Entertainment in Seoul
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OG Bar
A basic concrete-and-candles bar with cheerful music. It specialises in weird beer cocktails such as sweet-and-sour beer, guava beer and even coffee beer. They taste better than they sound and cost W5000, making this a good spot to start an evening.
reviewed
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B
Sipjeondaebotang
The ladies running this tiny teashop cook up wonderful thick danpatjuk, red-bean porridge with ginseng, chestnut and peanuts. The Korean teas are medicinal, authentic and richly flavoured. Established in 1976, nothing has changed since.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Free Bird
More loungelike than it used to be, with a range of live music from death rock to Sound of Music outtakes, the long-running Free Bird generally puts on solid shows. A handful of acts play every evening. Wednesday is audition night.
reviewed
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D
Moonglow
This large underground venue with red armchairs and candles on the tables features live jazz from 21:00, with a different style every day. It is owned by Shin Kwan-Woong, a noted Seoul jazz cat who performs almost every night with his band.
reviewed
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E
Gecko’s Terrace
This comfortable and popular 2nd-floor bar and restaurant has a global menu (meals W11,000), lunch specials and draught beers, plus the obligatory-in-Itaewon darts and pool. The pub supports soccer and ice hockey teams, so it can get rowdy.
reviewed
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Princess
Candles and chandeliers light the steps down to this winter palace of a café. White curtains around the tables give privacy to your little white princess world. Ballads, a glittery decor and dainty cakes add to the princess effect.
reviewed
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G
Rock ’n’ Roll Bar
A small museum of foreign currencies and personal mementoes adds atmosphere to this long-running three-storey log-cabin bar in pricey Apgujeong, where the cocktails (W9000) are a better deal than the beers (W8000). Meals cost W20,000.
reviewed
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Beatles
An enviable record collection of over 10,000 LPs fills a wall in this basement log-cabin ‘old music’ (ie 1960s and ’70s) bar where beers cost W4000. The host is laid-back and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing.
reviewed
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Kayagum Theatre
These entertaining and lavish 1.5 hour shows include traditional Korean music and dance followed by a glitzy Western/Asian cabaret revue. The hotel theatre is over 1km (0.6mi) from the subway, so take the hotel shuttle bus or a taxi.
reviewed
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Cine Cube
This well-respected art cinema near Deoksugung screens international festival films, which are usually shown in their original language with Korean subtitles. Interest in world cinema is growing, especially amongst young Seoulites.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Feel
This place is an unbelievable junkyard and owner Mr Shin is totally eccentric, but he speaks a bit of English and he and his friends cover anything and everything, including Simon and Garfunkel songs played on the accordion.
reviewed
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Sinyetchatjip
Less cluttered than Yetchatjip and with a green courtyard, this atmospheric teashop also offers alcoholic drinks such as wild-strawberry wine and quince wine. The maesilcha (plum tea) is deliciously sweet and sour.
reviewed
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St 102
This smart three-level shrine to hip-hop blows the competition away with its lounges, bright dance areas, screens, neon and general pizzazz. This is definitely the place for Seoul young, cool and wannabe G's to hang out.
reviewed
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Watercock
Located down an alley behind Alice Live is this serious 2nd floor live jazz venue. Musicians play from 21:00 to 23:30. You might catch Blue Rain a tight group consisting of piano, double bass, guitar, piano and a singer.
reviewed
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Lotte Cinema
This multiplex has five state-of-the-art cinemas plus Charlotte Hall (Mon-Fri around ₩25000, Sat & Sun around ₩3000), a luxury cinema with 34 reclining plush red armchairs where you can sip beer or wine as you watch.
reviewed
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Bebop Jazz Club
Up on the 5th floor Bebop caters to an older crowd with its armchairs and cool jazz. A singer or an instrumental band perform from 20:00 to 23:00. Beers are cheap enough but do get more pricey when the live music starts.
reviewed
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P
Club Saab
Five DJs a night with a hard hip-hop attitude play here, including the popular Schedule 1 and Maniac. It’s the nearest thing to gangsta rap in Seoul – you can decide whether it’s for show or for real. Beers are W6000.
reviewed
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Q
Buck Mulligan’s
Live popular music enlivens Buck’s at 9pm in this downtown Irish-themed bar with Guinness pie and Jamieson whiskey chicken on the dinner menu (W30,000 to W45,000). The lunch buffet (W25,000) is impressive and global.
reviewed
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R
Seoul Pub
Recently, the revived Seoul Pub has had a real pub atmosphere – loud and happy – at the weekend, lubricated by plenty of pitchers and the Guinness and Kilkenny on tap. Snacks are W5000, meals W12,000.
reviewed
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Skunk Hell
Skunk Hell is punk heaven - a black messy dungeon with peeling posters on the ceiling and live, loud punk rock from house band Couch. Saturday is the night to crawl in, but you may have to provide your own drinks.
reviewed
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Bier Halle
This cheerful bare-brick, cellar-style bar lures students with its cheap beer – W2800 a glass or W14,800 for a giant 2.7L pitcher – and its Euro menu of sausages and smoked meats (platters W13,000).
reviewed
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Woodstock
Years of scribbles have built up all over the walls, tables and chairs in this bar where the big attraction is the loud rock music selected from its huge collection. Beer is W2000 a glass or W10,000 a pitcher.
reviewed
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360@
Dip your feet in the pool, sit in a shady garden swing seat or recline on a bed indoors at this eccentric bar, full of places to relax as you listen to their tunes. Large beers are W5000, cocktails W10,000.
reviewed