Seoul Nightlife: 5 Hottest Bars to See and Be Seen

From whisky lovers to dance floor divas, we've got you covered

We tell you where to go when the sun goes down in Seoul.

Erica Fong

23 May 2013

 Dining, Drink, Parties, Scene

There is literally something for everyone in Seoul, Korea who likes to have a few tipples. Whether you’re looking for a quiet bar to learn about your whiskies or a party scene that goes till dawn, you’ll find it, it might just be a little hard to get to.

Seoul is spread out and bar-hopping isn’t the easiest unless you stick to one area like Gangnam or Itaewon. Nevertheless, places open late here so if you’re keen to stay in one place that really isn’t a problem either, and best part of it is they’ll probably feed you.

For the cool crowd: Glam Lounge

Glam Lounge was made for the trendsetting crowd.

Located on the second floor of the compound District (which also houses a bar and another club), Glam is currently one of the most popular bars in the city. The crowd is packed full of fashionable, hip and trendy, young executives-types and business travellers with expense accounts.

Bathed in cool blue, pink and purple hues, the bar takes front and centre so everyone who comes in has to walk around it, giving everyone ample opportunity to check each other out. Drinks are your standard fare of cocktails and wines. Koreans love to eat so if you buy a bottle package it will come with a huge food spread including sushi and sashimi.

Glam Lounge, 2F District, Hamilton Hotel Annex, 116-1 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Koreawww.facebook.com/glamloungedistrict

For whisky fans: Parity Bit

Enjoy samplings of Ballantine’s whisky at Parity Bit.

Named for the simplest form of error detecting code (thank you Wikipedia), Parity Bit is a new whisky bar in Gangnam that seems designed for those in the know. Only opened a few months, it already boasts a crowd of whisky and cocktail lovers who chat with top-ranked bartender Jae Woo Park while he whips up exciting concoctions like the Paritini, using cotton candy or introduces you to a sampling of Ballantine’s 17 year old editions including the original, Glenburgie, Scapa and Miltonduff.

Ballantine’s, Korea’s most popular blended scotch, boasts a variety of flavours and scents in its blends which is something Park has enhanced with a pairing of dark and white chocolate, as well as vanilla and orange. Koreans love their whisky and this sampling is a good way to learn why (and how) to appreciate it.

Parity Bit, 7-19 Nonhyun-Dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea, www.facebook.com

For the design fans: T-Lound

T-Lound fuses design with good drinks.

On a quiet side road that suggests only those ‘in the know,’ know where to go, T-Lound is a standout building that’s hard to miss. Created by award-winning designer Baeck Sun Kim, T-Lound (combining the words ‘lounge’ and ‘loud’, really) takes inspiration from traditional Korean patterns but with a fresh modern twist.

The four-storey lounge is bathed in white and glass and maintains a chill, understated vibe while remaining comfortably cool. It includes a top floor private area including balcony space that’s perfect for parties. In addition to a lengthy list of whiskies and wines, the pretty cocktails and test tube shooters (basically miniature versions of popular drinks like mojitos and B52s) are fun. Drinks can be paired with sumptuous fruit and cheese platters.

T-Lound, 83-13, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea, www.74lound.com

For the party people: B One Lounge Club

Hardcore clubbers mustn’t miss B One.

One of Itaewon’s hottest night spots at the moment, as the Saturday night lines attest to, B One hosts international DJs playing everything from hip hop to dance beats. Located in the heart of Itaewon (Seoul’s most foreigner-friendly hangout area) right by the easy-to-find Hamilton Hotel, B One is definitely more club than lounge where people go to party till the wee hours of the morning (we’re talking 5am here, the party only really gets started after midnight). The place gives off a bit of a medieval feel with its caste-like décor, brick walls and iron-wrought gates if you like that sort of thing.

B One Lounge Club, 119-7 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea, www.facebook.com/b1itaewon

For celebrities and wannabees: Woo Bar

Pretend you’re a Korean celebrity at Woo Bar.

Despite its slightly out-of-the-way location, the W Seoul Walkerhill is still the go-to place to see and be seen. Its chill, no-fuss aura of cool is furthered by the groovy dance beats that plays as soundtrack as people saunter and catwalk up and down the elevated step-like design of the bar.

Sit up top and you’ll get some cozy privacy and a chance to people watch (the bar is a popular place to shoot TV dramas). The drink list is extensive with one of the highlights being the Woo-spresso cocktail that uses vodka and Absolut Vanilla as well as their take on an Old Fashioned using Ballantine’s whisky muddled with brown sugar and a slice of orange.

W Seoul – Walkerhill, 177 Walkerhill-ro, Gwangjin-Gu Seoul, 143-708 South Korea, www.whotels.com/seoul

By: Karen Fong

Karen Fong divides her time between Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore writing about spas, health, luxury and now golf. She has written for publications including Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, Prestige Hong Kong and LifestyleAsia. Follow her at @karentanfong or read her blog, Good Fong Shui.