For this weekend, check out a neighborhood Japanese yakitori restaurant, a pudding cafe and a circus festival — all in Seoul's central neighborhoods.

Few things are as comforting as a simple meal paired with a cold drink after a long day. For those seeking a relaxed yet satisfying dining experience, the Japanese yakitori restaurant, Toriaejeu, in Jung-gu, Seoul, offers a warm retreat just 80 meters from Yaksu Station.

With its understated wooden interiors and the savory aroma of grilled skewers filling the air, Toriaejeu provides an inviting atmosphere for a casual evening. The restaurant specializes in grilled skewers, with a wide selection ranging from vegetables and seafood to a variety of meats, including the particularly well-regarded chicken skewers. For those with a heartier appetite, the menu also features rice bowls topped with pollack roe, egg or boiled eel.

All skewers are freshly grilled to order. Guests can either jot down their selections on a notepad provided at each table and hand it to the staff or conveniently place orders via a QR code. To experience the skewers at their best, sitting at the counter is recommended to receive skewers straight off the grill.

The drink menu leans heavily toward Japanese options, offering sake, shochu and highballs. Non-alcoholic beverages, including a variety of soda options, are also available for guests who prefer to forgo alcohol.

Toriaejeu

348-43 Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

As the saying goes, dessert is a sweet symphony that lingers on the palate and in the heart. Every bite is a journey of flavors and textures that will give your sweet tooth the love it may be seeking.

That place might be We Sweets Seoul Forest, a dessert cafe located in Seongsu-dong, one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Seoul. A 10-minute walk from Ttukseom Station on Line No. 2 will take you to the small alleys where stylish concept stores and Instagram-worthy coffee shops are nestled. Stop in front of a white building with a monkey drawing.

We Sweets Seoul Forest is best known for its parfait topped with a melt-in-your-mouth custard pudding layered with oranges, vanilla ice cream and cereal. Mix the ingredients and take your first bite. When the velvety pudding meets the juicy oranges, creamy ice cream and a whisper of crunch, each bite becomes a perfect mix of softness, sweetness and satisfaction.

The sweet cafe also offers a parfait with custard pudding layered with chocolate and bananas. Other menu items include the “smogel” — a s'mores bagel topped with marshmallow — as well as a marshmallow latte and matcha ice cream.

Reflecting the shop's vision, "cozy and lovely," it aims to offer a warm and welcoming space where visitors can share sweets with their loved ones. As spring is in full swing, try ushering in the warm weather with some of the season’s best desserts.

We Sweets Seoul Forest

11-12 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

The Seoul Circus Festival 2025 will take place over the Children’s Day holiday weekend, from Saturday to Monday on Nodeul Island.

Following enthusiastic support from some 30,000 attendees over just two days last year, this year’s festival has been expanded to three full days. From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day, the island will come alive with performances and activities.

Audiences can look forward to a diverse lineup of 16 circus acts from Korea and abroad, featuring juggling, aerial acrobatics, traditional Korean performance arts such as tightrope walking and more. A highlight of the festival is "One Shot," a Korea-France co-production presented by Collectif Protocole, a contemporary circus troupe from France. The show features five jugglers and one musician.

Beyond the main acts, the festival offers hands-on programs where visitors can try circus skills, along with exhibitions and film screenings themed around circus arts.

In case of rain, performances and programs will be relocated to nearby indoor venues, including the Live House, Nodeul Gallery and Nodeul Lounge, ensuring the festival continues uninterrupted. Any changes to the schedule will be announced via the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture website and the festival’s social media channels.

Nodeul Island

445 Yangnyeong-ro, Yongsan District, Seoul