Seoul's cocktail 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 show why Seoul now matters globally.
Part of our 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
Read the world list
The 10 best cocktail bars in Seoul
01 · Seoul
Gangnam
$$$$
Through a flower shop · Speakeasy
Through a flower shop and a hidden door. Top of Asia 50 list almost annually.
Order: The Wonderland menu's signature
02 · Seoul
Gangnam
$$$
Speakeasy · Library
Through a bookcase. Gangnam library-style cocktail bar. Asia 50 fixture.
Order: A signature with their Korean-aged spirits
03 · Seoul
Gangnam
$$$$
Hotel bar · Four Seasons
Inside Four Seasons Seoul. Polished service, deep menu, Asian-leaning classics.
Order: A Manhattan, made the Tokyo way
04 · Seoul
Gangbuk
$$
Korean ingredients · Counter
Korean-ingredient-led counter cocktail bar. Soju, makgeolli, Korean herbs translated into modernist drinks.
Order: A drink built around makgeolli
05 · Seoul
Itaewon
$$
Speakeasy · Reservations
Itaewon speakeasy. Korean-ingredient-led classics.
Order: A Negroni with their reserve Korean amaro
Weekly editorial
The bars worth going to, weekly.
One email per week. The bars our editors are recommending right now, across 60 cities worldwide.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
06 · Seoul
Gangbuk
$$
Soju cocktails · Modern
Modern Korean cocktail bar built around soju. Asia 50 fixture.
Order: A soju-based clarified-milk-punch
07 · Seoul
Itaewon
$$$
Hotel bar · Park Hyatt
At the Park Hyatt Seoul. Polished hotel-bar program, panoramic city view.
Order: A martini at the long bar
08 · Seoul
Itaewon
$$
Listening · Vinyl
Itaewon listening-bar with serious cocktails. Vinyl-only music programming.
Order: A whisky highball during the late set
09 · Seoul
Gangnam
$$$
Counter · Modern
Modern Gangnam counter cocktail bar. Younger crowd than the Asia 50 institutions, technique still strong.
Order: A drink built around shochu or sake
10 · Seoul
Itaewon
$$
American-style · Casual
American-style Itaewon cocktail bar. Casual atmosphere, classics-driven menu, Texas-influenced food.
Order: An old fashioned with Texas-influenced barbecue plate
More Seoul cocktail barsThe full Seoul cocktail-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
Why Seoul cocktailing now
Seoul combines Tokyo discipline with Korean-ingredient inventiveness (soju, makgeolli, gochujang in cocktails). Alice Cheongdam, Le Chamber and Charles H are the technical bookends. Most are reservation-only; book ahead.
