-
3 Alley Pub
Mixing together an English pub atmosphere (darts, pool and a trivia quiz every Thursday night) with top-notch European-style pub grub and seven draught beers is a formula that makes this an expat magnet.
-
360@
Dip your feet in the pool, sunbathe on a sunlounger, sit in a garden swing seat or relax in a hammock outside or on a bed inside this bar, which is full of relaxing ideas and has an all-white upstairs floor.
-
Always Homme
The beer, wine and cocktail list is impressive enough to keep you coming back to this unpretentious gay bar. The music is not so loud that you can't talk, the staff are friendly and the place has a touch or two of style. .
-
Bar Bliss
English-speaking, motorbike-riding gay gypsy Ted Park welcomes everyone to his smart wine bar. The armchairs, the music, the good house wine and the cheese and crackers are all so tempting you may never want to leave this bar that's hidden behind Reggae Pub.
-
Beatles
An enviable record collection of over 10,000 LPs fills a wall in this basement log cabin 'old music bar' where beers cost next to nothing. The host is laid-back and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing.
-
Beautiful Tea Museum
This is not a traditional Korean teashop, but instead offers the chance to sip teas from around the world in the pleasant covered courtyard of a modern hanok (traditional Korean one-storey wooden house with a tiled roof), with tea sets on display.
-
Bier Halle
This lively and cheerful bare-brick cellar-style bar lures customers with its cheap beer - either by the glass or giant 2.7L pitcher - and its Euro menu of sausages and smoked meats.
-
Blue Bird
Young couples are attracted to this bar, which has a romantic ambience with comfortable chairs around tables that are adorned with flickering candles, while soft jazz plays moodily in the background.
-
Buck Mulligan's
The Guinness is a little pricey, but at least you can find it here at this popular joint. Live pop and rock music can be enjoyed at and in this Irish-themed bar with a pool table.
-
Chasarang
This traditional teashop brings a relaxing and rustic Insadong atmosphere to Hongik's youthful clubland. Unusual teas include those made from mountain berries, pine needles and even bamboo.
-
Advertisement
-
Club Otwo
A smart, spacious club with stacks of lights and screens, which is down in the basement on the right side of the Hogok building. They call their dance music 'electro-trance techno'.
-
Dalsaeneun Dalman Saeng Gakhanda
This special, poetically named teashop (the name translates as 'Moon Bird Thinks Only of the Moon') is packed with plants and rustic artefacts, and bird song, soothing music and trickling water add to the atmosphere. Huddle in a cubicle and savour one of the many teas, which include gamipcha (persimmon-leaf tea). Saenggangcha (ginger tea) is peppery but sweet.
-
Dongbang Sauna
This clean and spacious sauna in Hongik offers separate sections for men and women. Facilities include an exercise centre, two sleeping rooms (one with bunks), a TV room, a green-tea pool, clay and crystal saunas and massages.
-
Dublin Bar
This large 'Irish' pub has indoor and outdoor seating, five draught beers including Guinness, and bottled Newcastle Brown. They host trivia nights and all the usual fun pub stuff.
-
G-Spot
This late-night cellar disco opens very late and irregularly. It attracts mainly Korean gays but is an experience for the daring as the steps down to it are like entering a catacomb.
-
Gecko's Terrace
This comfortable and popular 2nd floor bar and restaurant has a global menu, lunch specials, six draught beers and lots of bottled ones plus the obligatory-in-Itaewon darts and pool. It can get like a rugby scrum at peak times.
-
Gold 2 Bar
On the 2nd floor, the bar has wood cabin décor, bar food and, best of all, a 500ml beer costs peanuts. No need to say more; grab a window seat and enjoy a few.
-
Igloo
This extraordinary Apgujeong café is only for dog-lovers - 30 canine breeds roam around freely. Most of them have starred in Korean movies and they relax here in between engagements.
-
Jeontong Dawon
Sit outside under the shady fruit trees in the very pleasant courtyard hideaway or inside a 19th-century hanok decorated with scribbles on the walls. Small art exhibition spaces surround the courtyard. In summer sip delicious omijacha hwaechae fruit punch ( omija are tiny dried berries said to contain five flavours). The nokcha (green tea) is unusual, as it's served with milk.
-
Joker Red
All shades of techno are heard in this club, which has some red lighting effects to justify its name. The chill-out room is useful when it all gets a bit too much.
-
Advertisement
-
Juju Tent Bar
Popular in summer, this outdoor bar near Apgujeong has a retractable roof. Beer and soju is pretty cheap but the food, such as chicken gizzards or feet, grilled eel, stews and fish, is relatively expensive.
-
Labris
Take the elevator up to this comfortable, quiet and relaxed women-only lesbian bar that has sofas, a big screen showing music videos and friendly staff.
-
Luxury Noraebang
Sing along with the video songs in a range of mostly palatial rooms in this new breed of noraebang , (karaoke venue) which is open all night and provides a more luxurious setting for acting out those rock star fantasies.
-
Mi
A pioneer of electronic music in Hongik, this club's DJs still win prizes and the staff are friendly. Nowadays they play techno and progressive house.
-
Mu
Probably the most amazing bar interior in Seoul, it has overhead waterways, and a sinuous white creeper design that creates individual cubicles for patrons. Imagine a Star Wars bar designed by an Inuit. It feels strange even when you're sober.
