Best Cupcakes Yet @ Royal Cupcake, Cheongdam.

I interrupt the Halloween themed news to bring you my latest love, Royal Cupcake in Cheongdam.

Cupcakes themselves are not a new love for me. I was previously a big fan of Good Ovening Cupcake store but in recent months I've started to notice it going downhill. When I first sampled their offerings, a couple of years back, they were much softer, prettier and even a tad bigger. Now it's a bit hit and miss depending on the day you go. A good day and they're fine but get the wrong day and you could end up with a dry and crumbly cupcake. Not the funnest gambling ever. The decorations have become less and less colorful lately too. I don't know how you feel about this, but I feel pretty passionate about cupcakes and believe a cupcake should not only taste great it should look great too. That's the whole point really, otherwise you might as well just get...well...cake.

I was still going to Good Ovening, playing the cupcake lottery, because...quite frankly...I didn't have a better option! You'll see a lot of imposter cupcakes (cream topped sponge buns, hate those little cheats) in Seoul but the real deal butter-cream type are not that common.

I finally found my answer. Royal Cupcake. The cupcakes are simply put...incredible! The cake part is soft, springy and light. The buttercreams come in a variety of different flavours and are all so smooth you wonder how they do it. Not only are the cupcakes pretty as can be but the store itself is exactly how a cupcake store should be, truely charming. It's very whimsical and girly. Not the place for a guys trip but bring your date or girlfriend here and she'll be smitten, I promise!

Double Choco Fudge Cupcake - Chocolate sponge with chocolate fudge butter-cream.
Miss Cookie Monster Cupcake - Chocolate chip sponge with strawberry butter-cream.

Next on my cupcake hit list - Coconut Panda...too cute to eat?? No, I don't think so.

Cupcakes & Coffee @ Sky Garden, Hyundai.

I've been to my local Hyundai Department Store more times than I care to imagine and no doubt many more times than I should have been. At least that's what my purse would tell you. In all these times I'd never known about one fantastic little secret it holds. Tucked away on the roof is a garden, or rather 'Sky Garden' as they call it. It was a complete surprise to me. It's a beautiful space where you can enjoy some outdoor air away from the chaos of the store and city. There's a strange phenomenon that I've observed a few times before, when your right in the heart of a busy city, slightly quieter spaces seem to take on a heightened sense of tranquility. Here it feels like you're a million miles away from the bustling basement grocery store and the snooty looks of the middle aged women browsing the designer rails.

Sky Garden @ Hyundai Department Store

There is a small coffee stand situated in the far corner of the garden. Although the coffee was quite pricey it tasted pretty good and the added value to me was in the garden itself. For anyone who lives in the city, you will know how nice it can feel to get away from the imposing concrete jungle and the constant noise! This place is an unexpected breath of fresh air right in the heart of Apgujeong!