The 12 Best Pubs in Seoul

Order: Guinness on tap. The Wolfhound has anchored Itaewon's pub scene for 18 years, with two floors, a smoking terrace, and the only reliable Guinness pour in central Seoul. The Saturday night crowd skews international; weekday afternoons stay neighbourhood. Order the Guinness and the fish and chips. Cash and cards both fine.

Order: Korean craft IPAs. The Booth pioneered Korean craft beer in 2013 and the Itaewon taproom still pours 18 lines, including the Mango IPA the brewery built its name on. The room runs casual, the food menu American gastropub. Magpie regulars on r/seoul rate it as Itaewon's best mid-tier pour.

Order: Sports nights with full pub menu. Sam Ryan's runs a full sports-pub format with 12 screens, all major league subscriptions, and a kitchen open until 1am. The American crowd dominates EPL mornings; Korean fans take over for K-League and Lions evenings. Order the wings and the Guinness. Walk-ins always work.

Order: 20 taps strong. Reilly's runs 20 rotating taps in a low-ceilinged room on the Gyeongnidan hill. The pour quality stays high and the staff know each line. Wednesday is quiz night; Friday fills the pavement seats by 8pm. The pizza, made fresh, beats most casual Korean-pub kitchens.

Order: Magpie Pale Ale. Magpie Brewing's Gyeongnidan taproom remains the brewery's flagship and the best place to taste the full range. The four-tap flight at 12,000 KRW lets visitors compare the Pale Ale, the Porter, and two seasonals. The room runs warm and music-led. Walk-ins reliable.

Order: 16 taps and pub plates. Craftworks pours its own house range plus rotating Korean and international guests, with 16 lines and a long list of bottles. The Itaewon location sits on the main strip; the kitchen runs solid pub plates. Order the IPA and the burger. Reservations not taken.

Order: German lagers. Beer O'Clock pours German imports in a high-ceilinged room above the Itaewon main road. The list runs 40 bottles plus six taps. The pretzel and sausage board, served warm, pairs with the Hefeweizen. Weeknights stay relaxed; Friday gets busy after 9pm.

Order: casual Hongdae pub. The Bridge Bar runs as Hongdae's reliable cheap-pour pub, with 8 taps from 4,000 KRW and a 24-strong bottle list. The crowd skews student. The pub burger at 12,000 KRW remains one of Hongdae's better casual orders. Last orders 2.30am.

Order: gastropub plates. Frankly runs a gastropub format in Hannam, with 12 taps and a kitchen that takes its food seriously. The room reads softly lit and grown-up. Order the duck-fat fries and the seasonal cask ale. Reservations advised on Friday after 8pm.

Order: American gastropub menu. Hollywood Grill runs an American-bar-and-grill format with a long beer list and a kitchen that opens to 1am. The brunch crowd on weekends remains Itaewon's most reliable hangover plan. The wings score above the city average; the chicken sandwich pairs with the house IPA.

Order: local Yeonnam favourite. Pongdang serves Yeonnam's young craft-beer crowd from a corner space on the alleyway grid, with 12 taps and a careful bottle list. The kimchi-cheese tots remain an unlikely signature. The pour quality runs high. Walk-ins fine until 8pm Friday.

Order: speakeasy pub format. The Coffin Pub runs a speakeasy-pub hybrid in an Itaewon basement, with a long bourbon list and the city's only reliable Boilermaker programme. The pub plates skew Southern American. Walk-ins reliable Tuesday to Thursday; Friday and Saturday need a 9pm reservation.