추석 핫플레이스 Chuseok Seoul Staycation – What Hot Cafes Will Be Open?

This year’s Korean thanksgiving vacation, Chuseok, has landed somewhat perfectly on the lunar calendar, resulting in a 10 day vacation for most. Usually this vacation lasts 3 days. Many of us (myself included) have not booked luxurious vacations abroad and will most likely be staying in Korea for this vacation. If you were lucky enough to get an airfare ticket that won’t break the bank, good for you!! Airfare skyrockets (pun intended) during this holiday season. What is my plan for Chuseok? I will be having a vacation in South Korea… A ‘STAYcation”. I have family coming to visit me from South Africa and I’m BEYOND excited.

So, I did some scouting around and contacted some of my favourite hot spots (핫플레이스) in Seoul to see who will be open during the extended Chuseok vacation. Below is a list of places that will gladly serve you a cup of something delicious to celebrate your freedom. Please read each description carefully, each place has different opening and closing hours… All the places listed below will remain open during the 10 day vacation, except for the 4th of October which is Chuseok day.

Okay, lets get cracking. Here are are suggestions of places to chill, take photos at and experience what’s trending in Korea during this year’s Chuseok vacation.

• More Than Less

Location: 743-8, Hannam-dong, Yongsang-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Opening hours during Chuseok vacation: 10am-10pm everyday, except for 4th October.

Website: https://morethanless.kr

A face brick storefront beguiles you in to thinking there is an office or corporate business inside… As soon as the GIGANTIC glass door swings open and you catch the bass thumping from the DJ turntable desk and smell the aroma of coffee beans being ground, you soon realise this is not your ‘average joe’ place.

More Than Less, cafe and decor studio is run by couple Hyobin Kim and Sang-gyu Woo. MTL (More Than Less) should definitely be on your Chuseok list. I highly recommend the caffe latte (using German Coffee roaster, Bonanza coffee beans) or the iced chocolate. The rich chocolate is perfectly offset by a basil scone. A stately La Marzocca and Mazzer grinders ensure that the coffee and technology are both up to scratch with the best of the best.

Hailing from Berlin Germany, Bonanza Coffee Company believes that the key to great coffee is passionate people. The crew of staff at More Than Less in Hannam-dong certainly fit the profile, passionate coffee aficionados.

“From the moment coffee is planted, till it’s served, our coffee has gone through the hands of countless individuals that are all remarkable within their field.” – Bonanza Coffee

Our idea of roasting is the counter opposite of what is commonly regarded as the way to roast coffee, which is, we roast it as little as possible, enough to fully develop all flavours, with the aim to highlight what makes a coffee distinct. The resulting cup should be clean, clear and pure, free from tastes that are produced by the roast itself. – Bonanza Coffee

• Peer Coffee

Location: 684-32, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Opening hours during Chuseok vacation: Open all vacation days except the 4th of October. 12midday – 8pm. Closed on Mondays.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/peercoffee/

Peer Cafe and roasters is well known amongst the coffee ‘whose who’. The store counter is full of coffee gadgets, tampers and chemex jars all paying homage to the obvious passion for good coffee. The preparation line up includes a miscellany of grinders like Nuova Simonelli, Mahlkoenig’s EKK 43 and Mazzer. The very stylish wooden and white Slayer Espresso machine sits sleekly on the counter.

The menu includes all the usual coffee drinks you would expect to find at a good cafe, but also includes soy latte, almond latte and beautifully bottled cold brew coffee. The cafe interior space is tranquil and a great place to take a break away from the buzzing streets of Itaewon and Hannam-dong. Hannam-dong is fast becoming my favourite neighbourhood as it has the variety of Itaewon, but feels less chaotic and more chic. Peer roasts there own coffee onsite and offers a seasonal roast collection. I thoroughly enjoyed my El Camino Latte. This seasons roast, El Camino is described as having a bittersweet, nutty and cocoa profile. Another favourite, the Dorothy roast, described as having a grapefruit, passion fruit, sweet and well balanced profile.

A special mention needs to be made about their beautifully designed packaging and merchandise. Each seasonal blend has its unique design concept.

 

• Scoff Bake House

Location:

A) 278-5 Buam-dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.

B) 90-2 Cheongunhyoja-dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Opening hours during Chuseok vacation: Tuesday to Sunday 11:00am-19:30pm
Only closed on the 4th October.

Website:https://www.instagram.com/scoffbakehouse/

Scoff bakery bakes British style goodies. So you can expect delicious scones, decadent brownies and other light cakes. The lemon cake looks JUST like the style of cake my mom bakes at home. I always walk away with more than I should (for one person) but I just can’t resist.

I usually visit the bakery located in Buamdong, Jongno-gu. This is only a take out bakery and there is no space to sit. If the cafe next door, Lumberjack, is open it’s totally worth a visit too. (I smuggled my baked goodies in my handbag and ordered coffee… shhhh don’t tell anyone)

Lumberjack’s decor is reminiscent of a lumber jack’s cabin. There were even a table of bearded gentlemen seated downstairs.

The second Scoff (Seochan branch) is also in Jongno-gu. This bakery branch has seating one level above the bakery and serves coffee.

How great is it that you can celebrate Chuseok and enjoy a cream cheese brownie or a rasberry cream cheese brownie?! Yes and thank you!

As there motto says, “Eat More Gluten”