Northern Seoul
One of a row of cutesy cafes at the very top of Ihwa Mural Village and parallel to the Seoul City Wall, Gaepul boasts an L-shaped outdoor deck for dreamy…
Must-see nightlife in South Korea
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Foreigner-friendly Itaewon wouldn't be complete without a British pub, and this atmospheric two-storey boozer delivers with its pints of ale, fish and…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
This Itaewon gay bar by the same folks behind Queen opposite is a good place to kick off the night with a cocktail before moving to more danceable spots…
Seoul
A spacious, design-savvy hangout where they serve beer, refreshing homemade juices plus the usual caffeinated beverages along with cute animal-shaped…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
The hanok goes global at this charming ‘traveller’s hang-out’ decorated with colourful cushions, photos and Snoopy items. As well as beer and cocktails it…
Jeonju
Like a child's dream-house drawing come to life, this cafe has swings, pinwheels and brightly coloured murals on its expansive, sunny terrace. There are…
Seoul
This 8th-floor, comfortable women-only space is lesbian-oriented but not exclusively so. A female DJ plays dance music, and there are cocktails and anju …
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
One of Gangnam's original EDM clubs, this huge basement space attracts a young, beautiful crowd here for techno and house, and a frenetic light show. It…
Busan
One of many orange pojangmacha (tented street stall) tents behind Lotte department store in Seomyeon serving drinks and unusual side dishes, such as…
Gyeongsangbuk-do
A small, family-run cafe right by the Oksan Seowon bus stop. It also doubles as a convenience store, so you can stock up on drinks and munchable goodies…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
The original bar for this Korean microbrewery does a good selection of pale ales, and Belgian and wheat beers, enjoyed at Pongdang's bar or tables…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
The name indicates the style of this cafe, which is tastefully furnished with mid-century modern pieces. It’s a good pit stop for coffee and snacks while…
Jeonju
Jeonju's original expat hang-out – going strong since the 1990s – is in the Gaeksa neighbourhood. Look for it down an alleyway on the left as you walk up…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Myeong-dong isn’t short on chain cafes, but for something with more individual character hike up to this hidden gem on the lower slope of Namsan, next to…
Gyeonggi-do
This vintage-themed cafe and furniture store, decked out in industrial decor and Chesterfield couches, has a menu of cakes, sandwiches and coffee.
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Bringing third-wave coffee to Sinsa-dong, Steamers does Ethiopian and Colombian single-origin brews in its shabby-chic industrial brick cafe.
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Grab a gourmet roastery coffee and sandwich at this classroom-meets–industrial space while ambling around Bukchon between the palaces.
Gyeongsangbuk-do
This cafe at the heart of the village serves coffee and bottles of the local Andong soju firewater (from ₩6000 to ₩30,000).
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
A smart gay bar opposite Queen with a laid-back vibe and a club area for later in the evening.
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Located at the base of Cheongnyang-sa is this pleasant teahouse, a perfect place to relax.
Chungcheongnam-do
There's fine espresso here, though the best feature of this coffee shop is the sea view from the 3rd-floor outdoor patio.
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
One of Korea's few exclusively lesbian bars, this queer-only joint sits atop Homo Hill and gets going around midnight.
Daegu
Five floors of hip-hop and electronic music for you and a few thousand of your closest friends.
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
This small but smartly turned-out gay bar has good cocktails and plenty of K-Pop.
Daejeon
Many who go to Dunsan-dong at night end up in this beer bar at some point during the evening, or early morning. It's a decent walk here from a metro…
Daejeon
This small 2nd-floor bar with a neighbourhood-bistro vibe serves draught beers and shots. It's a popular hang-out for students who seem to prefer pizza…
Chuncheon
Ethiopia Café is the main establishment at the lakefront, near the Memorial Hall for Ethiopian Veterans of the Korean War with its triple-pointed roof. It…
Jeonju
A quaint coffeehouse that offers coffees, espresso and tea along with chocolate cake and other sweet treats.
