Top 5 bars in… Seoul

Thanks to a burgeoning interest in western-style serves, mixology in Korea is on the rise. But where are the best spots to enjoy a sophisticated drink in the capital, Seoul? Rhiannon Shepherd finds out.

This is our selection of the top five bars to visit in Seoul, Korea

Korea boasts a lively drinking culture, one rich in history and abounding in social etiquette, pivotal as it is in the formation of business and professional relationships.

Nowhere is the importance of Korea’s social drinking culture better reflected than in the staggering sales statistics of the country’s national liquor, soju. The leading soju brand, Jinro, sells more cases annually than any other spirit brand in the world and Koreans are reported to have consumed more than twice as much liquor per capita than any other country in 2013, according to Euromonitor.

‘Western style’ cocktail and spirits bars, however, were at first slow to make their mark on the drinking scene. Gin and tonic arrived in Korea in 1945, and TGI Fridays opened a branch in Seoul for the first time in 1990. The 2000s brought an explosion of ‘flair bars’, offering cheaply made tropical cocktails focusing largely on mixology as a form of entertainment, and not so much the intricacies of the beverage.

Things, however, are starting to change. The launch of free-trade agreements with both Europe and the US within the past five years have helped alleviate high import tariffs on foreign spirits, while a new generation of ‘globalised’ young Koreans – many living in the now notorious cosmopolitan district of Gangnam – is keen to experience a variety of sophisticated, western-style drinks.

These developments have made way for a growing plethora of modern bars, lounges and speakeasies on the peninsula.

The recent addition of flavoured soju to the market has both revamped the popularity of the spirit among younger drinkers and opened up new possibilities for the alcohol industry. One thing is for certain: Korea right now is definitely an exciting place to be for any drinks enthusiast.

Click through the next few pages to discover our pick of the top five best bars in Seoul.

Ambassador Hotel

A crop of rooftop bars have sprung up across Seoul in recent years, and Rooftop Kloud at the Mercure Ambassador Hotel is one of best. Opened in 2014, Rooftop Kloud offers a laid-back atmosphere coupled with stunning 21st-floor views of Gangnam and a fantastic signature cocktail menu created by head bartender and 2014 World Class Bartender finalist, Il Ki Lee.

Alice

The cocktails are certainly curiouser and curiouser at this Alice in Wonderland-themed speakeasy in Cheongdam. Follow the white rabbit down the rabbit hole – literally – to enjoy an exciting selection of drinks, served in the most unexpected of ways and surrounded by stopped clocks, roses and other beautifully curated Lewis Carroll-esque knick-knacks.

Vault +82

Offering two locations – one in the foreigner-centric Hannamdong, near Itaewon, and one in Gangnam – Vault +82 is one of the longest-running whisky bars in Seoul. This discreet and ambient speakeasy offers a fantastic selection of premium and rare single malt whiskies, and is a popular spot for both locals and business travellers to wind down after work.

Le Chamber

The love child of two of Korea’s leading mixologists, Do Hwan Om and Jae Jin Lim, Le Chamber is an award-winning speakeasy offering fantastic signature cocktails swathed in a classic, retro vibe. Korean bartending champion and Le Chamber manager Park Sung-min adds to the star-studded staff roster, creating an all-round experience well worthy of its reputation among Seoul’s bartending elite.

Coffee Bar K

Japanese-owned Coffee Bar K, in the business district of Yeoksam-dong, has been offering an incredible selection of single malt whiskies in Seoul since 2007. Enjoy more than 400 whisky varieties and cocktails prepared with precision and efficiency. If you like your Seoul Coffee Bar K experience, you can check out its other branches in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.