Daegu | Suseong Lake Date Night

Korea in the spring. Thai food. Short sleeves and sandals. A gentle stroll around the lake. A bench to watch the sun as it slipped behind the mountains. The sound of a street busker who set up a small concert at the edge of the lake, strumming his guitar and singing his heart out. The last of the blossoms clinging to branches and swirling around us like tiny butterflies. Sipping on local craft beers in an indoor/outdoor bar.

It was a warm spring evening, too lovely to not be outside, and perfect for a date night. I brought my ‘real’ camera with the intention of snapping a few more cherry blossom photos but for the most part, the blossoms were reduced to scattered pink petals. Instead we walked around Suseong Lake (수성못), explored the nearby cafes, bars, and restaurants, and stopped into Baqus for a sampling of their craft beers.

Craft brews are just starting to gain popularity in Korea and Baqus, with it’s indoor/outdoor bar and lakeside view, was the perfect place for beer sipping (the porter was our fave) and people watching. Afterward we debated walking a few shops down for churros and ice cream, but instead decided to walk around the lake a bit more, hand-in-hand, enjoying the perfect spring evening.

DETAILS

BAQUS | CUISINE: Gastropub | COST: $10-15 | LOCATION: By Suseong Lake (수성못), close to the Starbucks. | DESCRIPTION: What first intrigued us about this place was the sign that said they sold craft vodka from Iceland? It seemed like a super random liquor to be serving in Korea, but we were curious. We also loved the double-sided bar — half inside, half-outside, that totally opens up and allows for a great view of the lake. In the warmer months, it has a beer garden/cafe sort of vibe that is hard to beat. We tried the beer sample which included a grapefruit pilsner, a porter, and a hefeweizen — all good, but our favorite was the chocolate-y, coffee-like porter. Food-wise the menu looked to consist of pizzas, sausages, and grilled meats. We were still too full to try any of the food, but it all looked good. | VERDICT: Good place for drinks with a view.