14 Best Nightlife in Busan, South Korea

Appropriately named, this rollicking Western bar is indeed the headquarters for expat nightlife in Busan, though it also attracts a significant Korean clientele. With quality drinks, live music, amazingly good pub grub, and a million-dollar view of the Gwangan Diamond Bridge, HQ is always a hoot. It's also the best place in town to watch sports, and the staff and owners are as friendly as it gets.

Located on the first floor of the Pale de CZ building on Haeundae Beach, this laid-back bar features 12 craft brews from San Diego's Abnormal Beer Co. as well as West Coast–style tacos. Grab an outdoor table, sip a pint, and watch the evening unfurl. 

Accessed by a small door and narrow staircase leading up into an actual attic, this intimate bar specializes in single malt whiskies and vibrant cocktails, bringing a nice touch of old-school sophistication to the neighborhood. 

Helmed by a couple from New York City, this quiet, elegant bar boasts a deep wine list, as well great cocktails and top-shelf whiskies. They also serve proper European-style dishes, bringing a touch of Lisbon and Rome to the back streets of Busan.

Newly opened and with a prime location right on the waterfront at Gwanglli Beach, this fun spot is owned and operated by a friendly expat Kiwi and his Korean wife. There's a good selection of reasonably priced, imported Kiwi ciders and beers, as well as some local brews.

The Haeundae branch of this Korean chain can sometimes seem a bit impersonal, but Cocky Pub makes up for it with its great drink selection, hearty pub fare, and most importantly, its primo location in the heart of Haeundae. It's the perfect place to kick back with a drink and watch people stroll by. Best of all, on the weekends they open their rooftop terrace, affording patrons terrific views of the city and ocean beyond. 

Galmegi was one of the the first brewers to bring proper craft beer to Busan, and this branch near Kyungsung University features all of their staples, along with rotating seasonal varieties. This second-story pub is clean and airy, with windows looking out onto the side streets below, making it a perfect spot for sipping a quiet pint and watching the world go by.

Located in a massive second-story space just a couple of blocks from the beach, Gorilla has the most comprehensive selection of craft beers in the city, featuring their own great brews, along with loads of revolving guest taps. The atmosphere is laid back, the music always chill, and their Western-style barbecue menu never fails to hit the spot. 

Though it's a pretty typical hotel wine bar—dimly lit and slightly stuffy—it's got a great location and is one of Haeundae's most private and relaxing places to have a drink. Live jazz performances take place nightly and all day Sunday.

With cold beer, strong cocktails, wood-fired pizza, and a whole wall of classic vinyl, this friendly basement bar has been a center of the Busan music scene since 2006. The Canadian owner books live music several nights a week, running the gamut from rock, blues, jazz, indie, reggae, to hip-hop, and more. 

Set up like an old English pub, this dark, chilled-out bar offers nice beers on tap, solid cocktails, and a great selection of jazz and blues on vinyl. The owner clearly understands the power of atmosphere, and the music alone makes Savoy a true gem in a sea of bars where K-pop (though a fun choice) is usually blasted at deafening volumes.

Forming a U-shape in the streets behind the Lotte Hotel, Seomyeon Pojangmacha Street is dedicated to the disappearing art of old-school Korean tent drinking. Most always staffed by tough, no-nonsense older women, these covered carts offer a simple bench or stool at a tiny counter, where you can nosh on side dishes whipped up on the spot and wash it all down with cold beer, makgeolli (rice wine), or bottles of soju. The food at a pojangmacha is usually good, so much so that it's often the star of the show. And the camaraderie you form with other patrons while eating and drinking together in such cozy environs is something you'll take with you long after your hangover is gone.

Busan locals, expats, and visitors come here for a glass of Guinness and typical Irish fare—think fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd's pie. They also have a good selection of Americana bar food as well. The friendly Canadian owner and his great staff will make you feel right at home. 

Before its current incarnation as a hip restaurant and bar, the cave that houses Yong Ggum was in fact a bomb shelter. This is the perfect place to try a variety of Korean liquors, including dongdongju (rice wine).