Pine Window Guest · 49 stories

By the Pine Window

I write about stays I visit across Gangwon. · Writes about: Stays · Restaurants · Shopping · Things to do · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Guui café with free parking: signature blend Americano, Center Coffee

Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a café that roasts its own beans, on the B1 floor of NC East Pole in Guui-dong, Gwangjin, Seoul. On a weekday visit to Center Coffee, an Americano (5,400 won), a decaf cold brew (6,500 won) and a tiramisu (8,500 won) were ordered: the Americano was smooth with no bitterness, and the tiramisu was not heavy. With free parking in the Guui East Pole underground car park, Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a good café to drive to for coffee.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Chinese restaurant in Apgujeong for steak gochujapchae: Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Apgujeong is a modern Chinese restaurant near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On this third visit, counting the Gwanghwamun branch, two people shared a holiday lunch of butter sweet and sour pork (35,000 won), a first-time order of chuck flap steak gochujapchae (56,000 won) and meat jjamppong (16,000 won). Bobo Sikdang stood out for its still-crispy butter sweet and sour pork and the chuck flap gochujapchae wrapped in steamed buns.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju café brunch: tuna seaweed roll, parking tips, Bonghwangdang

Cafe Bonghwangdang is a café near Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Daereungwon royal tombs. After snack shopping on Hwangnidan-gil on a hot summer day, the writer took refuge at Cafe Bonghwangdang for the Bonghwang Green Roll (9,800 won), a tuna roll wrapped in gamtae seaweed, with an iced Americano, and chose a yeonhwagwa gift set as a Gyeongju souvenir. Cafe Bonghwangdang has no parking lot of its own, so use a nearby public lot; it is worth a stop if you want Daereungwon views with a light brunch.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong nail salon first magnetic gel nails for summer: Naeil Didi

Naeil Didi (내일디디) is a fixed-price nail salon on the 6th floor of a building near Exit 6 of Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Wanting sparkly nails for summer, the writer tried magnetic gel nails at Naeil Didi for the first time (65,000 won non-member price). The set took about 1 hour 10 minutes with no gel removal, and a nail nutrient treatment was added free of charge. Naeil Didi is a satisfying place to try color-shifting magnetic gel nails for the first time.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Munjeong poke shop takeout for a Jamsil Hangang Park picnic: Olla Poke

Olla Poke Munjeong Main Branch is a self-order poke and salad restaurant on basement level 1 of Terra Tower A near Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer ordered a steak poke (14,500 won) and a garlic shrimp poke (11,500 won) on an oat brown rice base to go and ate them for an evening picnic at Jamsil Hangang Park. Although it was the writer's first poke, the ingredients went well together once mixed with the sauce. Verdict: Olla Poke takeout makes a filling yet light dinner to bring to Jamsil Hangang Park.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongnae-dong tonkatsu with head-on ebi fry and parking tips: Riae

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, near Olympic Park. On a Seongnae-dong lunch visit, the Premium Special Loin Katsu + Fillet Katsu (22,000 won) and the Premium Special Loin Katsu + Ebi Fry (24,000 won) stood out for tender pork with no gamey smell and shrimp fried with the head on. Riae Premium has only two free parking spots, double-parked in an alley, so beginner drivers are better off walking.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Pet-friendly Apgujeong Rodeo shabu-shabu with valet: Shabu In Seoul

Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo is a shabu-shabu restaurant near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul, that welcomes dogs, offers valet parking for ₩5,000 and has 2 private rooms. On this return visit, the writer took a window seat, ordered the hanwoo (Korean beef) boseopsal shabu set (₩31,000) in clear mushroom broth and finished with porridge made by the staff. For a meal in Apgujeong Rodeo with a dog, a child or a car, Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo is an easy choice.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulShopping

Songpa florist: 7th anniversary vase arrangement, ₩60,000, Lara Flower

Lara Flower is a florist in Wirye, Songpa, Seoul, on the first floor of Seonghui Plaza on Wiryegwangjang-ro. For a 7th anniversary, the writer reserved and picked up Lara Flower's size S vase arrangement (60,000 won, vase included) and set it straight on the dining table and side table, with no need to move the flowers into another vase. For anyone after a different kind of anniversary flower gift, Lara Flower's vase arrangement was a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Rainy-day couples perfume workshop in Bukchon: 'Rosewood' at Muhwawon

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is a perfume-making studio near Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul, where you blend your own scent from scratch. On a day of heavy rain, a couple came to Muhwawon for an indoor date, chose 6 scents to blend and named their finished perfume 'Rosewood'. For perfume-loving couples looking for an unusual indoor date in Seoul on a rainy or sweltering day, Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is well worth booking.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan ramen shop that tastes like Japan: ₩10,000 bowl at Gyedan Ramen

Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch (계단라멘 일산본점) is a Japanese-style ramen restaurant on Bamlidan-gil in Ilsan, Goyang. After a weekday wait of about 20 minutes on the Catch Table waitlist, the writer, who had eaten ramen four times on a trip to Japan, ordered the Gyedan Ramen (₩10,000), motsu ramen with extra makchang (intestine) and tamago bap (egg rice), and found the taste identical to ramen in Japan. With wood ear mushrooms, thick chashu and a whole egg included as standard, the ₩10,000 Gyedan Ramen is well worth the wait.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Dog-friendly tonkatsu restaurant in Gangdong, Seoul: dinner at Tonka

Tonka is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant on a side street in Amsa, Gangdong, Seoul, and a dog-friendly spot where a dog stroller can sit right beside your seat. The blogger came for dinner with their dog Latte and, with the limited menus sold out, ordered Tonka's tonkatsu with loin and tenderloin together (₩15,000), which had a thin, crisp coating and a moist inside. For dog-friendly tonkatsu in Gangdong, Tonka in Amsa is the first place to try.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Sushi restaurant in Gwanghwamun, à la carte white fish: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on the B1 floor of the KT Building in Jongno, Seoul, right in front of Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station. On a dinner visit with no wait, the writer ordered à la carte sushi, mostly white fish, plus fried shrimp (12,000 won), and a companion had the Elephant Sushi B set (28,000 won); the food arrived 5 minutes after ordering, and the sushi had no fishy taste at all. With 2 hours of free parking at the KT Building, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is an easy, no-fuss pick for sushi at lunch or dinner in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored