M-stay has a good location in Seogwipo, at the southern part of the island. The hotel is simple and its rooms are basic. Our standard room was clean, although felt a little outdated. The washroom had no bathtub, but does have a separate shower with good water pressure. There is a restaurant and a 7-Eleven on the main floor, extremely useful for forgetful travellers like me. There is an efficient and complimentary indoor valet parking, it works literally like a vending machine. Just type in the number given to your car and it shows up minutes after in the elevator!
Unfortunately, at the time of visit, the weather turned chilly and the rooftop pool was closed. It would have made a very nice spot for drinks with a view.
If you’re looking to visit most attractions like the Manjanggul caves, the Jusangjeollidae cliffs or hike Hallasan, M-stay is a safe bet. It also sits in a neighbourhood full of eateries, so filling our bellies after a long day of hiking or exploring was never an issue. Amongst other things, Seogwipo Olle Market is just a few blocks away.
M-Stay Hotel Jeju [7.5/10]
14, Taepyeong-ro 353beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
TEL +82.64.800.6000
FAX +82.64.800.6008
Jeju is most famous for its tangerines and black pork, so these were on our not-to-miss list. But where to go?
Saeseom Galbi
Listed in the Lonely Planet guide, Saeseom Galbi was not very easy to find. It’s located on a small curved road close to the Cheonjiyeon Falls. We arrived around 5 pm for an early dinner and it was very quiet. We’ve read though, that it was a very popular place and gets packed rapidly. The meal was tasty but I didn’t notice the difference in the taste of the black vs regular pork meat. The service was good but prices a little on the steep side for the size of portions.
5, Cheonjiyeon-ro 41beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
해진횟집
“In any island life, one must-try thy seafood dishes!” (New motto created by me). There is a seafood street in Jeju City on the north shore. Many of them offer dine-in seating with good harbour views. We went to 해진횟집 which was recommended by Lonely Planet. It was very difficult to determine which of the many restaurants on that whole street was the one as all everything is written in Korean only. After matching the symbols back and forth with our book, we climbed into the second floor of this large establishment. The prices on the menu is varied, going from affordable set menus to expensive giant abalone plates.
1435-2 Geonip-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
Peanut ice-cream
One famous Udo-made dessert is peanut flavoured ice-cream. I didn’t expect much of it, thinking it would probably taste like the sum of its components, but was much pleasantly surprised! Definitely a must-do while on an Udo excursion!
We’ve also read that Jeju has its own ramen street! The ramen fanatic in me instantly lifted up! Unfortunately, either we didn’t choose the right place to go or Korean ramen really cannot be compared to its Japanese or even Chinese cousins. The noodle texture was mushy and the soup basically tasted like salt. I was so disappointed that I even forgot to take a picture of the restaurant facade.
To finish off a good meal, dessert is essential! Totally loved this matcha roll cake and matcha freddo at O’Sulloc tea house. They have multiple locations across the country, but definitely try it at their tea farm!
