Seoul Entertainment

  1. Nanta Theatre

    Set in a kitchen, this long-running, high-energy show mixes together varied ingredients - magic, circus tricks, drumming with kitchen utensils, slapstick comedy, dance, martial arts and audience participation - to produce a clever and enjoyable musical pantomime.

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  2. Nashville Sports Bar

    A scruffy Itaewon institution with a jukebox, pool, darts and a view. In summer the rooftop garden bar opens except when it's raining. In the basement is an American-style diner and above the sports bar is Club Caliente.

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  3. O'Kim's

    Ask for the Irish bar and people will direct you to O'Kim's - the only Irish drinking spot in the city. There's plenty to entertain you: darts, pool, bar football, free Internet and live music every night. You'll be less than entertained by the drink prices however.

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  4. O'Sulloc Teahouse

    Impeccably presented green-tea drinks, cakes and ice creams are created here in this smart modern teahouse, but prices are not cheap. Everything is produced from the green tea picked on the company's tea plantation on Jejudo. Green-tea ice cream is recommended as are the homemade green-tea chocolates but the green-tea latte tastes like hot milk. There is a second branch in Gangnam.

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  5. Opera House Noraebang

    Sing as loud as you want in these basement karaoke rooms, which feature a bank of four screens, a tambourine, a disco light and hundreds of English songs.

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  6. Our Place

    Spread over the three top floors with a terrace and rooftop section, this engaging wine bar with candles serves fusion food and is run by Seoul's most famous gay icon, TV actor Hong Seok-chun.

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  7. Platinum Microbrewery

    In a party mood? Ten metres from the subway exit is this smart good-deal restaurant that offers the chance to eat and drink too much at the same time. The buffet has 17 items such as salads, sushi, shellfish, bulgogi (barbecued beef slices and lettuce wrap), spaghetti, soup and fruit. The on-site brewery produces six beers including a brown ale and a stout. The décor is modern with black furniture and fairy lights.

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  8. Princess

    Candles and chandeliers light the steps down to this winter palace of a café with white curtains around some tables to give privacy, but cigarette smoke sometimes lowers the regal tone.

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  9. Queen

    This comfortable bar attracts a mixture of Korean and Westerners, and welcomes visitors of all orientations. It has chandeliers and bright red chairs, and beer is around also brightly priced.

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  10. Rock'n'Roll Bar

    A museum of personal mementoes adds atmosphere to this three-storey log cabin in Apgujeong where the bargain cocktails will help you forget some memories of your own.

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  12. Santana

    Dark beers are the big attraction in this bar that has stacks of room and sells draught Guinness, Becks Dark, Heineken Dark and Miller Dark all served in thumping 2L pitchers. A dozen different bottled dark beers are also available.

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  13. Seoul Pub

    A friendly, laid-back pub with around cheap brews, pool tables, darts, music and occasional pub games. Plenty of locals, military types and travellers seem to get along fine in this comfortable place.

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  14. Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Casino

    This casino offers the usual ways of losing money - one-armed bandits, roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat, big wheel and tai-sa. Snacks are free, and free drinks can be ordered at the gaming tables. There is no dress code and Korean nationals are not allowed inside.

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  15. Sinyetchatjip

    The fascinating décor created in this teashop includes a live squirrel, live birds and even live crabs. Thankfully the monkey has departed. The maesilcha (plum tea) is deliciously sweet and sour.

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  16. Sipjeondaebotang

    This tiny two-room medicinal teashop northeast of Gyeongbokgung serves wonderful thick danpatjuk , red-bean porridge with ginseng, chestnut and peanuts.

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  17. Sk@

    A scruffy dark den of a club that attracts those who like their sounds mixed and eclectic. It's nothing fancy and the staff are off-hand, but that's how the regulars like it.

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  18. Soho

    Another smart and friendly gay bar with some glitter around that holds special events and attracts an older clientele, and lesbians. It is next door to Why Not? and across the road from Always Homme, so options abound if the scene dosen't suit.

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  19. Todam Teashop

    This rustic den next to Chongdong Theatre serves up genuine homemade teas including ones made from apricots, pine needles and even deer antler. Try sipjeondaebotang, which has 13 ingredients and is sweetened with honey quince syrup and served with Korean green tea, candied ginger and lightweight rice crackers.

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  20. Trance

    Pouting drag princesses Ms Nina and Ms Ari entertain in their own completely unique style at this small club with a DJ and a stage. Shows start around and the big night is Saturday.

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  21. US 66 Bar

    This American-style bar with dark-wood décor is a gathering place for expats prior to launching out into clubland and the staff speak some English. Beers are well priced but nothing will set your night off like the notorious 'Long Island iced tea', which is only slightly more expensive and kicks a little more than a bottle of Hite.

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  23. Wallflowers

    A classy black-and-chrome interior sets the tone for the generally cool jazz in this 2nd floor bar. It's perfect for a quiet chat with a date rather than somewhere for a raucous night out.

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  24. Why Not

    This small gay dance arena has been expensively revamped with the very latest lights and lasers. DJs crank it up at this meet market until dawn when the subway trains start running again and the regrets begin.

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  25. Yetchatjip

    Seoul's most famous teashop features half a dozen little birds flying around freely. More atmosphere is added by haunting music, water features, candles and unique toilets. Antique bric-a-brac so clutters this goblin-sized teashop that it can be hard to find somewhere to sit. The nine hot teas and seven cold ones are all special - try the hot mogwacha (quince tea) with a subtle fruity flavour or the cold nashi-pear tea drunk by Joseon royalty.

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