# Where to get a proper drink in Seoul

Start in Gangnam for a hotel bar with Korean art and heritage, or choose a nature-inspired cocktail.

Published 2026-10-29 by Wanderin. Canonical: https://wanderin.top/blog/where-to-get-a-proper-drink-in-seoul

## Quick answer

Start at THE BAR (★ 5, 39 reviews) in Gangnam for a hotel bar featuring Korean art and heritage. For nature-inspired cocktails, choose ZEST SEOUL (★ 4.8, 561 reviews). Hongdae and Gangnam are both popular drinking areas, so pick your neighbourhood before planning the rest of the night.

Start at [THE BAR](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=16807385708696679960) (★ 5, 39 reviews) in Gangnam for a hotel bar featuring Korean art and heritage, or choose [ZEST SEOUL](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=5491814419196682725) (★ 4.8, 561 reviews) for nature-inspired cocktails.

**In Seoul, a proper drink is like a subway transfer. Pick the right line and the night starts moving.**

1. [THE BAR](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=16807385708696679960): ★ 5, 39 reviews. Hotel bar in a setting featuring Korean art and heritage
2. [ASAP PIZZA Hongdae](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=10121873493267163221): ★ 4.9, 267 reviews. Pizza restaurant serving pizza
3. [ZEST SEOUL](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=5491814419196682725): ★ 4.8, 561 reviews. Cocktail bar serving drinks inspired by nature
4. [Antidote](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=4063054994205472124): ★ 5, 333 reviews. Cocktail bar serving signature cocktails
5. [White noise](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=15600760429822720485): ★ 4.8, 53 reviews. Wine bar
6. [Bar SOON](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=4231342719474390538): ★ 5, 40 reviews. Bar serving drinks in a rooftop setting
7. [미드나잇 라운지 midnight lounge](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=16517062208910846653): ★ 4.8, 30 reviews. Whiskey and cocktail bar with counter seating
8. [Jamsil Lionheart songlidangil store](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=9283611209884598244): ★ 4.7, 197 reviews. Cocktail bar serving drinks
9. [강남 런닝레빗 가라오케](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=13516849307900730643): ★ 5, 12 reviews. Karaoke bar for parties and group gatherings
10. [Bar 81](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1344259840247243580): ★ 4.6, 200 reviews. Champagne bar with panoramic city views

## Where is the best area for bars in Seoul?

Start in **Gangnam** for these picks. Hongdae, Hapjeong and Itaewon are also [popular drinking areas](https://www.reddit.com/r/seoul/comments/1cdea42/drinking_areas_in_seoul/).

Pick your neighbourhood before you pick your second drink. Hongdae and Gangnam are not a casual stroll apart. Take the subway between them, or commit to one and keep your evening simple.

In Hongdae, [ASAP PIZZA Hongdae](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=10121873493267163221) (★ 4.9, 267 reviews) is a pizza restaurant serving pizza. A proper drink can come with dinner. Nobody has to make a speech about it.

## What is the best bar in Seoul, South Korea?

Start at [THE BAR](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=16807385708696679960) (★ 5, 39 reviews) for a hotel bar with Korean art and heritage. That is the pick when the moment calls for a seat and a drink rather than a frantic tour of every address on the map.

For the Seoul drinking habit beyond the cocktail menu, order **anju**. These are dishes shared alongside drinks. Soju is commonly poured into small glasses and shared too. Want a longer drink? Ask for **somaek**, a mix of soju and beer.

A Seoul bar roundup even features [cocktails served in a bag](https://globaldebauchery.com/bars-in-seoul/). Glassware is not the entrance exam for a good night.

## Where is the best nightlife in Seoul?

Choose Gangnam or Hongdae for a bar night, with Apgujeong as another [higher-end party area](https://www.reddit.com/r/seoul/comments/1jfnt63/going_out_in_seoul/).

Go in the evening, and leave room for the night to develop. A drink before dinner and a drink after dinner are different assignments. Seoul can handle both.

- **What to wear:** Smart casual is a safe choice for a hotel bar. Keep the sightseeing shorts for sightseeing.
- **What to ask:** Tell the bartender if you want something spirit-forward, refreshing or low in alcohol. That gets you further than pointing at the longest name.
- **The mistake:** Treating Seoul as one compact bar crawl. Choose an area first. Your feet will file fewer complaints.

Hours of researching bars can become one click with [Wanderin](https://wanderin.top/auth/google). Enter your location and what you want, and it sorts through Google Maps information for nearby matches. Less homework. More evening.

For a second opinion on the queue outside, see [whether viral nightlife is worth it](https://wanderin.top/blog/is-viral-nightlife-in-seoul-worth-it). Pick the right line. End the journey with a drink.

## Questions people actually ask

### Where can you find a hotel bar in Seoul?

Go to THE BAR (★ 5, 39 reviews) in Gangnam. It is a hotel bar in a setting featuring Korean art and heritage. Smart casual is a practical choice when you want a drink without dressing for a night of sightseeing.

### Where can a visitor drink at a bar in Seoul?

Choose 미드나잇 라운지 midnight lounge (★ 4.8, 30 reviews) in Hongdae if you want a whiskey and cocktail bar with counter seating. Ordering at the counter gives you a straightforward chance to describe what you like in a drink.

### Where can you find a rooftop bar in Seoul?

Choose Bar SOON (★ 5, 40 reviews) in Gangnam for drinks in a rooftop setting. Make Gangnam your area for the evening rather than planning an ambitious trip across town between every round.

### What should you order for a Korean-style bar night in Seoul?

Order soju with anju, dishes shared alongside drinks. For a longer drink, ask for somaek, a mix of soju and beer. Both give you a useful way into a Korean drinking menu without guessing at every item.

### What kind of unusual cocktails can you find in Seoul?

Cocktails served in a bag appear in a Seoul bar roundup. It is a useful reminder that a proper drink need not arrive in formal glassware. Pick the drink itself before judging its container.