The South Korean capital of Seoul is always jam-packed with eager tourists looking to hop on the latest skincare and fashion trends. The city isn’t just known as the fashion and beauty capital, it’s where delicious street food awaits.

While shopping is a must, street food takes the crown as the ultimate Korean experience. From teokbokki to hotteok—these quintessential Korean snacks can be found in almost every corner of the city.

Proudly known as one of the oldest markets in Seoul, Namdaemun Market existed well before any of us were born, established during the Joseon period in 1414 (that’s how you know the food will be good). Divided into alleys, the ones that must be conquered are Kalguksu Alley (noodles), Streetfood Alley, and Galchi Jorim Alley (fish-based dishes). Each corridor is focused on its namesake, making a trip to the market easier for those with a food goal in mind.

Another market that is not to be missed is none other than Gwangjang Market, which houses a number of television-famous dishes. Made famous by the popular South Korean reality show Running Man, the market is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike when it comes to hunting for the best bites in Seoul. Well-loved food include the crispy Bindaetteok (Mung Bean Pancake), doughy Kalguksu (Korean knife-cut noodle soup), and the cult favourite doughnut twists. The market is also home to the Netflix ‘knife-cut noodle lady’, who appeared on episode six of Netflix: Street Food Asia—head to Cho Yonsoon’s Korean Noodles early to beat the crowd.

So yes, Seoul is one big open-air restaurant. Put your shopping list aside and divert your focus to Seoul’s mesmerising street food on your next visit to the South Korean capital.

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The heat was on at Pasir Panjang Power Station on the evening of October 17 when more than 1,000 luminaries from the global cocktail scene gathered at the cavernous hall to witness the awarding of The World’s 50 Best Bars this year. Sips from Barcelona was declared The World’s Best Bar 2023, knocking off Paradiso (which is also located in Barcelona) from the top spot to the No. 4 position.

Amidst cheers and applause from industry friends, Sips bartender-owners (and industry veterans) Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez took to the stage to accept the award and thank everyone for supporting the bar industry. Shared Caporale: “We are a small bar that opened during uncertain times (2021), but we wanted to prove to ourselves that we could do something. When you can impress yourself, that’s the most important thing in this industry.”

Asian cities were well represented in the prestigious ranking with a total of 10 entries—three from Singapore, two each from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo, and one from Seoul. BKK Social Club from Bangkok bested the rest when it moved one spot up to No. 13, thus taking home the Best Bar in Asia Award.

Singapore fared better this year with its total of three entries, as compared to last year’s two. While Jigger & Pony dropped two spots to No. 14, it still remained the highest ranking bar in the Lion City. Joining the aforementioned stalwart are Sago House, which entered the Top 50 ranking at No. 32, and Atlas, which settled comfortably at No. 48.

This is the first time that The World’s 50 Best Bars was held in Asia, and these bars were voted for by 680 industry experts comprising renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from across the globe. The results were independently adjudicated by professional services consultancy Deloitte.

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Give Nathania Ong two minutes and she can brighten the room with her infectious energy—even if you are only seeing her on a laptop screen. It is 11 o’clock on a Friday morning for the 25‑year‑old actress in London, from where she joins in the video call for this interview, and she begins gushing about the gorgeous sunny weather the English capital has been experiencing. 

Since we do not get to see the view outside her window, we take her word for it. She carries the same exuberance and enthusiasm throughout the interview, but what is surprising is that she asks us to share our thoughts at every juncture. This invitation for exchange is probably the reason for her outstanding performance as Éponine in the iconic musical Les Misérables. For Ong, who is the first Singaporean to play the role on the West End stage, the relationship between the actor and the audience is reciprocal, like a conversation or a “game of tennis”. 

For six days a week, Ong makes her way to London’s theatre belt to play one of the most beloved characters in Les Misérables. In tattered rags, she delivers one of the most emotional numbers in the musical, On My Own, lamenting her unrequited love for her friend Marius, a student revolutionary. Romantic as Éponine’s character arc may be, Ong never lets that overshadow the tragic reality of her circumstances—a destitute street rat, used as a pawn by her unscrupulous parents, and only 16 when she becomes the first casualty of the musical’s depiction of the Paris Uprising of 1832. Just like the dirt all over Éponine’s body, Ong unearths the grit that so characterises Victor Hugo’s mammoth source text, which she pages through frequently to find new accents around the character.  

This month, Ong returns home to Singapore to take on the role of Cinderella in Into the Woods, which will be staged by home-grown theatre company Pangdemonium. She is ecstatic to be performing on home soil, where she will also be singing at a solo charity concert, the details of which are not available at the time of print.

Ong returns to the Singapore stage with a wealth of experience despite her young age. While she does not mince her words about being an artist in one of the most competitive industries out there, she revels in the rejuvenating qualities of her art.

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How do you market one of the world’s most popular beverages? In a world where new coffee shops spring up every other week, and where quality coffee has become an increasingly ubiquitous commodity, it can be quite the uphill battle for indie cafés that are trying to stand out from the crowd.

As a food writer and business development consultant, Lani Kingston has spent more than a decade travelling the world on the lookout for some of the most eclectic and well-designed coffee shops. In Designing Coffee, her new book published by Gestalten, Kingston explores the relationship between coffee, design, and brand identity in a captivating showcase of some of the most unique and design-forward cafés in the world.

Designing Coffee is much more than your typical coffee table book. A visual feast for design enthusiasts, the book is also a well of knowledge and inspiration for budding entrepreneurs looking to leave their mark in the fiercely competitive coffee world. Originally born in Australia, Kingston has lived in London, New York, and Singapore, working with food and beverage businesses on branding strategies. “I developed somewhat of a fascination with the design of coffee shops, and with what made brands ‘work’ and become successful,” says Kingston. “I wanted to release a book that not only helped aspiring business owners design and create their own brands, but compiled and showcased some of the best design work in the coffee industry worldwide.”

Wherever you are in the world, the book encourages us to savour the details and stories that simmer within these spaces we often take for granted–our local coffee shops.

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