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www.groovekorea.com / September 2014 52 In an often-overlooked pocket of Seoul hidden just north of the Han River lies a place to protect the domesticated crea- tures that many of us have grown to love. More than just a sanctuary for rescued animals (and the plant-eating people who adore them), Coexistence Café provides a feeling of home: It’s like going to grandma’s house to spend a sunny afternoon eating delectable goodies and staring at odd, fragile trinkets in every nook and cranny. At Coexistence, there are several rooms to explore during your visit, each more endearing than the last. In the first section there’s a dog shrine, complete with Polaroid snapshots of pets and a simple décor that in- cludes blankets and animal paintings; the outside patio has an urban garden and a hand-painted mural featur- ing happy animals under a Tuscan sun. Some might be tempted to dismiss the styling as overly precious — the entire café is doused with nature and a clear love for animals — but the staff say they designed it that way intentionally, hoping to make it an inviting experience for all visitors. Coexistence Café does it for the animals Story by Jamie Keener / Photos by Nina Sawyer veGan eats, veGan drinks, veGan lo ve FOOD & DRINK Edited by Shelley DeWees (shelley@groovekorea.com)