If you make your way to the east side of Korea is a hot destination for vacationers, especially in the summer time.North of the more popular towns of Yangyang and Sokcho is the small costal town of Goseong. If you’re in the area, you might pass by large concrete buildings on the top of a small hill. This space is East Side Vibe Club.
East Side Vibe Club is a multifaceted space that doubles as a cafe and kitchen. It's also a space that often holds flea markets and pop-up events.
There were three main buildings in the space with a gravel court yard in between. One building was for staff while the two others were for customers. The largest building had the ordering area, kitchen and bakery. There was also the main seating area on the second floor of this building, as well as a rooftop.
Each of the spaces in the cafe were large and open. In the main seating area there were various seats ranging to sofas, tables and chairs and seats that looked out onto the ocean. In the ordering area, there was also seating along the large windows overlooking the sea. While the rooftop also had a few lounge chairs to relax in too.
The smaller building also had some seating, including a balcony with deck chairs looking straight out onto the ocean. This building also had a space for a pop-up events and there was also a pool table. Also in the courtyard between the buildings was seating under shaded palm umbrellas, and even a couple of hammocks to swing in.
The space was particular great in the summer time, of course for the great views of the ocean, but also for the atmosphere. Visiting the space really felt like you were going on a trip because the space didn’t feel like Korea at all.
The coldness of the concrete buildings were offset with South-east Asian flair. Colorful bunting and flags fluttered in the wind, bamboo fences were scatted around the space and small booths had thatched roofs made from palm fronds. Brightly dyed fabric and woven lampshades were also prominent in the space. Thailand seemed to be a particular muse not only for the decorations, but with much of the menu being a spin on Thai dishes and drinks.
There were also lots of odes to music culture scattered throughout the space. The most obvious being a huge wall displaying musician’s portraits and records. This also helped to brighten the concrete foundations of the building and bring interest to the eye.
During the warmer months I visited the space a number of times and was able to try different items on the menu. Once, my friends and I tried the Thai milk tea, green tea latte and and iced tea. My friends and I were disappointed with the drinks. We all agreed the drinks were mediocre and had the taste of a chain store cafe. As for food, I also tried the double cheeseburger set which was on the other hand very tasty.
East Side Vibe Club is very much a club in the sense that is brings a lot of aspects together in one place. In dead beat terms this is a great space to visit for it’s many offerings. While you may not be too impressed with the cafe drinks, the space itself is worth visiting if you’re in the area. It offers a beautiful view of the eastern coast and has a lot of events happening, especially during the summer months. So for weary travelers it offers an all stop shop with a touch of cool charm.
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