Bars in Seoul

Alice in Cheongdam is one of Seoul's most theatrical cocktail bars, a Cheongdam District venue designed as an immersive Alice in Wonderland-inspired drinking experience. The bar's creative cocktail menu and extraordinary interior design have made it a social media phenomenon and one of Seoul's most distinctive bar destinations.

Bar Cham is one of Seoul's most acclaimed cocktail bars, a Gangnam basement venue celebrated for its outstanding seasonal cocktail menu and the exceptional technique of its bar team. The bar has won multiple Korean bartending awards and represents the pinnacle of Seoul's rapidly maturing cocktail culture.

Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood houses many of South Korea's most internationally inspired cocktail bars, reflecting the neighborhood's historical role as a hub for Seoul's expatriate community near the US military base. The area's cosmopolitan character has made it the most internationally diverse and adventurous bar district in South Korea.

Bau Haus in Itaewon is one of Seoul's pioneering craft beer bars, a taphouse that helped introduce Korean beer enthusiasts to the world of craft brewing in the early days of Korea's craft beer revolution. The bar's extensive selection of Korean and international craft beers reflects South Korea's remarkable transformation into a sophisticated craft beer market.

Charles H. at Four Seasons Seoul is one of Asia's finest hotel cocktail bars, consistently ranked on Asia's 50 Best Bars list for its exceptional program rooted in classic American cocktail traditions. The bar is named after the legendary Charles H. Baker Jr., who documented drinking culture across Asia in the 1930s, and celebrates that era of cosmopolitan spirits culture.

Seoul's Mapo-gu neighborhood houses several of South Korea's most celebrated craft breweries and beer bars, reflecting the extraordinary growth of Korea's craft beer movement over the past decade. Korean craft brewers have rapidly developed a sophisticated brewing scene that now rivals the craft beer cultures of the United States and Europe.

Insadong is Seoul's most culturally authentic bar district, where traditional Korean drinking establishments (jjipeo) serve makgeolli rice wine and dongdongju alongside traditional Korean snacks in hanok courtyard settings. The neighborhood's concentration of traditional drinking culture creates a bar experience that offers a window into Korean drinking traditions stretching back centuries.

The Bukchon Hanok Village area of Seoul is home to some of Korea's most atmospheric traditional bars, where cocktails are served in beautifully preserved hanok wooden architecture against a backdrop of Seoul's most ancient streetscape. Drinking in Bukchon creates a unique juxtaposition of Korean traditional aesthetics and modern cocktail culture.

Southside Parlor is one of Seoul's most beloved independent cocktail bars, an Itaewon establishment that has served the neighborhood's cosmopolitan community for years with exceptional craft cocktails in an intimate, welcoming atmosphere. The bar has earned a devoted following among Seoul's international expatriate community and local cocktail enthusiasts alike.