat ball. Once you taste it, you’ll never forget it and miss it a lot. The extraordinary flavor of craftswoman, splendid color, and the finest ingredients of ‘Danpatjuk’ are the fundamental reason that you should absolutely go and enjoy this cafe.

As you have seen, the attractions of “서울서 둘째로 잘하는 집” show you why you shouldn’t miss to visit here when you travel to Korea. It has everything for foreigners; agreeable mood, several special fragrance of traditional teas, and unique menu ‘Danpatjuk’. It is open from 10 am to 10 pm every day. Traditional teas range from 4,000 to 5,000 won, and a light meal of ‘Danpatjuk’ costs 5,000 won. To get there, take subway line number 5 and get off at the station ‘광화문(Kwanghwamun).’ Then go out through the exit number 3, and you can find a bus stop straight ahead of you. Take a green local line bus number 11 and take off at ‘금융연수원(Korea Banking Institute).’ The restaurant is located right next to ‘KBI’.

Park Ji Yeon