Pine & Co runs a speakeasy down a back alley in Apgujeong-dong in Seoul's Gangnam district, at 33 Seolleung-ro 157-gil. Asia's 50 Best Bars ranked it No. 50 in 2024, and Whisky Magazine and Tatler both file it among the city's serious cocktail rooms. The name carries a double meaning the bar leans on, the pine for longevity and the pineapple for hospitality. The pitch is creative, Korean-influenced cocktails from a bar set up like a research lab rather than a classic counter. It has drawn steady praise since opening for its ingredient-led, distinctly Korean drinks. The bar climbed onto the regional list within a few years of opening, a fast rise for a small Apgujeong room.
The room
The service bar is built to read like a research lab, with vacuum-packing, a rotovap and sous vide machines on show as the bartenders build their drinks, per Tatler's account. Away from the equipment, low leather couches, bookshelves and flickering candles give the room a living-room warmth rather than a cold, technical feel. The hidden, back-alley entrance keeps the crowd in the know and the room intimate. Reviewers describe a space that balances precise technique with an easy, settle-in mood. The split between the lab-style bar and the soft seating lets the same room carry a counter drink or a longer sit. Apgujeong and the wider Gangnam district sit at the upscale end of Seoul, which fits the bar's polished, hidden room.
What to order
The list runs heavily Korean in ingredients, flavors and presentation, which is the bar's signature, per Tatler and Middle Class. Expect cocktails built with local produce and the lab's techniques rather than a standard classics menu, including talked-about serves that fold in Korean pantry ingredients. Seoul's top bars price at the destination end, and Pine & Co sits there, so a round lands as a considered night. Ask the bartenders to walk the list, since the drinks are built around their methods and shift with the produce. The equipment on the bar is part of the show, and worth watching as a drink comes together. Middle Class notes talked-about serves built on Korean pantry ingredients, from a kimchi cocktail to one that uses ants, which shows how far the list pushes local flavor.
Who it is for
Pine & Co fits a cocktail enthusiast after technique-led, local drinks, a date that rates a hidden room over a loud club, and anyone curious about a distinctly Korean cocktail list. Skip it if a cheap, fast round is the plan, since this is a destination bar with prices to match. It rewards drinkers who lean on the bartenders and treat the list as a guided tasting. The Apgujeong setting makes it a planned night out rather than a casual walk-in. It suits travelers who want a distinctly Korean cocktail rather than a copy of a Western bar.
Best time to go
Later evenings are the headline, when the room settles into its speakeasy mood. Weeknights stay calmer for a counter seat near the lab and the bartenders' attention. The hidden entrance rewards a little planning, since finding the back-alley door is part of the night. For the full tour of the list, an early-week visit buys an unhurried seat and a longer conversation with the bar. A weeknight seat near the lab is the best way to watch the techniques up close.
The bottom line
Pine & Co is an Apgujeong speakeasy ranked among Asia's 50 Best Bars, a lab-style room turning Korean produce into technique-led cocktails. Tatler and Whisky Magazine both rate it among Seoul's serious bars. Come on a weeknight, find the back-alley door, and let the bartenders walk the list. Treat it as a planned, destination drink rather than a casual round.
Keep exploring with our best cocktail bars in Seoul guide, the full Seoul bar guide, and our edit of cocktail bars worldwide. Pair Pine & Co with Charles H. in Seoul, Le Chamber in Seoul, and Alice Cheongdam in Seoul.
Sources: Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024 (No. 50); Tatler Asia; Whisky Magazine; Middle Class (Pine and Co); Google Maps reviews.
