Busan, compared to Seoul, has a much more relaxed and slow vibe. It smells like the sea and has the feel of a resort town near the water. Of the famous beaches in Busan, Gwangalli is the one I like the best. It has a youthful and relaxed atmosphere and there are good restaurants, cafes and cheap hotels nearby. Our strange hotel was right on the beach this time.
“Busan is Good”: the city motto. It sounds kind of flat in English but in Korean 부산이라 좋다! has a much livelier feel. It’s more like “Busan is good! Yeah!!👍”The crescent shaped stretch of Gwangalli Beach takes about 40 minutes to walk slowly from one end to the other. Along the way, little art installations and places to sit dot the blonde sand. The Gwangan Bridge is lit up at night in colours and patterns and there is often live music. I saw fireworks a few times and I hear that there is an impressive drone show on Saturday nights.LISTEN TO THE BEACH 🏖Older folks out for an evening walk on the beach.Dusk on the beach with hotels lights coming on in the backgroundA group of Red Pines at the edge of the beach.
Busan Food and Friends:
We met Sumi for Dwaeji Gukbab 됀지국밥 (pork and rice soup), one of my favourite Busan dishes. This restaurant also made the best sundae (blood sausage) I have ever eaten. I forgot to take pictures: too delicious, too much talking. Later, Sungmin joined us for some Kelly Beers (new Korean brew) and some snacks at a Gwangan local bar. A tiny place with maybe 4 tables run by a couple in a small alley, it is the kind of place that I would never find by myself. I am lucky to have some friends here to show me neighbourhood spots like this. The food and drinks were delicious, crispiest kimchi jeon I have ever had.
Sumi and Seungmin met us for food and drinksClamshouse specialty: karaage on the bone…amazingThis is the whole place: IU posters everywhere.See you next time : )
Nampo-dong at night:
We spent our second evening in Nampo Dong eating street snacks: tteokbokki, fish cakes, gimbab, ssiat hotteok, mandu, roasted chestnuts…Busan fishcake is the best.
Bakeworks Busan
Bakeworks Busan is a tiny bakery and cafe selling handmade french pastries. Sumi’s friend from school is the owner. She is such a lovely person and a talented baker. The pastries are perfect! We picked up some snacks here to eat on the train back to Seoul. Buttery, flakey apple pie😋. You can see better pictures of Bakeworks cute cafe and perfect baked goods on their Instagram Bakeworks.
