33 Incredible Cocktail Bars in Seoul

Let me say something bold: Seoul has some of the best cocktail bars in the world. I know, I know. Big claim. But after spending six weeks drinking my way through this city for research purposes, I’m saying it with my whole chest.

A few bars you can expect are a tea bar that infuses its own spirits, a speakeasy hidden behind a fridge door in a fake fruit shop, and a no-menu bar where the bartender just… builds a drink around whatever you’re craving. There were also multiple bars I had to push an actual book to get into.

I visited every single bar on this list myself. My liver and I put in the work so you don’t waste your time on bars that aren’t worth it.

Short on time? If you only have a few nights, start with my favorites: Gyewol, Bar Tea Scent, Jean Frigo, Radio City, Bar Geranium, and Zoo Sindang. The full list below covers all 33 bars I visited, organized by neighborhood, with addresses for each one.

So, here’s everything you need to know about the best cocktail bars in Seoul.

Seoul Cocktail Bar Map

Seoul is enormous and the bars are scattered across it, so here they all are on one map. You’ll notice they cluster by neighborhood, which is handy, because it means you can hit several in one night without crossing the whole city. Click a pin for the name, and hit the star at the top to save the map to your own Google Maps.

Best Cocktail Bars in Seoul By Area

Best Cocktail Bars in Gangnam

Gangnam has the biggest chunk of this list, 14 bars in total. Most of them are speakeasies, which means I spent a lot of my nights pushing on walls that turned out to be walls. Zest and Le Chamber are probably the most well-known, while Bar Tea Scent was my favorite!

Bar Tea Scent

📍 Cheongdam | South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Seolleung-ro 162-gil, 16 1층

Tea is supposed to be calming, and this bar fully commits to the bill. Stepping inside feels like entering a quiet zen sanctuary, all soft music and water trickling down the walls. Basically a spa that serves booze.

The bar infuses its own tea-based spirits in-house, including gyokuro vodka, lapsang souchong scotch, and chamomile tequila. The cocktail menu is organized by tea-making country, with each section built around that country’s teas and flavors.

If you want something that isn’t on the menu, the bartenders are magicians who can whip up pretty much anything. I asked for a Bloody Mary and received what I’m pretty sure is the best one of my life. A curry Bloody Mary. The only reason it isn’t on the menu? It doesn’t contain tea. Standards are standards, I suppose.

Alice Cheongdam

📍 Cheongdam | South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 47 지하 1층

Alice Cheongdam is an Alice in Wonderland-themed speakeasy that has earned a spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, and I get it. I absolutely loved this place.

The entrance is hidden behind a flower shop down an alley, where a short flight of stairs leads you down the rabbit hole (sorry, had to). Fair warning: the space isn’t big, so if you roll up with a large group, you may be waiting a while for a table. Reservations are only taken for the first two hours after opening, so plan accordingly.

Inside, it’s all dim lighting, dark wood paneling, plush chairs, and quirky Wonderland-inspired artwork on the walls. The bar seats were also super comfy.

The cocktail menu is organized by drink strength, which is very useful when you’re already four bars deep. Each drink has a silly name and a cute illustration, and every cocktail comes with a story you’ll hear once it’s served. I wanted to try everything.

Oh, and if you’re feeling peckish: every guest gets a snack basket. I skipped dinner beforehand (rookie move), so having some nibbles while I drank was a lifesaver.

Calvados Garden

📍 Cheongdam | B1, 19-37 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

Calvados Garden is the third bar in Andy Yoon’s growing collection of concept-driven bars in Seoul. Just like at Bar Tea Scent and Bar Geranium, he takes a single ingredient and builds an entire experience around it. This time, that ingredient is Calvados, an apple brandy from Normandy, France. Yoon has even partnered with Groult, a Calvados producer in the region.

Inside, a water-filled table surrounded by seating serves as the centerpiece, and the bartender adds nitrogen to it to create a smoky effect. I enjoyed that far too much.

The drinks were excellent, but heads up, not all of them contain Calvados. If you are really keen to try the brandy itself, there is an entire menu of different varieties.

ChapterThree

📍 Cheongdam | South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Cheongdam-dong, Apgujeong-ro, 406 1층

If you are book-obsessed like me, this bar is for you. By day it’s a doctor’s office waiting room, and by night it’s a library-themed speakeasy. To get in, you push one of the books beside the door, which magically swings it open.

Inside, hundreds of books line the shelves, and as if I wasn’t already excited enough, the signature cocktails are inspired by literary classics.

I had three drinks here. The first was the Mowgli, made with rum, soda, and mint, served in a jungle-inspired box. This was my favorite presentation of the night.

Next came the Rose Du Prince, based on “The Little Prince,” made with gin, apricot liqueur, lime juice, and black currant syrup.

And finally, the Sherlock: amaretto, lemon juice, and a third ingredient you have to guess. The menu gives you clues.

Oh, and if you like whiskey, you’re also in luck. The bar has a massive whiskey collection and offers tastings.

Birdman Bar

📍Sinsa | South Korea, 지하 1층 55-4 KR 서울특별시 강남구 가로수길

Birdman isn’t really a well-known bar. In fact, I had some trouble finding it and almost gave up, but eventually I spotted an unmarked door and opened it. From there, I descended a flight of stairs that looked like it led to a creepy basement (it kind of did), and at the bottom, another door finally led to the bar.

Inside, it’s dark, with quirky and slightly creepy decor, interesting murals on the walls, and lots of vintage trinkets. The bar is indeed bird themed, which shouldn’t shock you. A bright red bird under a glass cloche greets you at the entrance, and if you venture toward the bathroom, you’ll find eerie displays of vintage toys.

There weren’t many signature drinks on the menu, which was a bit disappointing, but the ones I had were great. The Cassis Spanner was my favorite!

Seasonaltone

📍  Nonhyeon | South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Gangnam-daero 124-gil, 3-6 호은빌딩 2층

This bar was tough to find. It’s hidden on the second floor of a random building, and I walked past it more than once before finally spotting it. It seemed very popular with locals, which is always a good sign.

I worked my way through about half the menu. The bell pepper cocktail was a favorite, as was the Corn Harvest, made by sautéing corn in brown butter before infusing it into bourbon, and the Little New Year, which featured a house-made red bean syrup.

I sat at a long counter-style table by the window with a great view of the street below.

Drinks rotate on and off the menu depending on what’s in season. If you’re curious what’s being served up, check out their Instagram!

Ferrytail

📍 Nonhyeon | B1 Unit B01, 166-7 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Some locals recommended Ferrytail to me, and honestly, this bar was difficult to even find online. It’s tucked away in a very local part of Gangnam, the kind of place you only hear about from someone who knows the area.

Ferrytail is a one-man operation run by owner Jung Kookyoung, who crafts an inventive cocktail menu that rotates seasonally. I happened to visit while he was working on the new menu, and he let me taste one of his upcoming creations: an Ube Cheesecake cocktail. It was perfection. I would have devoured five of those, and I am only slightly ashamed to admit it.

So regardless of what season you visit or what’s on the menu, anything you order will be delicious. Jung also serves up an incredible banana brûlée, which I am still thinking about.

Scentique Cocktail Bar

📍 Sinsa | 643-17 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

Scentique is a hidden gem in Gangnam crafting cocktails with inventive ingredients: blueberry mango brandy, coconut foam, cinnamon and coffee whiskey, truffle whiskey, and rose Calvados. The bar also distills some of its own alcohol, which is probably why everything tasted so good.

The combinations were so original I had to try as many as I could. I got through… a lot. My favorites were the Matcha Garden, Coconut Orchard, and Truffle Bliss, which is alcoholic ice cream. Enough said. The Rose Blossom was also excellent.

Bar Geranium

📍 Cheongdam | 84-14 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

Bar Geranium was one of the coolest bars I drank at in Seoul. Instead of a regular menu, the bartender brings out a box of six stones, each infused with a different scent, and every scent has three cocktails associated with it. You smell each stone, find the one you like best, and pick one of its cocktails. Yes, I sniffed rocks to order a drink, and yes, it was delightful.

I ended up having quite a few drinks here (sensing a pattern yet?). My favorite was the RU Nuts, a peanut butter based cocktail. The Campfire was also good: smoky, sweet, and garnished with a charred marshmallow. And the Silky Velvet was another winner, a boozy ice cream made with whiskey, vanilla, truffle chocolate, and a cherry on top.

Mixology

📍 Apgujeong | South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Dosan-daero 58-gil, 18 지하 1층

Mixology is a swanky basement bar in Gangnam. The bartenders not only craft great drinks, but also distill their own alcohol, which makes its way into many of the cocktails.

In fact, the bar’s cocktail skills are so well known across Seoul that other venues hire the Mixology team to build bespoke cocktail menus tailored to each place. When other bars are asking you to create their menus, you’re doing something right.

While some nights have a DJ to keep the energy up, what really won me over was how quiet it felt, almost speakeasy-like, removed from the chaos of Gangnam.

Sherlock

📍 Cheongdam | 117-38 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

If you want a bar that is really under the radar, Sherlock may be the spot. I scoured the internet for an Instagram, a Facebook page, anything that would lead me to this bar, but nothing! There is a Google Maps page, so at least that’s something. Fitting, for a bar named after a detective.

Seoul is full of themed bars, so I wasn’t surprised to stumble across this Sherlock Holmes-themed one, and I absolutely loved every second of my visit. As soon as we sat down, we were handed a menu that looked like an old rolled-up map, along with a magnifying glass. Not that the text was THAT small, but still very cool.

I think the only thing that wasn’t Sherlock-themed was the drinks, which was a bit disappointing, but all the cool props and the ambiance made up for it.

If you want a night you may forget, I recommend ordering The Earthquake, which is what my friend went for. It comes in a skull glass, which tells you exactly what sort of drink it is. The Rose cocktail and the Tea Martini were both very nice.

Le Chamber

📍 Apgujeong | South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 42 지하 1층

Le Chamber is one of Seoul’s more popular speakeasies. You arrive in what looks like a small library, where you have to find the right book on the shelf and press it to make the door swing open.

The bar was founded by Louis Eom, a Diageo World Class competition runner-up, and the menu reflects that. He’s created drinks with unusual ingredients that just work. My favorite was The Corpse Reviver, a liquid take on carbonara made with mushroom rum, egg yolk, pecorino cheese, and pepper. Sounds weird, tasted incredible.

The B&B was also nice, made with butter bourbon and amaretto, then topped with candied bacon. The Movie Snack was another standout, mixing nacho tequila, truffle popcorn cordial, and white cacao.

If you want a drink with truly over-the-top presentation, the Chamber Story arrives inside a hollowed-out book and mixes spiced rum, tropical fruits, hazelnut, and bitters. The Buddha is another fun one, served in a smoke-filled Buddha glass.

If you’re feeling peckish, get the sausage plate. It comes with six different sausage varieties and is probably meant to serve two people, but I’m not ashamed to admit I devoured it solo.

Zest

📍 Apgujeong | South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 26 하늘빌딩 1층

Getting into Zest is a process, and not an easy one. The bar is reservation-only, and if you do snag a table, you get a 90-minute time slot, which is enough for at least three drinks.

It sits at number 2 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars and number 9 on the World’s 50 Best, the highest any Korean bar has climbed on that list. But if I’m being honest, I went to other bars in Seoul that I enjoyed way more.

It was good, just not world’s-50-best good, in my opinion. Then again, maybe it’s my taste, or maybe the seasonal menu that night wasn’t for me. I’m a travel blogger, not a James Beard judge. It’s still worth checking out if you have the time and can land a reservation.

To the bar’s credit, co-founders Demie Kim, Sean Woo, Jisu Park, and Noah Kwon built Zest around zero-waste principles, sourcing ingredients from across Korea and upcycling everything down to the orange peels, which get redistilled into a house gin. Zest even carbonates its drinks in-house to cut down on packaging waste.

Pine & Co

📍 Apgujeong | 33 지하 Seolleung-ro 157-gil, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

Pine & Co earns its name from two things: the pine tree, a Korean symbol of longevity, and the pineapple, which represents hospitality.

This is a speakeasy, and a difficult one to find. My friends and I wandered around for longer than I’ll admit before tracking it down, but it was worth it.

The pistachio kiwi colada (pictured below) was my favorite drink of the night. It’s made with fresh kiwi, pistachio orgeat, and milk, then finished with an incredible pistachio cream and crushed Sicilian pistachios for a salty crunch.

The Bloody Mary here isn’t like any I’ve had before. Instead of thick tomato juice, the bar filters the tomatoes down to a clear water, which makes the drink much lighter. It’s then drizzled with oil and topped with a skewered tomato.

Pine & Co is one of the most technically advanced bars I’ve been to. The team uses rotovap machines, sous vide equipment, and advanced filtration systems to craft the drinks. I understood roughly none of it, and drank happily anyway. Sustainability matters here too: the bar partners with local cafes to repurpose leftover coffee grounds.

Best Cocktail Bars in Jongno

Five bars on this list are in Jongno, and most of them are inside hanoks, which are traditional Korean houses. Bar Cham and Cobbler are the two everyone fights to get into. I waited a long time at Bar Cham, and it was worth it!

Bar Cham

📍  Tongin | 34 Jahamun-ro 7-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Bar Cham is one of Seoul’s most popular bars, set inside a beautiful hanok, a traditional Korean house. To get a table, you either book a month in advance or throw yourself at the night-of waiting list, which can run long depending on the day and time. I am nothing if not committed, so I waited.

The cocktails lean heavily on Korean ingredients and spirits, and the menu is divided into six regions, with each drink built around ingredients from that area. Basically a tipsy tour of Korea, no passport required. Everything I tried was wildly inventive, and a lot of the drinks came with tiny bites to pair.

A few logistics, because this place makes you work for it: groups are capped at four people, and walk-ins are accepted starting at 7 pm. But the wait could be long, so bring your patience.

You can add your name to the list using a computer out front, except it only accepts Korean phone numbers, which is a delightful little plot twist if you don’t have one. If you’re in that boat, head inside and ask the staff to DM you on Instagram when your table is ready. That’s what they did for us, and honestly, crisis averted.

Cobbler

📍 Tongin | 16 Sajik-ro 12-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Cobbler is set inside a restored hanok, renovated by owner and head bartender Robin Yoo, one of the most respected figures in Seoul’s cocktail scene. The space has wooden beams, soft lighting, and a long bar counter that’s home to the most coveted seats in the house, where you can watch the magic happen up close.

Here’s the fun part: there’s no menu. Instead, you tell the bartender what you’re in the mood for, whether it’s a flavor, a feeling, or a spirit you love, and a drink gets built around it. If you’re hungry, even better: a warm fruit cobbler arrives the moment you sit down, which is the kind of welcome I wish I got everywhere.

The bar doesn’t take reservations, so the wait can be long. Worth it, though. Completely.

Charles H

📍 Gwanghwamun | 97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Charles H. is named after Charles H. Baker Jr, an American writer and globe-trotting cocktail enthusiast who spent the 1930s traveling the world and documenting the drinks he found along the way. Basically my hero, and possibly my spirit animal.

The bar is a speakeasy hidden in the basement of the Four Seasons Hotel. There are no signs, so you’ll either have to ask the front desk or wander around until you find it.

Once you find it, it’s like escaping into a vintage world, all plush leather seats and jazz playing softly in the background. The cocktail menu reads like a travel magazine, with drinks named after and inspired by the cities Baker visited, from New York and Naples to Bangkok and Lima.

I am a savory drink girl, so my favorite was the Naples cocktail, the Margherita-Margarita, which tasted like a liquid margherita pizza. It’s made with tequila, tomatoes, oregano, basil, fresh whey, and toasted grissini salt, and the salted rim tasted just like pizza crust.

The Spilled Milk, based on Seoul, was another favorite, made with soju, pyrolyzed banana, black sesame, cold brew coffee liqueur, and banana cream.

Now, don’t confuse this bar with H Bar, a second speakeasy hidden inside Charles H. that requires a reservation. More on that one below.

H Bar

📍 Gwanghwamun | 97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

H Bar sits inside the Four Seasons Hotel, hidden within Charles H. It’s notable for being the first hotel bar in Korea to offer a course-style cocktail experience, and with only eight seats, you’ll need a reservation to get in. There’s also an à la carte option if the full tasting menu isn’t your thing.

This bar is an entirely different experience from Charles H. For one, it’s a lot smaller, so you get more attention from the bartender. For another, the menu is pared down to just a few drink and food options.

The cocktail tasting course pairs eight drinks with three bites, using techniques like rotary evaporation, centrifugation, liquid nitrogen, and freeze-drying alongside local Korean ingredients including Chodang corn, Daejeo tomatoes, Korean melon, and perilla leaf. The menu changes seasonally, so the lineup depends on what’s fresh.

If I’m being completely honest, I found this bar underwhelming. The drinks at Charles H. were a lot better. Maybe my experience would have been different had I done the cocktail tasting instead of ordering à la carte. For food, I got the Jeju black pork, which was bland.

I’m still mentioning this bar because the space itself is very cool and worth checking out, and maybe you’ll like the drinks more than I did. To make a reservation, you can book here.

Bar Zeya

📍 Insadong | 17 Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, B1, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Bar Zeya is primarily a whiskey bar, so if you’re a whiskey fan, you are in luck. The bar also crafts beautiful cocktails, and like the true cocktail aficionado I am, I went a little overboard.

One drink, the K-BBQ, tasted exactly like Korean barbecue, true to its name, and comes garnished with dried pork. Another, the Martequita, is made with cheese tequila and tasted just like pizza. I have no notes.

Zeya had some pretty wild drink concoctions. There is food, but the menu is pretty limited. I was starving, so I ordered the cheese board, which hit the spot.

Best Cocktail Bars in Jung

Four bars on this list are in Jung District, and two of them are the coolest speakeasies in the city. One is behind a fake fruit shop, and another is behind an old fortune teller’s storefront. Jean Frigo and Zoo Sindang were two of my favorite bars in the whole city. Get food at both!

Zoo Sindang

📍 Myeongdong | 11 Toegye-ro, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Zoo Sindang might be one of Seoul’s worst-kept secrets, but that doesn’t make finding it any less fun. The exterior looks like a dilapidated old fortune-telling shop, with crumbling signage and a weathered awning.

The entrance is guarded by a large cat statue, which you push to get inside. Once you’re in, it feels like being transported to another planet, a technicolor jungle of plants, lanterns, and colorful lights.

The bar is on the small side, so it’s best to make a reservation. We had six people and were given a private booth. Zoo Sindang is zodiac-themed, built around the animals rather than the signs, and every cocktail on the menu corresponds to one and comes with its own story. The Rabbit and Lamb cocktails were especially good.

I also recommend grabbing dinner here. The food was incredible! I got the scorched rack of lamb with curry sauce and almost licked the plate clean.

Sookhee

📍 Namsan | 3 Toegye-ro 44-gil, 1F, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Bar Sookhee sits in Namsan, a neighborhood where old print shops and hardware stores have given way to a buzzing bar scene. The entrance hides behind an unassuming wooden door. Step inside, though, and you’ll find yourself in a 1920s speakeasy.

Quick heads up: there are two locations, and I only went to the one in Namsan. The other is in Myeongdong and is supposed to be just as good.

Instead of a traditional cocktail menu, the drinks are written on the back of a coaster, and each one is named after a fruit. I tried almost all of them, because of course I did, and my favorite was the Pineapple. If you’ve ever had a pineapple cookie, it tasted exactly like one.

The bartenders were so much fun! One of them got talking with me about movies and shows, and I casually mentioned I’d done some extra work while living in LA. When she found out one of those shows was Brooklyn Nine-Nine, apparently one of her favorites, she looked like she was on the verge of happy tears.

Jean Frigo

📍 Mukjeong |  9-8 Toegye-ro 62-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

From the outside, Jean Frigo looks like a small fruit shop, with boxes of produce and a row of refrigerators lining the storefront. The entrance is one of those fridge doors. You just have to figure out which one.

The space spreads across two levels, and tables are marked by a piece of fruit instead of a number. The best part was ordering, which happens via a vintage payphone. You get a coin, call down to the bar, give them your table’s fruit, and place your order.

The cocktail menu is all about fresh fruit. My favorite was the Very Blue, a blueberry based drink. My friend got the tomato, basil, and honey cocktail and loved it.

The food is delicious too. We got the rose pasta gnocchi and a picnic platter, essentially an elevated charcuterie board served in an actual picnic basket. It even came with a creamy, fruit-shaped ice cream.

Reservations aren’t required, but they’re worth making if you’re with more than two people. We got lucky on a weekday when it wasn’t too busy, but every table filled up shortly after we arrived. You can make a reservation here.

Ghiwon 22

📍 Myeongdong | 121-3 Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Ghiwon 22 stands out for its focus on traditional Korean spirits, with cocktails built around ingredients like Andong soju and makgeolli.

The menu is split into two signature cocktail lists. The first is titled “Joseon Dynasty Favorite Spirits,” featuring cocktails made with traditional Korean spirits that have been popular since the Joseon era.

My favorite was the Jukryeokgo & Omija, made with jukryeokgo, a traditional Korean bamboo liquor, combined with omija berry and cream. It arrives in a pot with a cloud of nitrogen smoke billowing out.

The second list is called “Infused Liquor & Traditional Spirit Cocktails,” featuring drinks made with Korean spirits and liqueurs infused in-house. My favorite from this menu was the Main Signature No. 2, made with Andong soju and sweet pumpkin sikhye, a traditional rice drink.

The two signatures I mentioned are the only ones with the dramatic presentations, which is why they cost a bit more (26,000 won versus 23,000 won). Everything I tried was great, though, and if you’re unsure what to order, tell the bartender what tasting notes you’re in the mood for, and you’ll get a recommendation you will love.

The food was its own experience. The bar was testing a Korean appetizer platter, and everyone got one to try on the house. I followed it with an order of the crispiest chicken karaage and truffle fries.

Best Cocktail Bars in Mapo-gu

Mapo-gu covers Hongdae, Hapjeong, and Yeonnam, and this is where the younger crowds go out. I stayed in Hongdae for six weeks, and absolutely loved it. Five bars from this area made it on my list, including Radio City, a listening bar with vintage vinyl, and Gyewol, one of my favorite bars in all of Seoul!

Gyewol

📍 Hapjeong | 18 Worldcup-ro 19-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea

Okay, firstly, this bar was probably my favorite on this entire list. Not only were the drinks delicious and inventive, but it’s owned by a couple who are the sweetest and most talented bartenders and all-around lovely people.

Now, on to the drinks. There are 12 signature cocktails, one for each month of the year, each built around whatever is in season or a holiday or tradition that falls in that month.

It’s honestly difficult to pick a favorite, but after trying eight of them (I was aiming for all 12 and fell just short, a personal tragedy), I landed on two. The Picnic (May), pictured above in the upper right, is made with soju, strawberry, green apple, and triple sec, then topped with frozen strawberries.

The Campfire (November), pictured above in the bottom left, is made with an apple spirit, whiskey, maple syrup, and an applewood smoked marshmallow.

Next time I’m in Seoul, I need to go back for the other four, because they looked incredible too.

D.Still

📍 Hongdae | 10 Wausan-ro 15-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea

D.Still isn’t a speakeasy per se, but it sure feels like one. You turn down a side street in the middle of Hongdae, the city’s notoriously chaotic student and nightlife district, and walk through the door into calm.

I loved every drink I had here, especially the take on the Bloody Mary. The menu changes from time to time, and the best place to see what’s being poured is the bar’s Instagram.

It’s also walk-in only, so there’s no need to stress about a reservation.

Bar Rosetta

📍 Hapjeong |  35 Eoulmadang-ro 5-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea

If you’re an artist or just someone who appreciates beautiful artwork, Bar Rosetta is worth a visit. Each drink is inspired by a painting, and the menu covers everything from Degas to Joseon-era Korean folk art.

I tried the L’Étoile, a cognac and black tea drink topped with banana cream and buckwheat; the Tiger & Magpie, made with Korean rice wine and ripe persimmon; and The Gleaners, bourbon and cold brew coffee under a black sesame crumble.

Radio City

📍 Hongdae |  5 Donggyo-ro 32-gil, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea

I went to Radio City a couple of times because I loved it that much. I didn’t know this going in, but Radio City is an LP bar, LP being short for long play. These vinyl record bars are hugely popular in South Korea.

LP bars have shelves of vinyl records that customers can request. At Radio City, you order your drink, and your server hands you a slip of paper to write down a song request.

The concept is very cool, though my main focus was the drinks, which, let me tell you, were outrageous in the best way. Each one is named after a genre of music and served in the most ridiculous glassware.

A lot of the drinks come with props, too. One had a Walkman you could listen to while sipping. Another came with a mini piano. There was one served in a guitar, and several arrived buried in flowers. This is easily one of my top five bars in Seoul.

The space is just as cool, all vintage furniture and music memorabilia, so honestly, for a small bar, there’s a lot to take in. You could easily stay for hours. At least, that’s what I did.

Bar Catalyst

📍 Yeonnam | 42-24 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, 3F, Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea

If you’re a movie lover, this cinema-themed bar needs to be on your list. The cocktails are inspired by iconic films, from WALL-E to John Wick to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and the menu is printed on a film slate.

A projector runs classic movies throughout the night. The Mummy was playing during my visit.

Best Cocktail Bars in Seongdong

Seongsu used to be Seoul’s shoemaking district, and now it’s one of the trendiest parts of the city. I went to three bars here: a Cinderella speakeasy behind a fake shoemaker’s shop, a zodiac bar, and a Prohibition-style bar inside a cheese shop. Zodiac Bar was my favorite of the three.

Cinderella Bar

📍 Seongsu | 289-247 Seongsu-dong 2-ga, 1F, Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea

Cinderella Bar is hidden down an alley in Seongsu-dong. In the 1970s, this area was filled with artisanal shoe shops, and the bar pays tribute to that history, cleverly reframing the Cinderella fairy tale around the idea of a glass slipper workshop.

This is a speakeasy, and the entrance is designed to look like a shoemaker’s shop. I won’t give away how to get in, but be prepared to look around and maybe push on a few walls. There’s a sign to guide you if you get stuck.

Inside, it looks like a dimly lit cobblestone street, with gas lamps mounted on the walls. The fairy tale theme runs through everything, right down to the drinks, which arrive in 3D-printed holders shaped like high-end designer heels.

The drinks are named after luxury shoe brands, which strays from the fairy tale a bit, but every one I had was great! My favorite was the Louboutin, similar to a New York Sour.

Zodiac

📍 Seongsu | 7 Seongsuil-ro 4ga-gil, Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea

Astrology has never been my thing, but when I passed by Zodiac, I had to check it out.

The drinks didn’t disappoint. Each of the 12 signature cocktails is modeled after a zodiac sign and arrives with a fun prop tied to its sign.

Just don’t confuse this bar with Zoo Sindang, another fantastic zodiac-themed spot, though that one focuses on the zodiac animals rather than the signs.

The Storage Room

📍 Seongsu |  8-1 Yeonmujang 7-gil, B1, Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea

The Storage Room is a speakeasy hidden in the basement of The Cheese Salon, a cheese shop. You walk through the shop, push past a slightly unlatched white door, then through another wooden door, and suddenly you’re in a snug, dimly lit bar.

This is the most authentically Prohibition-era speakeasy I went to in Seoul. Even the menu is designed to look like a newspaper, complete with articles from the era, and the cocktail list features classics people were drinking during Prohibition.

The bar was really cool, but there were only two signature cocktails, and they aren’t on the menu. You have to ask the bartender for them. I always go for the signatures, since I can get classics anywhere. That said, the two I tried were well made.

The food, on the other hand, was unbelievable. The chicken and waffles were perfectly crispy, and the olive oil ice cream sounded weird but added a nuttiness that worked beautifully.

Best Cocktail Bars in Yongsan

Yongsan covers Itaewon and Hannam, which is the most international part of Seoul. Only two bars from this area made my list: Southside Parlor and Pussyfoot Saloon, an old-timey train-themed bar. The fried chicken tacos at Southside Parlor are worth the trip on their own!

Southside Parlor

📍 Itaewon |.218 Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea

Southside Parlor is tucked away on the fourth floor of a building in Itaewon. If you look up, you’ll spot a giant sign, but it’s easy to walk straight past if you’re not paying attention.

I’d heard such good things about this place, and I was especially excited to try the fried chicken tacos. Now, I know this is a cocktail bar roundup, but take my advice and go hungry, because those tacos were chef’s kiss.

Southside has such a range of drinks that I ended up ordering almost the entire menu. My favorites were the Orange Fizz Julius, which tasted like an orange cream soda, and the Chiquita Pepita, made with cucumber-infused tequila. The bar actually won an award for that one.

All juices are fresh-pressed, and the syrups and sodas are made in-house, so it’s no wonder the drinks are so good. There’s also a solid whiskey and bourbon selection. You can make a reservation here.

Pussyfoot Saloon

📍 Hannam |: 7-8 Daesagwan-ro 31-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea

Pussyfoot Saloon’s name comes from an old slang term for railway police. The bar is designed to feel like a first-class vintage train carriage, and upstairs, video screens show destinations passing by outside the “windows.”

The cocktail list was an interesting mix, and I enjoyed every single drink I ordered. The Cream Gold was my favorite, made with salted caramel vodka, espresso, and cream cheese foam. The Pine Green came in second, mixing cognac, matcha, egg, cream, milk, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.

Along with the drinks, you’ll be served the crispiest truffle french fries, and the refills are unlimited. I put away about four servings on my own. I regret nothing.

If you’re hungry, I recommend ordering the lasagna. It’s enough for two people, or one starving solo diner.

Where to Stay in Seoul

I can’t personally vouch for any hotels because I rented an apartment during my stay, but if I were booking, Hongdae, Gangnam, and Seongsu are the neighborhoods I’d search first. Hongdae is where I lived, and it’s close to the action and stays busy late. Gangnam puts you next to the biggest cluster of bars on this list, and Seongsu is quieter but full of cool spots.

Book accommodation in Seoul by searching for hotels below!

Cocktail Bars in Seoul: FAQS

Do I need to make a reservation?

It depends on the bar, but many bars have a rule where they only allow reservations for specific times, and after that time is up, they allow walk-ins. They do not make exceptions for big groups, so it’s better to check each bar’s policy. Weekdays should also be a lot easier to get seated without a reservation.

Can I pay by card at bars in Seoul?

Every single cocktail bar I went to accepted card. In fact, I got cash out at the airport when I arrived, and for the entire six weeks didn’t need to use it once. I only started using it up towards the end of my trip when I needed to get rid of it.

Is it rude to tip in Seoul?

Tipping is not customary in South Korea. Most bars operate a no-tip culture, so don’t worry about it.

How much does a cocktail cost in Seoul?

Most cocktails range from around 18,000 to 28,000 won (roughly $13 to $20 USD). It’s not cheap, but the quality is incredibly good, and you absolutely get what you pay for.

What are the best Korean spirits to try?

Andong soju, makgeolli, jukryeokgo, gamhongro, and munbaeju are all worth trying. Many cocktail bars use these as the base for their signatures.

Is it safe to walk around Seoul at night?

Yes, Seoul is one of the safest cities in the world. Walking around at night, even alone, is generally very safe. I would head home at 3 am some nights and never felt unsafe.

Do Seoul bars have food menus?

Many cocktail bars offer food, and generally, the food I have had at the cocktail bars in Seoul has been delicious. It’s always worth eating beforehand if you are unsure, and every bar will give you snacks to munch on while you drink.

What time do bars in Seoul open and close?

Most cocktail bars open around 6pm or 7pm. Closing times vary. Some close around 1am or 2am on weekdays, while others stay open until 4am or later on weekends. Seoul nightlife runs late.

Is there a cover charge?

While there isn’t specifically a cover charge to enter, many cocktail bars will charge 5,000 to 10,000 won, which covers things such as service, welcome drinks, snacks, etc. Not every bar has a cover charge, but many do.

Do Seoul cocktail bars have non-alcoholic options?

I have seen nonalcoholic options on the menu of pretty much every cocktail bar I have gone to. You can also ask the bartender to whip you up a mocktail, and most would be more than happy.

How do I get around Seoul at night?

You have a few options. The metro stops around midnight, but there are night buses, although depending on where you are going, they can take a long time. There is also Uber, which would be the quickest option, so it all depends on where you need to go. I recommend downloading Naver Maps for your trip. Google Maps doesn’t work, and Naver was an excellent alternative.

Are there dress codes at Seoul cocktail bars?

Most cocktail bars don’t have a strict dress code, but Koreans generally dress well on a night out, so smart casual is a good rule of thumb, and no shorts, flip-flops, or sportswear.

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Travel Resources

First off, if you want to browse all my favorite travel resources, check out my Travel Resources page.

Trip Planning: I have put together the ultimate trip planning guide that will walk you through everything you need to know to plan your perfect trip.

Book your Flight: Check out Momondo! They are my go to for booking flights. Airfarewatchdog is also a favorite of mine. I get notified by email every time there is a good deal from my local airport. WayAway is also a good option. They list mistake fares so many times, you can get an international ticket for as little as $300!

Book your Transportation: Busbud is usually where I check first. They check hundreds of different transportation companies all over the world and find you the best bus deal. Flixbus is one of my favorite cheap options for Europe. The buses generally aren’t too bad, and they go to most countries around Europe. It’s the perfect option for short distances. Train travel is my favorite mode of transportation, and I always use Rail Europe to book my tickets. If you need a transfer from the airport or if you are going somewhere where transport is limited (like a festival in the middle of nowhere or even a day trip) Welcome Pickups is a great option. I have used them on multiple occasions, and you can book a ride 5 hours in advance!

Book your Accommodation: My number one is Booking. If you book enough hotels from them, you can get huge discounts and perks like free breakfast and room upgrade. On a budget and looking for cheap accommodation? Hostelworld is my preferred site to book cheap and reliable hostels. Hotwire has a fun mystery to it. It’s a great site to use for last-minute bookings. They don’t actually tell you the name of the hotel when you are browsing. You will just get the area of the city it’s in, the price, and how many stars it has. I love the surprise aspect of it! Traveling to Asia? Agoda is the best accommodation booking site! If you are traveling with a big group, Vrbo is a good option. They have a huge selection of vacation rentals. Hotellook allows you to compare hotel prices around the world, so you can find the best deal!

Book your Travel Insurance: Getting travel insurance is such a crucial part of preparing for a trip. You never know what could happen, and why take the risk? Before I travel anywhere, I always book my insurance through Visitors Coverage.

Book your Activities: Now, you have planned all the logistics, time to think about what you will do once you get to your destination! These are a few of my favorite trip planning sites. I always use Get Your Guide and Viator when I am looking for tours. If you are traveling to Asia, Klook is widely used to book activities. Go City sells tickets to top attractions for up to 65% off. Eat With allows you to book dinners or cooking classes with local families. If you enjoy self-guided walking tours, We Go Trip has audio guides you can download. Big Bus Tours offers open-top sightseeing tours.

Store Your Luggage: Do you have a long layover or a late flight and need to store your luggage? Radical Storage has got you covered.

Get an eSim: Airlalo has been an amazing way for me to stay connected on the road. They have eSims in 200 countries and set up is super easy.