Entertainment in Seoul
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Bar Bliss
Away from the main gay strip, bar staff Ted and Lucky keep this a friendly and relaxing bar. A chill-out, relax-on-cushions, shisha-pipe zone is the latest feature, and the eclectic decor includes a reclining Buddha. Any night someone might start playing a guitar, and the cheese and crackers are tempting.
reviewed
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Luxury Noraebang
Sing along with the video songs in a range of mostly palatial rooms in this new breed of noraebang, open all night and providing a luxurious setting for acting out those rock-star fantasies. Check out the photos of the room styles before paying. The more expensive rooms can take 10 people.
reviewed
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Club FF
A top live venue with up to eight bands playing at the weekend until midnight. Afterwards it becomes a dance club with DJs. Local bands such as Galaxy Express and Pink Elephant play here. The youthful groups let rip with attitude and style.
reviewed
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Seoul Arts Centre
This sprawling arts complex has a circular opera house with a roof shaped like a Korean nobleman’s hat. It also houses the 700-seat Towol Theatre and the smaller Jayu Theatre. The national ballet and opera companies are based here. Music House consists of a large concert hall and a smaller recital hall and is home to the national choir, the Korea and Seoul symphony orchestras and the Seoul performing arts company. There are also three art galleries here: Hangaram Design Museum, Hangaram Art Museum and Seoul Calligraphy Museum. The website has a calendar of the many events, shows and programs. To reach it, walk straight on from the subway exit and turn left at the end of t…
reviewed
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Marronnier Park
This free performance area in Daehangno usually has something happening on warm weekend afternoons. Student artists draw portraits in one corner while rappers rap, B-boys break-dance and high-school rock bands crank it up on the outdoor stage. A samullori troupe bangs their drums and gongs while dancing around under the chestnut trees. ‘Mr Guitar’, a musician and comedian, regularly performs in front of a large and appreciative audience. Couples play badminton, people in wheelchairs play basketball, and yo-yo geeks spin their toys.
reviewed
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Yetchatjip
Half a dozen little songbirds fly around inside Seoul’s most famous teashop. Ethereal music, water features and candles add to the atmosphere – even the unique toilets do their bit. Antique bric-a-brac so clutters this hobbit-sized teashop that it’s hard to squeeze past and 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 tangy, vitamin-filled yujacha (citron tea).
reviewed
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Korea House
The chefs (around 17 on any particular day) really care about the royal cuisine they prepare. A dozen courses make up the royal banquet, and portions are dainty and artistic rather than large. The fresh flavours are subtle and quite different from the strong flavours usually associated with Korean food. The hanok, the hanbok -clad waitresses, the gayageum (zither) music and the platters and boxes the food is served in are all part of the experience.
reviewed
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Yeakdang Theatre
This theatre, part of the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (www.ncktpa.go.kr), puts on an ever-changing program by leading performers every Saturday at 5pm from early January to mid December. The 1½-hour show is a bargain and usually contains seven items including court dances, folk songs, pansori,gayageum, flute music and drumming. Take a taxi (W2000) or the shuttle bus (W800) from the subway exit, or walk (about 15 minutes).
reviewed
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Hakchon Green Theatre
The popular rock musical Line 1 staged here takes a satirical look at Seoul – the ‘Ladies of Gangnam’ song and dance routine is a memorable highlight. The nearly three-hour show has English subtitles on a screen on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. After running for 15 years and 4000 performances, at the time of writing there were plans to replace it with a new, updated version – perhaps it will be called Line 2.
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National Theatre
On Namsan, this complex is home to the national drama, national changgeuk (Korean opera), national orchestra and national dance companies. Venues include the main hall and outdoor stages where free concerts and movies are put on in summer. The website shows the varied schedule. It’s a 15-minute walk from the subway exit or take the yellow bus 2 (W800, every 10 minutes) from the bus stop just behind Exit 6.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Chongdong Theatre
This well-established theatre is centrally located, just around the corner from Deoksugung. Shows last for 1½ hours and usually include lively percussionists, gayageum performers, shamanist exorcisms, a pansori soloist and a fan dance. English subtitles appear on a screen. Arrive an hour before the show for a percussion class (W15,000). The ticket office opens at 7pm or you can book online.
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JJ Mahoney’s
Inside Itaewon’s Grand Hyatt Seoul, this classy nightclub has a live band playing every night except Sunday. DJs spin their decks, and special events also liven things up. A beer costs an eye-watering W19,000. If you get bored you can look at the black-and-white photographs on the wall, but that’s assuming you get in – there’s a dress code. Take a taxi from the subway.
reviewed
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Dawon
The perfect place to unwind on a warm summer evening is under the shady fruit trees in this secret courtyard with flickering candles. In winter sit indoors in hanok rooms decorated with scribbles or in the garden pavilion. Small exhibition spaces surround the courtyard. The teas are superb, especially omijacha hwachae (fruit and five-flavour berry punch), a summer drink.
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Namugeuneul
The unique experience here is the spa footbath, perfect for relaxing those tired and aching feet. The footbath contains over 50 small ‘doctor fish’ who just love nibbling at the dead skin on your feet. It’s a strange sensation, somewhere between tingling and nipping, but your feet do feel refreshed after a 15-minute session, which costs only W2000. Look for ‘Dr Fish’ on the 2nd-floor sign.
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King Club
An Itaewon institution that likes to change its spots. Early on the bar girls serve up W5000 drinks to a quiet clientele who play pool and chat, then the GI hip-hop clubbers arrive around 10pm and leave at 1am, when the late, late-night party begins with a more Korean atmosphere. A bottle of Oscar ‘champagne’ is only W10,000, but you probably won’t buy a second.
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Flower
Step inside this Arabian fantasyland and relax on floor cushions in screened compartments while sucking on a shisha pipe. The extraordinary, extravagantly designed bar has a wraparound balcony and large trees – avoid falling into the river after downing too many drinks. Wine, beer and cocktails range from W5000 to W7000, so how could you not go see?
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Seoul Norimadang
This large, covered outdoor arena hosts entertaining traditional music and dance performances on weekend afternoons. Shows include masked satirical plays, dynamic drumming demonstrations and group and individual dancing. The standard is high and local pensioners come along. If you are inside Lotte World, follow the signs to Charlotte Theatre.
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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.
reviewed
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Sejong Centre for the Performing Arts
Centrally located, this leading arts complex puts on major drama, music and art shows – everything from large-scale musicals to fusion gugak (traditional Korean music) and gypsy violinists. It has a grand hall, a small theatre and three art galleries. Check out the website for what’s on and ticketing options.
reviewed
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Arko Art Theatre
This large red-brick theatre was designed by leading architect Kim Swoo-geun and opened in 1981. The 600-seat and 150-seat venues put on a varied dance-oriented program of events and shows, as well as hosting the annual Seoul Performing Arts Festival and the International Modern Dance Festival.
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Ole Stompers Rock Spot
This muso-owned Itaewon pub has live music, often a rocking blues expat band, most Fridays and Saturdays around 10pm. Look out for the Battle of the Bands shows, which have big prize money and attract top local talent, both Korean and expat. The signature drink is ‘tek and mek’ – draft beer with a shot of tequila (W5000).
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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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Oktoberfest
It’s much quieter than Oktoberfest at Seoul’s first microbrewery but it’s still going strong and producing 1000L a day inside this large bare-brick and natural-wood cellar bar. Four freshly produced beers along with German-style meats are served by frock-clad lasses (platters W11,000 to W50,000).
reviewed
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Labris
Up on the 8th floor, this newly opened social-cum–dance club is for women only and is lesbian oriented. It attracts locals and foreigners with its three levels of differently coloured, comfortable sofas. DJ nights are Friday to Sunday when the minimum charge for a drink and compulsory anju is W17,000.
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