Let me write about Kona Beans first since it's the place I went to EVERY SINGLE DAY during my last three weeks in Seoul.

How to get to KONA BEANS:

Get off at Apgujeong station, Exit 2.. or ride a bus and just get off at Apgujeong Station.  

If you're using the subway, you're in the right exit if you're heading towards the small store of Nature Republic or if you see Kris' billboard along the exit (If it's still there by the time you get to Korea lol)  

Make a u-turn after going up the stairs and NO, DO NOT CROSS THE STREET.. instead, turn to your right. To make sure you're in the right path, you are going with the flow of traffic and walk a bit farther and you'll see a BASKIN ROBBINS store on your right. I believe this is where most idols and stars get their BR ice cream. lol so take a little peek of the place before proceeding.

Walk a little more and you'll get to the Hanyang Apartment/Apgujeong station bus stop.

Wait for bus 143 or 472. I think the other buses stop at Kona Beans too since it's just straight ahead, but just to be sure, wait for those two since those are the ones I have tried. :D You are riding the correct bus if you see the Hyundai Oil gas station.

  Get off at the NEXT STOP. The stop's name is Apgujeong Hanyang Police Box (압구정동한양파출소앞) Check the window... If you see the Blacksmith cafe, get off at that stop.  

Blacksmith is at the corner of the main road... walk through the alleyway. You'll be passing by stores like 7-11, Jindo and an Angel-in-Us coffee shop.  

Behind Angel-in-Us coffee shop is KONA BEANS! Yipee!

WELCOME TO KONA BEANS!

Just some stuff you might want to know...

SJ Mommies' schedule: Monday - Leeteuk's mom Tuesday - Kyuhyun's mom Wednesday - Sungmin's mom Thursday - Leeteuk's mom Friday - Sungmin's mom Saturday - Kyuhyun's mom Sunday - shuffle

That's the schedule Sungmin's dad told me and that's the exact schedule I took note of. I visited Kona Beans EVERY DAY for one week with my friend, Angelica, just to take note of the mommies' schedule. lol

The coffee here is a bit expensive. I always order their caramel macchiato and it costs around 5,000KRW for the regular one and about 6,000KRW for the tall drink. Cakes cost around 4-6k KRW per slice. They also sell cocktails, teas, juices, smoothies, etc.

Good things about the place are the lovable owners and its SJ playlist!

Mama Teuk likes roaming around the place talking to fangirls and making sure everyone was feeling warm (We went there during the Winter season so it was really, REALLY cold). She often sits down in the corner to read letters, books and some stuff. Before you leave, she would assist you and make sure you remember to pick up all the stuff you brought with you.

Mama Kyu is the cutest. She likes being busy. She's responsible for watering the plants, arranging the fan gifts and making sure everything is in place. She also makes the coffee you order sometimes. It's kind of hard to talk to her since she likes making herself busy but she's very kind once she remembers you. By our third visit, she was the one who approached us and asked if we were doing well and if we weren't feeling cold.

Mama Ming is very kind too. Instead of just reading like Teuk's mom or watering the plants like Kyu's mom, Sungmin's mom actually likes talking to fans. :) So if you're fluent in the language, go ahead and converse with her! If you ask for a photo, she does not like having her photo taken solo.. she prefers having the fans take a picture with her. :)

Sungjin and Sungmin's dad often drop by Kona Beans whenever it's Sungmin's mom's turn to mand the place. They come in very late, at around 9PM, so that the three of them can go home together. Sungmin's dad is very, very nice! He likes talking to fangirls who are very jolly (ssikssikhada, he would say) and he tries his best to speak in English just to converse with international fans. Sungjin is more of the shy type. He likes staying either in the Mama seat corner or inside the counter to help in the bar or the cashier. My friend and I were really lucky to actually converse with him once for like an hour since he knew how to speak English. Sungjin does not take photos with fans.. but he allows fans to take a photo of him.. Yes, HIM ALONE.. to serve as a souvenir, maybe? idrk lol

Back when Leeteuk wasn't in the army yet, he would often visit the place and we were able to order from him once!

Sungmin also visits every now and then.. He visited Kona Beans twice during my stay in Korea. Too bad, I didn't catch him on both days.

So, there goes my Kona Beans long post! Hope you find Kona Beans and get the experience you've been wanting!