Must-see nightlife in 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…

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…

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;…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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 –…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

Specialising in artisanal makgeolli (milky rice wine) from around Korea, and other local liquors, this cosy basement bar is a great place to sample…

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…

In the Bukchon Hanok Village area overlooking Samcheong-dong and Gwanghwamun is this lovely hanok with low tables arranged around a courtyard. It serves…

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…

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…