Hidden Treasures - Cofioca 커피오카

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a total bubble tea fanatic. I have been exploring all of Seoul for the best of the best bubble teas and I have found the spot for the best smoothie versions. Cofioca 커피오카 in Apgujeong offers blended drinks and one of my ultimate favorite is the combination of coffee and milk tea. Yes, coffee and milk tea the traditional way of half half, Ying Yerng, Ying Yang, the one go to! They of course, offer a handful of other blends and it is an extremely small shop that is whipping up a lot of amazing blends and flavors. For just $5 a cup which is not too expensive compared to other places that offer smoothie drinks, Cofioca is the one place that is a go to for sure.

With two Cofioca locations, one in Myeondong and one in Apgujeong, the one that is a must visit is the one in Apgujeong for the chance to bump into a celebrity. Yes, the area in Seoul is the fancy rich area that all of the upper class likes to hang around. For this very reason, there are a handful of celebrities that work in the area and need their bubble tea intake as well. You'll find the walls of the small Cofioca shop filled with posters and paper writings of celebrities who have all visited the branch. For the Apgujeong location, take exit 6 of the Apgujeong Rodeo station on yellow Bundang line. Go straight until you pass H&M and see a coffee shop on the next corner. Take a left at the coffee shop and take a right on the second block in. Cofioca will be on your left.

Address To Apgujeong branch: 659-9 Gangnam-gu Sinsa-dong Seoul

서울특별시 강남구 신사동 659-9

Telephone number: 02-515-3032

Restaurant Review - Butterfingers

For those who live in Korea, you know how impossible it is to find home comfort food, especially diner food. Most of us miss the after clubbing diners and home comfort breakfast foods in waffles, pancakes, eggs, and home fries. One of the ultimate popular spots in Korea for almost all foreigners is Butterfingers. With a few locations around Seoul which include, but are not limited to Gangnam and Bundang, it is the one place to go for the best diner foods.

Although it can be a bit pricey compared to the prices we are used to back at home, it is definitely worth a visit every once in a while to satisfy those cravings. The suggested is their waffles (we are in Korea after all), the Butterfingers shake, their pumpkin walnut pancake and their breakfast platter. The platter is a little big, recommended to be shared between two. In addition to the breakfast goods, there are a handful of other home comfort foods which include salads and burgers. I have yet to try those, but it will probably be on the menu next time!

Upon ordering breakfast goods, there is a choice for syrup which include honey or maple, and the choice of a sweet or regular butter. Korea is a bit fan of all things sweet so do not find these things peculiar, it's just the cultural differences but the sweet butter is recommended for pancakes and waffles! There's a crystallization of sugars that just melt in your mouth. 

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Ann House (앤하우스)

One of the cutest doll house cafes in Korea is Ann House. There are a few locations which includes the famous Gangnam and Hongdae spots. Attracted by the name and cafe house, I paid a visit to the Gangnam Ann House where there are separate rooms for visitors to enjoy their coffee, tea, dessert, and other goodies.

It is a perfect place to have a romantic date setting for one on ones, but it is also the best place for a girl's brunch or regular catch up. This pink doll house is accompanied by a bunch of good eats which include the Ann House Special Parfait, a handful of their smoothies, and a popular Korean eat of the cereal cookie. The Ann House Special Parfait may be a bit unique for many because it consists of ice cream, whipped cream, cookies, cereal, ice, topped off with a tangy cider-like drink. It was quite the touch, nothing like a parfait, so I wouldn't quite suggest this for foreigners. 

With a wide selection of drinks to choose from, pair it up with their free waffles and breads and you will find yourself sitting there the whole day chatting away. I am a big fan of privacy so Ann's House is a must visit in my opinion. Plus, the decor will have any woman taken away from reality for a second and mesmerized to be in a doll house. Tea time has never been so fun for an adult.