December's things to do

After receiving training from Michelin-starred restaurants as Nobu and French Laundry, the owner and head chef of the Bistrot de Yountville presents French cuisine without fuss. The restaurant opened in 2009, at a time when the trend of chefs-as-owners was on the rise in Cheongdam. This place has since garnered many devoted regulars and established a firm reputation for its quality French cuisine. The classic red exterior, which stands out among the sleeker designs in vogue these days, and its elegant interior coupled with lovely tableware lend to the feeling that you might be dining at a restaurant somewhere in Paris, rather than in Cheongdam. The sense of intimacy at Bistrot de Yountville is its greatest virtue. The lunch course with three to four dishes is a great deal at 30–40,000 won, the result of cutting down on superfluity and concentrating on the food itself. From the hors d’oeuvre to dessert, each and every dish is well worth your attention. Bistrot de Yountville is also a excellent place to take a date.

Salmon sashimi lovers, here’s one for you. Mibbeudong is famed for its tomato salmon noodles – a refreshing, cold tomato broth packed with vegetables and long strands of salmon sashimi cut lengthways to resemble noodles. If you’re a little less excited over this, another popular item on the menu here is the Mibbeudong itself, a rice moat topped with a tower of mixed sashimi, uni and ikura.

In the kitchenette visible through the café’s full wall window, homemade citron tea is being served by the barista, in a handmade ceramic mug. Inside, a few dozen mugs painted by customers are being glazed in the potter/owner’s careful hands of reverence. Located on a quiet street of Hongdae, Pottery Café Jool provides a sense of comfort that reflects the owner’s wish to grant modest yet heartwarming memories with pottery as a medium. As such, this café allows its customers to take a good amount of time for them to enjoy tea and conversations whilst sharing their first time paint-your-own ceramic experience. It may be nothing extravagant, but what you take out of it will certainly be memorable, fragrant and solid.