6 of Seoul’s sexiest cocktail bars and speakeasies for a glorious night out

Aug 22 , 2019

Named after Lewis Carroll’s children’s book Alice in Wonderland, Alice Cheongdam serves experimental cocktails involving plenty of nitrogen gas, foam and eclectic glassware.

From a Prohibition-era Negroni at the Pussyfoot Saloon to a serious gin at White Bar, Seoul’s bar scene is awash with creativity. One of them – Charles H. – is on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. These are some of the coolest watering holes in the South Korean capital

As the capital of a trendsetting nation, it’s safe to say that Seoul’s booming mixology scene can more than hold its own against the likes of Tokyo and Hong Kong. It’s new class of bartenders are defining themselves using a mix of experimentation and panache. Here are six cocktail bars you shouldn’t miss on your next trip to Seoul.

1. Pussyfoot Saloon

Taking its name from an old nickname for the railway police, Pussyfoot Saloon is a lively, locomotive-themed gem that is a slice of pure escapism. Visitors first descend into a high-walled courtyard before finding themselves in a glitzy Prohibition-era style space, a theme that continues with the cocktails.

The Negroni here is among the best I’ve had, while those that push the envelope include the Ramos Gin Fizz, which is machine-shaken for a full six minutes; and the Bee’s Knees, which combines Martin Miller’s Gin, lemon and honey inside a stunning bee-shaped vessel.

Address: 657-189 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu

2. Charles H.

A pioneer on the local mixology scene, Charles H. (named after prolific American cocktail writer Charles H. Baker) nonetheless retains an air of secrecy, hidden as it is behind an unmarked door in the Four Seasons Seoul which opens onto an AvroKo-designed space inspired by the underground speakeasies of 1920s-era New York.

Head bartender Keith Motsi is responsible for the bar’s current title on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list as the best bar in Korea, thanks to imaginative concoctions inspired by Baker’s writings, such as the Astoria Old-Fashioned, a pour-it-yourself version of the classic martini, and the Manhattan Flight, where three versions of the Manhattan are served alongside one another.

Address: Four Seasons Seoul, 97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu