Bottoms Up - Thanks Nature Cafe

With all the different animal cafes in Korea which are, but not limited to the dog, cat, and fish, there is the new staple of sheep. Yes, a sheep cafe. A little different from the other cafes where animals are not running around, but the sheep is caged. The concept of seating at Thanks Nature Cafe is definitely different to other cafes. Thanks Nature Cafe offers two types of seating which includes in door with air conditioner or outdoor with the natural breeze, right next to the two sheep. Although the smell may not be amazing, a lot of people like to sit outside with the sheep for another source of entertainment.

Many foreigners love to visit Thanks Nature Cafe for the concept of having a sheep in a cafe. Where in the world would you find a sheep in a cafe? It is definitely different which attracts all tourists and locals as well. Popularity of the cafe is within the younger crowd and couples, but it is definitely worth it to make a pit stop to see something that belongs in a farm, but is not. 

Although the drinks are not amazing, they are pretty popular with the waffles. Guests comes with a minimum of two, sharing a huge plate of waffle, cream, and fruits that looks amazing and a little over the top.

Another thing to keep in mind is that service can be a little slow, but that's because it's a popular place to visit for the two cute sheep that are in a pen outside. From Hongik University station on line two, take exit 9 and go straight until the light. Make a left and go straight for two blocks. You will be facing the university with gray buildings. Before reaching the end where the third light is, Thanks Nature Cafe will be on your left downstairs right after the eye glasses store.

Address: 마포구 서교동 486 서교푸르지오산가 B121
Phone: 02-335-7470

Life in Korea - Cat Cafe

A cat cafe, which is similar to the dog cafe that I previously blogged about is a cafe with cats running around. You’ll find cats hiding in your shoes, jumping on the tables, running around, and sleeping in all hidden places. Upon entrance, you are required to change into a pair of slippers (cats are indoor animals after all) and clean your hands with a sanitizer before being allowed to interact with the animals.

Once you walk in, you will find a handful of toys to play with and cats everywhere, literally. They are not shy and they will jump around, maybe even go through your things. Some will even snuggle against your legs, but they do not have a habit of scratching so there is no need to worry about that. Like a dog cafe, the cat cafe requires you to purchase a drink that covers the entrance fee. Depending on the cafe, there may be a wide range of menu options. 

There are more cat cafes than dog cafes because cats are easier to manage so it is pretty easy to find one. Simply look for a huge cat sign, they'll point you in the direction of the cat cafe. The one I visited was in Myeondong, but you can also find a handful of other ones in the many other popular tourist areas. Gangnam, Hongdae, Sinsa are a few of the many in town. You should definitely make your way to one to experience what they have to offer, something a little more different. 

Life in Korea - Doggy Cafe

A doggy cafe is exactly how it sounds, it's a cafe full of dogs running around and playing with you. It is the perfect compliment for coffee and animal lovers. For the most part, the dogs are of all ages, all different kinds. It is a great place to go to for people like me who are in love with dogs, but cannot have one. There are a few cafes in Seoul, Sunnyne Cafe, the one I visited is located in Hongdae.

Upon entrance, the dogs will run towards you, bark and go crazy, but once you simply sit down on a seat by the door, they will stop. After that, you will be guided to a seat where you can order a drink. Drinks are a little higher priced than coffee shops because it covers the entrance fee to interact with the dogs. They usually do not exceed the price of $10 so you are still getting your money’s worth.

You can play around with the dogs for as long as you want and most of them are extremely friendly. They will jump and run towards you once you sit down. Like people, there are different kinds of dogs which include more interactive and hyper ones, calm ones, and those who don’t care to interact with others.

Most of them will climb on you, on your clothes and bags latying around, jump on the table and such. Don’t worry about them stealing your drink or knocking it over because it’s least likely to happen. They are usually well behaved and are disciplined by trainers (in a good way) when not.

Doggy cafes also allow for you to bring your own pup to interact with the many new friends that are there. Some cafes also provide grooming services and other care taking items on the menu which allows you to leave your dog to get pampered and play around once done.

It’s definitely a place to go if you are an animal lover. You can have a blast of fun playing with all kinds of dogs and you’ll be surprised at how quickly time passes.

Pamper Me Pretty - 나무그늘 Dr Fish

Dr. Fish is a different kind of cafe in Gangnam, Seoul. It is by far my favorite place to have a cup of coffee and a quick Pamper Me Pretty session. Although the prices are a little higher than other cafes in town, it is the best place for a bunch of girls to bond and share thoughts over. I suggest going to visit with a  group of girls and sharing the experience of this unique cafe. To make up for the prices of drinks, they offer a free self service of bread and jams that you can heat up. 

They are known for their fish pool where you dunk your feet in and the fish will eat the dead skin. For just an extra two dollars with the purchase of a drink, you can have a semi-pedicure without having to visit a nail salon. The best part about this cafe is that there is no wait to dunk your feet in the pool of fish. Simply finish your drinks and let a staff know that you are ready for your 15 minutes of dead-skin-vanish!

The experience is definitely one that stands on its own. For starters, it is extremely ticklish for those who have sensitive feet or a small amount of dead skin. It is recommended to start out at the baby pool and make your way over to the bigger fish. The size of the fish is beyond ten times the size of the smaller fish so the amount of skin they eat is a lot more. It is almost a frightening experience to dunk your feet in the pool. I know for sure my girls and I were not able to do so immediately, we had to gradually stick our feet into the pool of fish. 

In regards to the menu, all drinks are worth trying. The priority of the cafe caters to their beverages and other snack dishes. With freshly baked waffles, gelatos, bingsu, and other baked goodies, a great amount of time can be spent here. They even have a book room that is strictly for studying, a quiet room that many people can concentrate in. In addition to magazines that can be found at any other cafes, Dr Fish also has a wide selection of books in their book room. It is a great variety to have something else to look forward to other than typical magazines. The spacious cafe is the perfect place to lounge out with cushioned couches and tables everywhere. 

Nonetheless, these dead-skin-eating-fish is a popular treatment in Asian countries and it is definitely  worth trying out. You can't go wrong spending another two dollars on an immediate dead skin treatment. Depending on how thick your callus is, you can see an immediate smooth texture, but of course results vary from person to person. Straight from exit 10 of the Gangnam station on line two, the Dr. Fish cafe is located upstairs across the street from the CGV movie theatre. Although it is a bit hard to find, it is definitely work the travel for.