December's things to do

Our Bakery, located near Dosan Park, is without a doubt one of the hottest coffee and bread places on social media right now. The bakery began as a collaborative project of stylist Seo Hanyoung (known for her high-fashion styling work with several K-pop stars including Boa and 2NE1) and food culture brand CNP Food. Hence, it's no surprise that it first gained its fame through the many celebrities that came to check out and hang out at the place — after a while, however, it's become a hot spot among all types of Seoulites looking for great bread and coffee. Its selection of bread is quite wide — among which, the pastries may remind you of Le Alaska's, while some other types of bread are similar to what Hongdae's Paul & Paulina makes. The most popular items here are the Tiramisu with a great balance between fresh cream and pastry, the well-layered Dirty Chocolate and the Butter Pretzels made with gourmet butter. Our Bakery is also well known for their specialty coffees, which go perfectly with all the scrumptious pastry options, making the place stand out in the huge competition in the Dosan Park district (it’s still not easy to find a place with decently-priced coffee made from quality ingredients, especially in an area known to be quite ritzy). The coffee machine used here is of the Netherlands' Kees Van Der Westen (a brand known to take pride in its excellent design and functionality), while the grinder is from Compak. Different beans are selected during each season, with...

Tucked away in a hidden alley near Yaksu Station, Cheogajip doesn’t even have a sign. But people storm in as soon as the restaurant opens, including loyal customers who’ve been coming for more than 50 years. Built in a renovated private house, the restaurant specializes in northern Korean cuisine, usually known for its “blandness” compared to its southern counterparts. Their signature menu is braised chicken, cooked in the traditional Pyeongando way, with no seasonings but steamed chives. The spicy vinegarand-mustard sauce, on the side brings out the flavors of the meat and the vegetables, leaving a rich but clean aftertaste. For first-timers to northern food who prefer a kick to their taste buds, we recommend the spicy buckwheat noodles.

It might feel a little random to find this small oasis of tranquility amongst Namdaemun’s chaos, but the Salt Cave Healing Center is indeed located as soon as you come out of Hoehyeon Station’s exit 3. The center has been in service for 4 years now, and most visitors come for therapy usually during lunch time; there are almost no visitors after 5pm. The salt cave lends its name from a room made entirely from salt (walls, floor and even the ceiling). The point is to come here, relax, take a nap and heal yourself with whatever energy this natural element can fuse into you. After putting on the sanitary shoe covers, you will enter the frosty white room lit with a blue light. The 2-3cm thick walls are made from white plaster and to create a more cave like atmosphere, the ceilings have a few salt icicles hanging down. The floor, which is covered in white salt, looks like a soft beach sand but is far from. It almost feels like walking on a pile of snow that has melted and frozen about two times. Sun-dried pacific salt is what you are actually walking on. For those who are suffering from asthma, rhinitis (simply put certain kind of allergies) and are on the verge of getting a cold, breathing in some salt (1-5 micrometer) particles diffused in the air might help; so the center claims. Whether it’s the minerals, the ions or just plain fatigue, many people who come here get a deep (albeit short) sleep. There are around 6 beds made of wood, 2 of which are inside a private room. Just...