Must-see nightlife in Seoul

  • Almaz

    Gay-friendly Almaz is more chilled than other Homo Hill hot spots, drawing a mature crowd to its scarlet-hued lounge hung with glitter balls. Previously a…

  • White Rabbit

    A one-man operation run by a local surfer, this cramped bar has an extensive selection of Korean and international craft beers chalked up on the board…

  • Gaepul

    One of a row of cutesy cafes at the very top of Ihwa Mural Village and parallel to the Seoul City Wall, Gaepul boasts an L-shaped outdoor deck for dreamy…

  • Rose & Crown

    Foreigner-friendly Itaewon wouldn't be complete without a British pub, and this atmospheric two-storey boozer delivers with its pints of ale, fish and…

  • Eat Me

    This Itaewon gay bar by the same folks behind Queen opposite is a good place to kick off the night with a cocktail before moving to more danceable spots…

  • Designers Lounge

    A spacious, design-savvy hangout where they serve beer, refreshing homemade juices plus the usual caffeinated beverages along with cute animal-shaped…

  • Café Yeon

    The hanok goes global at this charming ‘traveller’s hang-out’ decorated with colourful cushions, photos and Snoopy items. As well as beer and cocktails it…

  • Labris

    This 8th-floor, comfortable women-only space is lesbian-oriented but not exclusively so. A female DJ plays dance music, and there are cocktails and anju …

  • Club Mass

    One of Gangnam's original EDM clubs, this huge basement space attracts a young, beautiful crowd here for techno and house, and a frenetic light show. It…

  • Pongdang

    The original bar for this Korean microbrewery does a good selection of pale ales, and Belgian and wheat beers, enjoyed at Pongdang's bar or tables…

  • MK2

    The name indicates the style of this cafe, which is tastefully furnished with mid-century modern pieces. It’s a good pit stop for coffee and snacks while…

  • Cafe the Story

    Myeong-dong isn’t short on chain cafes, but for something with more individual character hike up to this hidden gem on the lower slope of Namsan, next to…

  • Steamers Coffee Factory

    Bringing third-wave coffee to Sinsa-dong, Steamers does Ethiopian and Colombian single-origin brews in its shabby-chic industrial brick cafe.

  • Double Cup Coffee

    Grab a gourmet roastery coffee and sandwich at this classroom-meets–industrial space while ambling around Bukchon between the palaces.

  • Soho

    A smart gay bar opposite Queen with a laid-back vibe and a club area for later in the evening.

  • Miracle

    One of Korea's few exclusively lesbian bars, this queer-only joint sits atop Homo Hill and gets going around midnight.

  • Why Not

    This small but smartly turned-out gay bar has good cocktails and plenty of K-Pop.