Cone Life! - Gelato & Ice cream - Sangsu, Seoul, South Korea

Gelati Gelati - Sangsu-dong

Tiramisu and salted caramel chocolate (double scoop) - 4,000 won

There is no better way to end my trip to Seoul than with cones of sweet sweet goodness. Gelati Gelati is your typical italian gelateria, with the simplest flavours on offer hidden under silver lids (which I do not like! I eat with my eyes first) the gelato here definitely satisfied my tastebuds on this hot summers day. 

My tiramisu was on point here, probably the best tiramisu gelato I have had and it went so well with the salted caramel chocolate. A match made in heaven. 

Check them out [MAP]

Fell + Cole - Sangsu-dong

Super cute blue box tucked away in the streets of Sangsu-dong. This ice creamery reminded me of an ice box, maybe that was the look they were going for. Gastronomic ice cream made with all natural ingredients in small batches, they also have vegan options too.

With flavours like pineapple cayenne and perilla leaves my mind didn't know what to choose, what ended up on my cone was carrot cake. A flavour I have yet to try in ice cream form but a flavour that is always warming to my tummy.

Boy was I glad I chose this flavour! It actually tasted like I was eating carrot cake, tiny gratings of carrot and pecans. I couldn't get enough, I tried to savour the moment for once and make my ice cream last as long as possible. This is the ultimate ice cream spot for me, I haven't had a flavour this good since.. I really can't remember. Cudos to Fell + Cole!

Carrot cake ice cream (single scoop) - 5,200 won

Raspberry champagne sorbet (single scoop) - 5,200 won 

Ice cream sandwiches

Their cute 60's inspired mod interior.

Check them out [here] or [MAP]

Betty Jane x

Anthracite Coffee Roasters - Hapjeong, Seoul, South Korea

Always a super cool place to have coffee, the building was an old factory which has been converted into a coffee roastery.

Some of the gorgeous treats on offer.

Cinnamon rolls - 5,000 won

Assorted scones - 5,000 won

Panna cotta - 1,500 won

Brownies - 5,000 won

Blueberry tart - 6,000 won

The coffee roasting room, this is where the magic happens.

You can also sit at this conveyor belt to watch and appreciate the aroma of the coffee beans roasting.

Cafe latte - 6,000 won

Double espresso - 4,000 won

Blueberry tart - 6,000 won

This is my second time at Anthracite and the quality of the coffee is consistently superb. Strong, bold coffee with a great choice of baked goodies to have on the side. I would come here more often but it is a little out of the way, it's definitely worth going to time and time again.

This is most probably the best blueberry tart I have ever had! I don't say it often but it was sheer perfection! The pastry was thin and crumbly, the frangipane was soft and moist. All the elements worked in perfect harmony, neither flavour over powered another. This is whats going to keep me coming back. Bliss.

Make sure you don't miss this place when in Seoul, you will be sad if you did.

Check them out [here] or [MAP]

357-6 Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Betty Jane x

Namsan Jjigae (Korean Soup Kitchen) - Hapjeong, Seoul, South Korea

Great traditional korean food suitable for any budget, this place is known for their kimchi jjigae which is basically kimchi stew with pork and tofu. Don't worry just because kimchi stew sounds spicy it was quite mild.

The restaurant is located in the bustling neighbourhood of Hapjeong.

Pajeon - 6,500 won

This pancake had great texture, thin with crispy edges. Though this is my second time eating korean pancakes and I have come to the conclusion that I am not a fan.

Jeyuk bokkeum - 10,000 won

There was nothing average about this pork stir fry, juicy, spicy and seasoned well kept me coming back for more.

Kimchi jjigae - 6,500 won

This is a dish I make quite often when we are having korean night at home, so it was good to finally try it and compare the authenticity of mine. The stew was good but they were a bit stingy on the filling (meat, tofu etc), it also didn't have that kick I was expecting to get from a kimchi stew. A bit of a let down for me.

Overall the food here was good and cheap as chips, great traditional korean cuisine.

Check them out

412-19 Hapjeong-dong (8 Dongmak-ro 3-gil) Mapo-gu, 

Seoul, South Korea

Betty Jane x

Publique Traditional French Bakery - Hongdae, Seoul, South Korea

A quick afternoon tea break today at the cutest little french bakery. This would be my go to place if only they served decent coffee.

Some of the bread on offer at Publique.

Whether you prefer it long, short, with cheese, figs or berries they have some samples ready to try or grab a few of your own. From what I tried it was light, fluffy and moist. So simple yet so good.

Pear tart - 4,500 won

The perfect afternoon treat, the pear was soft and not too sweet, topped with lightly crushed pistachios, the pastry crisp and delicate. 

Go for everything but the coffee, and remember to take a few goodies home.

Check them out [MAP]

311-1 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Betty Jane x

Hello Kitty Cafe (The Little Shop of Horrors) - Hongdae, Seoul, SouthKorea

Today I was so excited to visit the Hello Kitty cafe, a Japanese icon always perfect and put on a pedestal all over Japan. I have been to a few of the Sanrio stores in Japan which are always so magical and fun to be in. 

To my horror seeing the Hello Kitty name being tarnished here in Seoul!

The cafe from the outside looked a bit shabby but still pretty sitting there covered in pink.

The counter, where there were four staff members on their iphones and canoodling, pretty much doing anything but their jobs.

At a glance the interior was cute and very pink.

Strawberry kitty cake - 11,000 won

Iced mocha - 5,500 won

Cafe latte - 4,500 won

This is what we got for 21,000 won, what a rip off. The strawberry cake tasted like supermarket sponge cake covered in old ice cream, thats right! You know when your ice cream has been in the freezer too long and it turns to little ice shards? That was the texture of this cake, and to top it off it didn't even come on a plate, it came on a piece of cardboard.

The latte art on my cafe latte didn't even look like hello kitty, I was thinking it looked more like a seal, what do you think?

The iced mocha, well of course it was a let down. Who wants to sit in a cafe where there is no mugs or crockery?!!

Let's move onto the filth, here is a picture of a pile of rubbish by my feet, these pictures do not show the true dirtiness of this place. It was like being in Hello Kitty's house if she were a crack whore!

More grit and grime, and a bandaid! What a bonus #winning NOT!

More rubbish under the seats. The walls were also stained, the whole atmosphere of this place was disgusting. We left after ten minutes, we much rather to find a park to sit in and finish off our coffee's

This place doesn't deserve to be called the Hello Kitty cafe. An atrocious, horrid place! Do not go here!!!

A sad day in kitty land.

Betty Jane x

Troika Russian Restaurant - Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea

Troika is known as the best russian restaurant in Seoul, located in a little alley way just off the main drag in Itaewon.

This is the first time I have ever tried russian food, so I am totally excited and a bit unsure of what to expect. 

Rastyagai s Yablokom - Pirogi with apple filling

A russian dumpling which is boiled then baked in butter. The pastry was nice and crisp, soft on the inside but I found the filling was lacking. The taste came mainly from the delicious pastry so I won't complain too much.

Borscht - Traditional russian soup

A great introduction to russian cuisine, this soup is beetroot and tomato based. Comes with a side of sour cream, make sure you gradually add the sour cream and not dump the whole thing in like I did.. Oops! I love sour cream.

Kartoshka po Derevenski

Crispy fried potatoes, pork rinds & a fried egg sunny side up, this was definitely my favourite dish minus the fried egg. The potatoes were so flavoursome and crispy, I couldn't get enough.

Kotleta Pozharskaya

Chopped beef stuffed with cucumber, tomato, and a sour cream sauce. This dish looked strange when it was put infront of me, I kinda looked at it for a few  minutes questioning what I had ordered.

Is it a crepe? Is the meat on the inside? Is it coated in some kind of batter? Finally I dug in and to my suprise the meat was on the outside and this dish was actually really fresh and tasty.

Myaso po-Vostochnomu

Beef roasted with onions and red peppers with tomato sauce, I was wondering why this was ordered because it looks like a stir fry and though it was nice, it tasted just like a stir fry. 

Great little restaurant to visit if you are in Seoul, I would definitely dine here again. Delicious and authentic! 

Check them out[here]

Betty Jane x