Creature comforts under canvas

It sure felt like being in the woods at the Hurom Farm Cafe in Gwanghwamun, the bustling area of central Seoul.

It was humid and hot outdoors, but inside the cafe was relaxed and peaceful with tent canopies hanging from the ceiling, a display of breads and pastries in a nearby camping car, and murals of the woods.

One can choose from a wide range of freshly squeezed juices using a Hurom juicer. Persimmon, tangerine, cherry tomato, sweet pumpkin and black sesame are just some of the choices.

“I haven’t really associated juice with outdoors but this is a great way to calm down, relax, detox, and, most of all, feel like I am out of town,” said Chung Hye-sun, a first-time visitor to the cafe, Wednesday.

“We thought giving a breath of fresh air to people with hectic schedules would be a good idea. Our juice and bread match well with the concept of ‘healing’ and relaxation,” said Kim Young-jin, a marketer for Hurom.

If you want to go camping but are loath to leave the city, or simply too busy for a long trip, cafes and bars or even a stay at an urban hotel with a camping concept might be just the thing.

From generous helpings of barbecued meat to freshly squeezed juice, more people are enjoying camping experiences just a few minutes outside their doorsteps.

Glamping

If you can spare a day but cannot be bothered to take all the necessary camping equipment, the latest trend of glamping, or glamorous camping, at a hotel is an option.

The City7 Pullman Ambassador Hotel in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, recently opened a Glamping Zone by its outdoor pool on the fifth floor. Five 15.8-square-meter tents come furnished with large sofas, spacious tables and romantic lighting, allowing families to stay the night and enjoy camping and swimming in style.

Barbecued beef tenderloin, Jeju pork belly, abalone from Wando, South Jeolla Province, and handmade sausages are served during lunch (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and dinner (6 p.m.-midnight).

Westin Chosun Busan is running its signature Camping and Grill program, in which up to 30 people can spend the night in tents in its beachfront garden, enjoying foods ranging from instant noodles to fruits and roasted meat over wine and beer.

Camping bars

There are bars that provide an exotic and cozy atmosphere at the same time.

Gui and Camp (Roast and Camp) franchise bars in Pyeongchon and Beomgye, both in Gyeonggi Province, have adopted a camping concept.

Each table has its own tent canopy on the ceiling and a large charcoal barbecue grill installed on the table. Camping chairs, tent poles and lanterns create a festive outdoor atmosphere. 

Those who want to grill meat can pick their choice of meat at the deli kiosk and bring it to their table for cooking.

“Using frozen meat does not meet our concept of camping spirit. Our meat cuts are thicker than those sold at other restaurants, which enhances the barbecue atmosphere,” said Jang Bo-ram, promoter of the restaurant. The store keeps drinks in an icebox next to the table so that people can take out a bottle whenever they want.

The restaurant gets up to 450 guests a day, thanks to the camping boom.

“People need to get away from home sometimes and experience something new,” said Chung. “But if you can’t do that, finding these places and dreaming of a getaway for a couple of hours can be refreshing.”

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)