Discovering Yeonnam-dong in Mid-term Season

While in Seoul for the semester, I had come across the neighborhood of Yeonnam-dong. It is one of the more residential and relaxed neighborhoods in Seoul, filled with cute cafes and various types of restaurants. Additionally, there is a cute little park that runs through the middle of the neighborhood as a way to repurpose what used to be an area filled with train tracks. In preparation for mid-term season, I decided to head to Yeonnam-dong with a friend to do some studying at a cafe.

We first visited The April, which advertises itself as an all-day brunch spot that also features a selection of pastas and salads. We ordered the Amatriciana pasta and the Iced Earl Grey tea. The Amatriciana pasta was somewhat sweet, as Korean takes on pasta often are, but was balanced nicely by the olives and ham included in the sauce which provided a tart and salty flavor respectively. There was a slice of bread that came with the pasta bowl which was fantastic to clean up the leftover sauce. As for the Earl Grey, it quickly became watery from the ice, so I would recommend getting it served hot if you decide to visit. The atmosphere of The April is a little cozy, with warm walls, but large windows facing the street. The upper seating area where we sat has the interior of a greenhouse almost, with an abundance of plants and some cute hanging lights closer to the folding glass doors that double as windows.

After eating a late lunch, we did a bit of exploring before discovering Cafe Half Note. We decided to settle in here for a couple hours to do some studying. The owner of the cafe was very nice and patient with us as we ordered (we forgot the word for hot in Korean - 덥다). We ordered an iced Vanilla Latte, the Double Cheesecake, and a hot Mandarin Lemon tea. The iced Vanilla Latte was good, not too sweet, with notes of vanilla in the coffee. The Mandarin Lemon tea was a bit tart and much stronger than the Earl Grey from The April. Hot is the way to go! The Double Cheesecake was what was phenomenal. It was light and airy, instead of the denseness that is normally associated with the New York style cheesecakes. There was a slight sweetness to it, but nothing overpowering that puts you off after a few bites. The atmosphere was also great for studying, with relaxing music playing and nice leather chairs to relax in closer to the bar. The lighting is a little low, just something to keep in mind. Overall, we spent about two hours here.