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 t

Just when you thought you’ve done everything you can by the Han River, Tubester is here to give you an opportunity to do something on the Han River. A large tube-boat fully capable of seating 6 and equipped with a parasol to protect you from the sun, riding the Tubester is one of the most trending things to do in Seoul right now. You can bring your own food to picnic on the river during the day or a few drinks for a quiet party surrounded by the Seoul’s beautiful nightline. Give them a call and make a reservation in advance for the weekday or bear the lines during the weekend. 

Located on the third floor of one of Cheongdam’s back alleys, Aori is an easy miss for those who haven’t heard of it yet: chances are, the likeliest group to have heard of this Japanese ramen joint would be the K-pop enthusiasts, as it is better known by the fact that it's owned by Big Bang’s very own Seungri.  Perhaps quite fitting for the area that it's located in, but the deep-red wall covering the entrance of the restaurant may seem rather intimidating. Inside, though, a fairly modest layout of the interior feels warm and welcoming. With the exception of only a few tables, each catering to a group of 4 to 6, the seating is conveniently divided up for the lone diners. These compact dining spaces are set up with a menu, some ground pepper, an overhead compartment for visitors to store their belongings and a small wireless table bell to call the wait staff. The menu is quite simple, consisting of just two items: Aori Ramen and Aori Ramen Lite. They are essentially the same, while the ‘Lite’ version has less basic toppings. You can customize your ramen simply by checking off the toppings you want on it, on the little piece of paper they provide for you. The most important part: the broth they make at Aori is rather clean, with almost no remnants of pork—meaning it also lacks the tangy, unappetizing smell of bone-broth. The chashu slices were soft and very easy to chew on (making you wish there were a few more slices), while the sliced scallions on top added a refreshing kick