🎄The Hidden Milkbar - Bangkok - Thailand 🍪

Bangkok is looking very festive this year so I thought I would go check out some cute cafes and try their special Christmas menus. The Hidden Milkbar has been on my must visit list for a while because of its adorable pink aesthetics and delicious looking milkshakes.

The Hidden Milkbar is indeed hidden, it's pink doorway is hidden down an alley on the 3rd floor of a narrow building and it's a real adventure getting there. It's so aesthetically pleasing there though and reminded me of a cereal bar I visited in Seoul a few years ago but the focus here instead of cereal was milkshakes. I ordered the special Christmas Gingerbread milkshake which was so adorable and came decorated with a meringue tree and gingerbread cookie which tasted so good, the milkshake also had peaches blended into it which was a an interesting touch but complimented the ginger really well, it was so yummy and not too sweet or sickly at all like some milkshakes can be, I almost wanted to order another but one milkshake is my dairy limit for the day before my stomach starts to protest.

As well as milkshakes you can order cookies, cakes and ice cream and they also have some non-dairy drinks to, in fact their Christmas punch looked really good and I was almost tempted to try that instead of a milkshakes, but there will be a next time. One of the things that makes this place different from other milkshake bars is that it has lots of non-traditional milkshakes flavours on the menu like caramel cornflakes, smores and Jaffa cakes which is one of my absolute fave British snacks, so I definitely will visit again and try some more of their interesting flavours! 

What is your fave milkshake flavor?

Love & Cookies

Cate

xoxo

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GOT7 JB Birthday Exhibition in So-K Cafe, Bangkok, Thailand

KPop has become extremely popular in Thailand over the past few years with groups of dedicated fans bringing the traditions of the Korean fandoms over to us, birthday ads have decorated our buses and shopping malls and now cafes are joining in the celebrations giving us special gifts and foods. So when I heard about JB from GOT7 getting his first dedicated birthday event in Bangkok hosted by one of his most popular Korean fansites SpringBreeze16 and Thai fanbase DefSoulTogether I just had to go and check it out.

Last year I was lucky enough to be in Seoul for JB's birthday and was able to see the birthday signs outside JYP, a tradition which is sadly no more since JYP moved to bigger headquarters, so getting the chance to celebrate this year at an actual dedicated event, in my hometown, was really special . The event was hosted at So-K Cafe and the whole cafe was dedicated to JB with GOT7 songs playing and every wall adorned with beautiful photos taken of him as well as standees you could take photos with and post-it notes to leave your birthday messages to him on.

I took along my collection of Gotoon mini JBs to celebrate with me and with our order of a drink and dessert we were given some exclusive JB birthday goodies, a cupsleeve, a poster, and two little birthday themed flags to decorate our food with. The cafe also had a huge selection of cupsleeves celebrating different idols birthdays you could choose from to but I was there for my boy JB.

The food selection was mostly desserts (they also had spaghetti) and unfortunately when we arrived all the cakes had already sold out so I went for the honey toast and we also got waffles and bingsu to try to all of which were really good and I totally recommend although I will admit after we were suffering with a bit of a sugar hangover but it was JB's birthday so the perfect time to indulge, I know you can't be with us JB so we'll eat your share to hehe!

It was really great to see the cafe so full of JB and GOT7 fans, I believe this is this was the first event of this kind we've had in Bangkok so it's really encouraging and I hope we have more especially as the next GOT7 birthday coming up is for my favourite boy Jackson Wang and I would really love to attend a birthday event for him here as I can't make it to Seoul.

Fans are so dedicated and kind in Thailand and I really love being a part of this community, everyone has been so warm and welcoming. I've made so many new and amazing friends from all around the world thanks to GOT7 and I couldn't be more grateful to them for bringing us all together, these events are such a nice place for us to get together and celebrate the people we love so I really hope I get to attend more in the future.

What do you think about Kpop culture? Would you like to attend of these events?

Love & Strawberries

Cate

xoxo

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Christmas in Seoul : Zapangi Cafe (자판기 카페)

Zapangi is one of Seoul's most popular cafes and also known as the pink vending machine cafe because the entrance to the cafe looks just like a vending machine. I've seen so many photos and videos of this cafe all over the internet but this actually wasn't a planned visit and we accidentally found it on our way to another cafe which was unfortunately shut at the time, luckily Zapangi wasn't too crowded so we decided to stop there instead for some Christmas treats.

I'm writing this almost a year after we visited but the cafe is still there and I'm sure they'll have these Christmas treats on offer again this year, our visit was actually the day after Christmas but seeing all the cute Christmas themed drinks and treats they had on offer we just had to try them out and extend the holiday joy.

What I love most about Korean cafes is the aesthetics, each cafe is so uniquely and intricately decorated and Zapangi was no different, I love the pink almost tropical style, minimalist aesthetic they had happening there although the seating was a little bit uncomfortable but it was a nice warm welcome break from the cold, winter streets of South Korea.

The Christmas cake although huge was almost entirely made of cream, really pretty to look but I struggled to eat it as it was so sweet! I really don't like wasting food but on this occasion I just had to stop as I started to feel a bit queasy so I had to admit defeat. The drinks were super sweet to especially the Christmas latte but luckily they had lots of complimentary water so I could drown the sweetness away and my mouth was totally green after eating all that cake!

If you don't get the chance to visit Zapangi for Christmas then they also have other adorable treats for you to try out like donuts and mermaid cakes, I probably won't be ordering cake there again as it was just too sweet for my tastes but they had lots of other drinks there which I wouldn't mind trying out, prices were a little high but Christmas is the perfect time to treat yourself to something sweet, so if you're in the area it's worth checking out if only for the cute photos!

What are your favourite Christmas treats?

Love & Snowflakes

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post

Moon Bird Does Think of Only The Moon - Traditional Teahouse - Seoul

Insadong is the place to go to if you're looking to experience the more traditional side of Seoul. While there are a plethora of traditional restaurants, tea houses and stores selling all sorts of handicrafts and souvenirs on the main street the most interesting places can be found down the small back alleys, one of these places being the beautifully named tea house, Moon Bird Does Think of Only The Moon.

I say this every time but I really can't stress enough how you must visit a traditional tea house when in Korea, the cosy atmosphere, the smell of brewing herbs and graffiti covered walls are something you can only experience in Korea. I could seriously spend the whole day just relaxing in a tea house. It was a bitterly cold winter's day when we visited this tea house and what was really lovely was that they had already put out blankets and hot water bottles for the customers to warm themselves up with, I could have fallen asleep right then and there it was so wonderful and cosy.

Yujacha tea is one of my favourites and I always make sure to order it when I'm in Korea (as well as bring a jar or two home of it) and the sweet warm citrus flavour is the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold day. We also ordered some deep fried mochi which came covered in icing sugar and a sweet and chilli sauce on the side to dip them in and the also gave us some traditional rice cakes as an extra treat, one of my favourite things about Korea is how they always give you extra treats as service.

Whilst enjoying our hot drinks we took in the atmosphere, reading all the little love notes left by past customers some of which came from far away countries and some left by guest who visited almost a decade past, of course we made sure to leave our mark to and I hope one day we can go back there and find those little memoirs we left of our amazing trip to Seoul.

Where would you love to visit in Korea?

Love & Tea

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post

Clouds in the Sky - Dog Cafe - Hongdae - Seoul

Dogs are a guaranteed mood booster and nothing makes me happier than puppy kisses and cuddles. I love dogs so much and the one thing I miss the most when I travel is my Nan's dog Russ, and as much as I'd love to have my own pupper in my life, with all the travelling and craziness there's just sadly no way I could commit to having one, so dog cafes are a real life saver for me and my go to place whenever I'm feeling a bit sad or lonely

Clouds in the Sky is a dog cafe in Hongdae just down the street from the Style Nanda flagship store. The first time I tried to visit it was closed but luckily on my second trip to the area I noticed doggies in the window which meant it was open so I just had to go in for some much needed puppy love.

Pretty much as soon as I walked in I was mobbed by dogs of all sizes giving me the barks, sniffs and kisses, it was so overwhelming but in the best possible way. Dogs seriously make me so happy and the whole time I was there I couldn't stop smiling, the dogs were all so affectionate and playful towards me wanting cuddles, pats, kisses and some even decided to fall asleep in my lap, I was in DOG HEAVEN!

I'll admit I have a soft spot for huskies and corgis (Russ is part corgi so I'm bias) so I spent most of the time trying to get their attention even though the tiny poodles kept wanting to play with me the most, and of course I made sure to gave them all the cuddles to, I can't say no to a dog in need of love no matter what as all dogs are beautiful in my eyes.

To play with the dogs all you have to do is buy a drink there, my Americano was about $8 which honestly isn't that bad considering a lot of cafes in Seoul charge around the same price and they don't have cute dogs to play with so it's definitely worth it as the dogs were all so cute and playful and gave me so much love, I'll definitely be back there the next time I'm in Korea!

Where do you go to de-stress? Don't forget to enter my KBeauty giveaway!

Love & Puppies

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post

Dore Dore - Garosugil - Seoul

Dore Dore is a really popular cafe in Korea known for their rainbow cakes, they have quite a few locations around Seoul but I believe their cafe in Garosugil was their first. I have actually been wanting to visit this cafe for a while as I've seen it featured in so many articles and videos and their cakes always look amazing, so on my last trip to Seoul I had to stop by.

It was Christmas Eve when I visited (a few hours from being Christmas Day) so instead of getting the rainbow cake I decided on the special Christmas strawberry shortcake they had, which was huge! Violet and I decided to share a slice but it was still a struggle for both of us to finish it but it was still quite good and not too sweet, had I not been so full I probably would've tried all the cakes there because they all looked so delicious!

Whilst I was sitting in Dore Dore I had this strange feeling that I'd seen this place before and not just in articles and vlogs and then it suddenly hit me GOT7 FILMED HARD CARRY TV HERE!! So that lead to me frantically googling all the images I could find and trying to find the episode (they're actually regionally blocked on MNET's YouTube channel in Korea... WTF?), so after finally finding some images and re-watching the first episode (the same one where they visited Shake Shack) it was confirmed THEY WERE HERE! Which lead to me taking all the random selfies I could and trying to recreate some shots they did, little did I know at that point that I'd be having more random "GOT7 were here" encounters but it was a pretty cool considering this was my first day in Seoul and I hadn't really planned it.

I loved the aesthetic in Dore Dore, it's no wonder it's so popular and really wanted to take home the holographic tables for my house. Each floor actually has a different look so if you're not into the pink there's a floor that's all chic and wooden, believe me Korea really knows how to decorate! I really liked the laid back, relaxed vibe there to and even though we were there near to closing time nobody was rushing us and telling us to leave. There's no doubt I will be back there one day I mean I still need to try their iconic rainbow cake.

Let me know what your favourite type of cake is and don't forget to enter my GOT7 giveaway!

Love & Rainbows

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post

Midnight in Seoul - Gangnam - Seoul

Cereal is one of my favourite foods, I think every time I buy a box I end up eating the whole thing in one go so when I found out that there was a cereal cafe in Seoul I just had to check it out. Midnight is Seoul has been on my radar for a while, I actually wanted to visit it on my last trip to Seoul but it was closed so this time I made sure to stop by and check out that awesome pink aesthetic.

Midnight in Seoul now sell their own branded cereal which you can find in some Olive Young stores and their packaging is so on point, I love the cartoon movie theme and the bright colours they use, they've definitely created their own unique brand, the place was just so beautifully decked out and so on point. They also have a merch store next door where you can buy not only the cereal but clothes, phone cases, pins and much more featuring their kawaii movie characters.

So let's get onto the food, you can either tailor make your cereal bowl exactly how you want it or order one of their sets which is what I did because although the ice cream was tempting I really needed some fruit! They also have a selection of different milks you can choose from so if you're vegan don't worry there are plenty of options for you to try and they will make stuff exactly to your liking. If cereal isn't your thing then they also have a few other breakfast items on the menu you can chose from and of course all the coffee because Korea is all about the coffee.

If you're curious Midnight is Seoul also has a KPop connection to as Jo Kwon from 2am actually owns this place and if you check out his instagram you'll see he's there quite often so if you're lucky you might be able to see him and his cute doggies there. I honestly loved this place so much and I'm kinda kicking myself I only decided to visit on my last day as it was only a short walk from our apartment, also I feel like you can't go wrong with cereal but then again I am a cereal addict! I adored the aesthetics and the cartoon, movie theme so much, I think it's very me and I kinda just wanted to move in there but one thing for sure I will definitely go back there on my next trip to Seoul!

What's your favourite cereal?

Love & Blueberries

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post

Goblin (도깨비) Filming Locations in Seoul - Whitebirch Story - A Traditional Korean Tea House

From the moment you step inside Whitebirch Story you feel like as if you've entered a fairytale, there's so many cute shops and cafes in Samcheong-dong tucked away down the little alleyways of the Bukchon Village you're missing out by just staying on the main roads. Admittedly this wasn't a random discovery this was actually a place I found thanks to one of my favourite Kdramas Goblin (도깨비) which in fact lead me to visit some other really beautiful places around Korea, this is just one of them and I'll be posting about the rest very soon!

I've said this before but I'll say it again, a visit to a tea house is a must when you're in Korea there's just something so quaint and kitsch about them that you can't find anywhere else in the world. It was a very cold day when we visited so I was desperately in need of something to warm me up and I find tea houses in Korea are always so warm, relaxed and welcoming, the perfect place to hide from the cold winter weather.

There was a wide selection of different teas, coffee and other drinks on the menu there but as it was such a cold day I decided to go for a simple hot ginger tea which came with a little butter biscuit as service. I expected the tea to arrive as just a tea bag in some hot water but there were freshly cut pieces of ginger being steeped in my cup which I actually nibbled on later to give me an extra immunity boost. Ginger is just the best thing to eat in the winter not only does it give you that warm feeling but it's really good for you and helps prevent you getting sick.

Goblin was our reason for coming to this cafe but the relaxed ambience and the kitschy decor was why we stayed. We were also lucky enough to sit in the exact same place as Eun-tak and Sunny did in the drama so it felt like I was living out my KDrama dreams. I've always loved acting but my confidence and anxiety always held me back from going any further with it but little moments like this help me live out those dreams I had of becoming an actor.

Regardless of if you're a Goblin fan or not I would definitely recommend a visit to Whitebirch Story it's such a cosy place and everywhere you look there's something cute to make you smile, even the burn patches on the wall are cute, it definitely ranks high on one of the best cafes I've visited in Seoul and I'll definitely be back there on my next trip.

Keep following for more of my Goblin adventures & be sure to check out my giveaway!

Love & Honey

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post

Coffee & Cake Date #7: Mug For Rabbit - Garosu-gil - Seoul - South Korea

Garosu-gil is the go to place in Seoul for hip and trendy cafes, there's just so many places to visit there and so much choice. After visiting Gentle Monster and a bunch of cosmetic stores in the area I was ready for a much needed coffee break so I stumbled upon this rather chic looking place called Mug For Rabbit.

I loved the quiet, relaxed atmosphere and the rosemary cheese scone I ordered along with my regular iced Americano was one of the best scones I had ever eaten, even the free orange flavoured water they provided was sweet and refreshing to. It was definitely a nice break from the busy shops and I spent at least a couple hours there just enjoying the peacefulness before I set of to do more shopping. It's definitely a place I'd recommend visiting if you need a break from all the craziness.

หลังจากช้อปปิ้งตอนเช้าฉันหิวกาแฟเข้าคาเฟ่ที่เรียกว่า Mug For Rabbit อยู่สบายมันเงียบดี กาโรซูกิลมีหลายคาเฟ่แต่คาเฟ่นี้มีสโคนอร่อย ฉันสั่งสโคนดอกโรสแมรี่กับชีสและกาแฟเย็นและมีน้ำดื่มฟรีใส่ส้มสดชื่นมาก ถ้าเหนื่อยเข้าคาเฟ่นี้ไปนั่งสบายๆ

What's your favourite places to visit when you need a break from city life?

Love & Lattes

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee & get treats & a shoutout on my next post

Coffee & Cake Date #6: Cafe Yung - Samcheong-dong - Seoul - South Korea

Whilst in Korea it's a must to visit a traditional tea house and Cafe Yung, in the area of Samcheong-dong know for it's traditional yet trendy buildings is the perfect mix of old and new. Samcheong-dong is quite possibly one of my favourite places in Seoul as you can see the old style Korean buildings yet a lot of the interior of the cafes, shops and galleries are quite hip and modern so it's an area definitely worth checking out.

On my last visit to Korea I became addicted to hotteok (호떡) a sweet Korean pancake that's most commonly eaten in winter so on my return there in spring I was sad to find that they're weren't as many street vendors selling them so when I saw them on Cafe Yung's menu I had to order them. To keep it traditional and because I love trying new things I also ordered sujeonggwa (수정과) which is a cinnamon iced tea punch and it was so nice and refreshing, I'll definitely try it again!

เกาหลีมีหลายบ้านชาโบราณ ซัมซองดงเป็นสถานที่ท่องเที่ยวเวลาอยากดูบ้านโบราณเกาหลี Cafe Yung เป็นเก่าแต่ทันสมัยและมีขนมแบบเกาหลีฉันชอบกินมากที่สุด ฉันสั่งชาอบเชยและแพนเค้กเกาหลีและอร่อยและสดชื่น เมื่อคุณเยี่ยมชมเกาหลีคุณต้องไปที่บ้านชาโบราณ

What's your favourite Korean dessert?

Love & Lions

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee & get treats & a shoutout on my next post