Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
You'll find a friendly welcome and a well-mixed selection of house and top-shelf cocktails in this intimate 3rd-floor bar run by Americans.
Must-see nightlife in South Korea
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
The most welcoming gay bar on the strip, this place has flirty-friendly staff, low-playing music and a cosy open-air lounge set-up.
Busan
Weary English instructors flock to this breezy, beach-vibe bar to unwind over cheap draught after a hard day of teaching phonics.
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
The undisputed queen of Homo Hill, this eternally popular gay bar is still the place to party in Itaewon.
Chungcheongnam-do
This humble coffee shop serves the best espresso on Mallipo Beach.
Chuncheon
This old-school watering hole between Myeong-dong and the bend of Dakgalbi Geori is overseen by amiable veteran Mr Oh, who sits in front of 8000 vinyl…
Daejeon
With 10 beers on draught, this is a favourite haunt of expats and beer lovers. The food is better than the usual pub grub. Closed Sunday.
Jeollabuk-do
A fine coffee shop with an eclectic, factory-like design that captures Gunsan's industrial character.
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
The original Booth brewpub (there are now eight in Seoul) looks the part with its pop-art murals and warehouse-chic interior, but beer aficionados have…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
A popular brew pub with its roots in Noksapyeong's Craft Beer Valley, this Gangnam branch has several of its beers on tap, including its signature Bill's…
Jeju-do
Across the road from the Kim Young Gap Gallery Dumoak, have a drink or a bite to eat – octopus spaghetti and tonkatsu pork cutlet – at the pleasant Orum…
Daegu
Daegu may be saturated with cafes, but this one (which doubles as a tour agency) over two floors is a tranquil and enjoyable choice, run by a friendly…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
A two-storey house (with roof terrace) converted into a bar, Blue 55 is slightly away from the action, making it a more easy-going spot for a hop-based…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Pricey drinks, including a good selection of wine, come with knockout views from the enormous windows at this restaurant and bar perched 33 floors above…
Jeonju
Just beyond the hanok village, this cafe offers decent espresso and quirky art. The 1st-floor cafe with polished concrete sprinkled with artful design…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
On the ground floor of District – a warehouse-style complex of upscale venues behind the Hamilton Hotel – Prost has a club-meets-pub vibe, meaning you get…
Dongdaemun & Eastern Seoul
This basement microbrewery pub serves its own, mostly German-style beers on tap, as well as pizza and snacks. If you make it out here, the surrounding…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Sip tea, hand-dripped coffee, whiskey or beer in this minimalist, retro-styled cafe that’s part of a 1930s building that includes a gallery and analogue…
Seoul
Deep underground is M2, the largest and first of Hongdae's EDM clubs. It may have lost some of its cool cred but it's still popular for its grand space …
Chuncheon
The name and wagon wheels on the way up stairs are all the clues you need that this is a Wild West Saloon-styled sports bar, up on the second floor across…
Chungcheongnam-do
At this casual beer bar the draught flows and conversations become spirited. Like at many bars in Korea, customers here are expected to order some food…
Seoul
Offering one of the most extraordinary facades in Seoul, this medieval fantasy pub has an equally bizarre dungeon-cellar interior. It serves up several…
Seoul
Drunken revels may be in full flight around it, but gentility reigns at this teashop offering an impressive range of black and flavoured brews, dainty…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
It’s much quieter than Oktoberfest at this long-running microbrewery, but the quality is good, serving up four freshly produced brews. It's in a large,…
Jeju-si
Craft beer is on tap along with a decent selection of imported bottled brew at this cosy bar in the youthful City Hall area. Side orders include cheesy…
Jeju-do
Here's a cafe with a slick interior design, decent drinks, San Miguel to go with a side of fries on the rooftop sunloungers overlooking Woljeong Beach,…
Southern Jeju-do
Located in the small retail strip at the foot of Sanbang-san, this cute cafe serves fair-trade coffee, freshly squeezed juices and homemade cakes. The…
Gyeonggi-do & Incheon
This atmospheric teahouse and garden within Jeondeung-sa is frequented by resident monks sipping on traditional Korean teas, while presumably…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
As well as Korean teas you can sip teas from around the world in the pleasant covered courtyard of this modern hanok. Loose-leaf teas and tea-making sets…
Jeonju
Traditional teas, such as daechucha (대추차; red date) and pink omijacha (오미자차; dried five-flavour berries) are served in this hanok (traditional wooden home…
Mokpo
You'll find this scruffy expat hangout on Rose St, a meandering pedestrian lane about 1km behind Peace Park. Don't read too much into the name: it's more…
Northern Seoul
Chandeliers and recycled wood make up the shack-chic decor of this greenhouse-like cafe-restaurant that serves pizza, pasta, risotto and brunch dishes…
Incheon
Enjoy coffee, tea, cocktails and snacks at this homely cafe with a fantastic harbour view from its rooftop garden. Tricky to find, it's at the top of the…
Jeju-si
A cozy coffee shop with a panda theme in the City Hall area. Inside there are a few bears, but don't expect panda insanity. It's quaint and cool with a…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
This wine-and-cocktail, one-shot bar is appealing and spacious, and the English-speaking bartenders mix a mean mojito. The homely atmosphere and diva…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
A tiny branch of this speciality coffee roaster with a somewhat bizarre location within the Myeong-dong Cathedral complex, but it makes for a good pit…
Jeju-si
Named after Andy Warhol’s studio, the Factory is a dark and moody bar that attracts artists, musicians and other hipsters. It’s a favourite haunt for Jeju…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
An all-Korean affair, Pongdang brews a changing roster of craft beers from pale ales and blondes to more esoteric concoctions like their Seouliner Weisse,…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Gay-friendly Almaz is more chilled than other Homo Hill hot spots, drawing a mature crowd to its scarlet-hued lounge hung with glitter balls. Previously a…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
A one-man operation run by a local surfer, this cramped bar has an extensive selection of Korean and international craft beers chalked up on the board…
