CAFE 74

Tel: 02 542 7412 Address: 83-20 Chungdam-dong, Kangnam-Gu - opposite the entrance to Rodeo Drive up the hill on the left oppposite the Gaucho Grill.

This is a big, decadent cafe selling almost anything you could want, from tea and coffee to whisky to ginseng (US$3500) and an equal variety of foods. It is not a cafe in the sense of have cup of tea and a sticky bun - this is a posh cafe in a sort of "expensive restaurant" kind of way.

Walls are mirrored and there is plenty of white wrought iron to give that Frenchy/cafe feel. Lots of plants, flowers and crystal gems hanging from wall lights. Customers are fairly crammed in with masses of tiny tables.

We ordered four local Cass beers and a fruit platter and the bill came to not far off US$100. The fruit platter contained a couple of sorry looking rambutans (they are so exotic but don't travel well, and it looked like these had been on a long stop over on the way to Korea), a slice of pineapple, apple, banana and grapes.

This is a good safe place to take clients and their wives after dinner for coffee or one more drink, but not very fun if you want to eat and drink a lot and have to pay yourself!