Dongdaemun & Eastern Seoul
Hands down the most stunning converted changgo (warehouse) venue in 'Seoul's Brooklyn', Daelim Changgo is the ultimate synthesis of Seoul's obsessions for…
Must-see nightlife in Seoul
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Voted number seven in the world's top clubs by DJ Mag in 2018, Octagon is one of Gangnam's best for serious clubbers. High-profile resident and guest DJs…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
This high-end bar is located inside a hanok within a nest of lonesome alleyways. Owned by Robin Yoo (a pioneer in Korea's cocktail scene), it has no menu;…
Northern Seoul
Seoul’s most charming teahouse is housed in a 1930s hanok and surrounding garden that once belonged to famous writer Lee Tae-jun, who settled in the North…
Northern Seoul
Being featured in a Korean TV drama can do wonders for your business, but punters would still flock to this mountainside hot spot regardless for the…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Bang in the middle of Itaewon's red-light district, this honky-tonk dive bar is a throwback GI hang-out and something straight out of a movie. The…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Four hanok were creatively combined to create this chic designer cafe-bar that blends old and new Seoul. Clay-tile walls, Soviet-era propaganda posters,…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Having outgrown their Texas-taco-truck roots, these artisanal cocktail makers set up shop in Itaewon. Behind a copper bar, a crew of amiable bartenders…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
The perfect place to unwind under the shady fruit trees in a courtyard with flickering candles. In colder weather sit indoors in hanok rooms decorated…
Seoul
There’s a fantastic range of drinks at this shabby-chic, farmhouse-style cafe with a contemporary Japanese flair. They make their own juices and liquors –…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Seoul's most sophisticated makgeolli bar is a place for connoisseurs of Korean liquors and those who'd like to learn a bit more about the depths and…
Northern Seoul
Pouring some of Seoul's best coffee since 1990, this elegant roaster, cafe and shop imports its beans from all corners of the globe; there are usually a…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Seoul craft-beer pioneers Magpie pour some of the finest brews in Seoul from this rough-and-tumble alleyway venue, opened in 2011. Pull up a stool at the…
Seoul
An old shoe factory is the location for one of Seoul’s top independent coffee-roaster and cafe operations. Drinks are made using the hand-drip method at a…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Head underground to Itaewon's hippest club for electronic beats spun by international and top local DJs. Check their Facebook page to see who's playing.
Seoul
Specialising in artisanal makgeolli (milky rice wine) from around Korea, and other local liquors, this cosy basement bar is a great place to sample…
Seoul
Sing your heart out and be noticed at this luxe karaoke bar: some rooms resemble lounge bars, while others have floor-to-ceiling windows fronting onto the…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
In the Bukchon Hanok Village area overlooking Samcheong-dong and Gwanghwamun is this lovely hanok with low tables arranged around a courtyard. It serves…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
This dive-y basement club attracts a fun-loving, unpretentious crowd for DJs spinning old-school hip-hop and R&B, house, disco and electronica. There's no…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Danish brand famous for 'phantom' brewing (pop-up type service with locals), Mikkeller has its first Korean location in this small, one-room bar with…
Seoul
One of the last truly alternative spaces in the Hongdae-Yeonnam-dong area, this cultural space and bar turns itself into a club and lounge on weekends and…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
This wine bar takes its vino seriously – there's a sign at the entrance that says 'No soju served here'. The cosy chic interior makes an unexpected…
Dongdaemun & Eastern Seoul
A bar particularly well-known on social media, Jean Frigo is sometimes called 'the refrigerator bar' as its entrance is disguised as large refrigerators…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Opened as a bookstore in 1951 by Mrs Kwong and her husband Mr Cho, this charming, ramshackle cafe is still run by the same family and oozes bygone-days…
Seoul
Fans of this veteran music bar (opened 1999) in the heart of Hongdae love its old-school vibes, '70s interior and for solely playing Korean music. Hear…
Dalsaeneun Dalman Saenggak Handa
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
‘Moon Bird Thinks Only of the Moon’ is packed with plants and rustic artefacts. Birdsong, soothing music and trickling water add to the atmosphere. Huddle…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Some nights this shoebox of a bar is the most happening hang-out on the Itaewon strip. Maybe it's the Long Island Ice Teas served in plastic pouches (two…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Tucked away in the back alleys of Itaewon, this blue-hued basement club burst onto the scene in 2017, pulling in international DJs spinning to a young, up…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
The Gangnam branch of this Baesangmyeon Brewery bar is a bit snazzier than others, but remains a good place to sample quality traditional Korean alcohol…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
A three-storey design and music-themed cafe located in an alley adjacent to Garosu-gil. Each floor brings a slightly different atmosphere, from cafe…
Seoul
A cafe well known for its eye-catching storefront, Hello Stranger is a warm, cosy coffeeshop located on the outskirts of Hongdae. Filled with art…
Dongdaemun & Eastern Seoul
Anywhere else in Seoul (except maybe Hongdae), this vast, industrial-chic hang-out would be cream of the crop with its street-art styling, quality baked…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Fitted out in designer furniture and caffeine-related paraphernalia, this cool little cafe is a great spot for coffee. It roasts all its single-origin…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
A modern-style manhwa-bang (comic-book cafe) in a renovated hanok, Comics Shop lets you explore its library in a private capsule, including everything…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Owned by a stage actor, this rustic hang-out, plastered with posters, is an atmospheric place to sample makgeolli (rice wine) served out of brass kettles…
Seoul
This vegan bakery-cafe is one of the few places to get an excellent soy latte in Seoul. Dairy-free temptations include dense matcha muffins, macaroons,…
Seoul
Taking on the same name as the first official cafe and parlour in Korea from 1931, Nakrang Parlour is an airy cafe and vintage goods shop located in…
Northern Seoul
Referring not to large simians but bees (ape meaning 'bee' in Italian), Ape Seoul is a honey-themed cafe run by beekeeper-barista Park Jin. Get your latte…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
For top-quality third-wave coffee at a great price, Standing Coffee Roasters can't be beat. This is its roastery, with a tiny shop and cafe attached. Buy…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Perhaps the most photographed spot in Ikseon-dong, and with a fantasyland of exuberant blooms and cutesy gardenware in every space of this converted…
