J. Dog Cafe

Over the summer we were going everywhere trying to find the perfect places to play with our doggies who spend far too much time inside. Although we found many wonderful options for summer, with winter on the way I knew we needed to find ones that might offer a big more warmth.

Which is how I found the fabulous J. Dog Cafe located near my favorite new area of Pyeongtaek. This cafe has everything you need to enjoy the long winter months with your fuzzy family members. The large spacious facility offers ample outside and inside space for puppies to play. Large and small dogs are welcome and all for the cost of one drink per human who accompanies the dogs. No fee per dog. The drinks are a little pricey - ranging from 7,000 and up - but considering it costs at least 20,000w for two humans and two dogs at the larger parks and THEN we have to spend another 10,000w on coffee, this is a great deal for us.

Also, what makes J. Dog different from other cafes is the fact that they have a huge yard for the doggies to play in so it's like a park and a cafe in one space. Also, the owners both spoke English and were very kind. We felt quite welcome.

The cafe isn't only for visiting, they also have boarding options as well if you are in need of a place to leave your beloved babies over the weekend or while you are traveling. We might try leaving our doggies there in the future.

Looking forward to running into all the local expat dog owners at J. Dog this winter. We can all hangout together while hugging our puppies and mochas.

*** This listing and all other restaurants reviewed by South of Seoul can be found in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store. ***

CLICK HERE FOR ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFO.

Ruddy Cafe Specialty Coffee

After a month of rest it's time to get caught up on all the places I have been and the things that I've done. One of the super finds I made during my holiday was this new cafe that opened in the countryside near my work. Considering I work in the middle of rice fields, the fact this place popped up is shocking. However, after stopping by and chatting with the owners it all made sense.

This is the expansion of a popular coffee shop that has been open for four years near Pyeongtaek University, Ruddy Cafe. They needed more space for roasting beans and growing their business so they put in this gorgeous space in the countryside. A total dream come true. For ages I've complained about not having a place near work (and Camp Humphreys) for getting away from it all and consuming too much caffeine, but those days are no more. My retreat has arrived.

For those that love to ride bikes and / or have a car. This is an easy place to visit, but if you are counting on public transportation it might be a bit problematic. I know there are buses nearby but I also know the schedules aren't that great. So that's the downside for some folks. Personally, this is an easy place to visit on my bike commute so I'm a happy camper.

If you have kids who like to run around, this is a good place for you. They have a huge yard outside and I saw plenty of tots running amuck when I was there. It's the countryside so folks are very chill.

Although I speak Korean, I did remember to check this time and they do have English menus and said they are happy to have English speaking guests. I have no idea if they speak English so I failed in that aspect. I'm sorry. I just forget. Makes me kind of an asshole but I don't do it on purpose I promise. It's just hard for me to remember.

For their address information and a map check out their MollaKorea Listing <HERE>.

*** This listing and all other restaurants reviewed by South of Seoul can be found in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store. ***

 

Artspace NOON BOM

Envy is the best word I can think of to describe my feelings right now. This gallery, arts space, gallery labyrinth is every kind of thing I love and it's too far from my house to go every week. I'm filled with jealousy for the Suwon folks who have this on their doorstep.  

When you go here be SURE to tour every single inch of it. There seemed to always be one more corner to go around, one more beautiful thing to discover. There is no way for my photos to do it justice. Honestly, the coffee and drinks are secondary to the sheer beauty and inspiration of the entire setup. Go here and spend your money. Support this space. Take your journals, your sketchbooks, your stories and go create. 

This space was made for dreamers so go grab some coffee and dream all the dreams. I'll be in Pyeongtaek counting the days until I can go back.

CLICK HERE for address and contact details on MollaKorea.com.