While the average Korean drinking experience isn’t what I call fancy; the expensive cocktail bar industry is also quite prominent in Seoul. You just need to know where to look!
Have you been to Apgujeong Rodeo Station, out of Exit 4? Well welcome to your next adventure!
On a single block in Apgujeong there are three fantastic cocktail bars, each with their own unique cocktails ideas and eccentric designs. All three bars have staff that speak good english, but be prepared to wait to get in on weekends as they get many foreign and Korean customers.
The cocktails in this neighborhood range from 25-27,000 Korean won ($). This isn’t a Vegas style mark up, the quality and presentation is truly much higher than your average cocktail bar experience.
So dress smart and get your wallet ready for your evening in Apgujeong!
1. Alice Cheongdam
Address: Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 47 (Basement)
This Alice in Wonderland style bar is one of the more unique bars I’ve ever been to – with a menu of 12 cocktails each themed after some component of this classic. All the drinks are WILD!
The menu is a fold out with the cocktails arranged in increasing order of alcoholic content. Additionally the menu has a radar chart with all the drinks’ Herby, Rich, or Fruity levels displayed.
Each cocktail has at least one ingredient that will be a little surprising, but they seem to have found a good balance of the wild/crazy and the delicious/entertaining.
(I don’t want to spoil too much – better to experience it for yourself) But the cocktails feature elements such as one served in a coconut shaped glass with a sombrero and you are given your own sombrero to match and another is served in a small French onion soup dish.
A great place to go for a fun presentation and to not take things too seriously.
2. Le Chamber
Address: Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 42 (basement)
Where Alice was wild and crazy with their cocktail presentations and tastes, Le Chamber will leave an equally strong impression on you with its more traditional tastes/ingredients but a very strong flare for the dramatic.
Starting with the entrance, which is a book shelf and the only way to enter is by pulling on the correct book. Inside, the interior is decorated with a grand piano, fancy black leather chairs, hardwood tables and a crystal chandler.
The menu is equally the same mix of dramatic classic design with a flare for the unique. Starting with a Buddha which has liquid nitrogen put below it to create a smoking effect to a McArthur themed drink complete with a box with his face and fake cigars.
3. Zest, Seoul
Address: Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 26 (First Floor)
High quality cocktails, with a clean design. I would say it’s the least exciting of the three as its ‘gimic’ is that it is 0 waste, makes some of its own alcohol and sources a lot of its ingredients from within Korea.
I would recommend this as a first stop or even a great place to have a date – food is also very delicious here. The cocktails are classy, without the eccentric presentation found in Alice or Le Chamber.
The gin is made in house and their Gin and Toxic was perhaps the best one I’ve ever had. At 25,000won a cocktail its also the least expensive (but not by a significant margin).
Enjoy your cocktail Bar Hopping!
-Aurora
