Editorial
Seoul's bar scene caught up with Tokyo's in the past five years. Alice Cheongdam tops Asia's 50 Best Bars almost annually. Le Chamber is the technical reference. The 10 below cover Gangnam, Itaewon and Gangbuk — Seoul's three serious-drinking quadrants. Most cocktail bars are reservation-only; book at least a week ahead.
Seoul's combination of strict cocktail discipline (Tokyo-derived), Korean-ingredient innovation (soju, makgeolli, gochujang in cocktails) and design-led aesthetics has produced rooms that compete with anywhere. Alice Cheongdam, Le Chamber and Charles H are the technical bookends. The makgeolli and soju bars (Pyeongan-do) are essential context.
Global Cities Editor — Bangkok to Buenos Aires. Cultural context, not just cocktail tourism.