10 Best Bars in Hongdae, Seoul

While bars and restaurants that play today's Korean top hits may be a dime a dozen, Gopchang Jeongol is the rare institution that focuses on Korean rock from the 1970s to 1990s. The bar’s name means “beef tripe hot pot,” but their menu offers little out of the ordinary, including Korean beers by the pitcher, green bottles of soju, and basic cocktails alongside Korean-style fruit salad (a common bar food until the 2000s). The bar retains a charming, old-school feel with a live DJ on weekends, disco lights, and heavy, outdated furniture. Musicians who once ruled Hongdae's streets come to listen to favorites like the Kim Sisters, Shin Jung-hyun, and Lee Sun-hee.

This second floor cocktail and coffee bar manages to feel classic despite pulling off an unusual marriage of Korean and Western cultures. Hangeul directly translates to “Korean alphabet” and the bar’s name was inspired by co-owner Kim Hangeul’s name. Ms. Kim was born on October 9th, Korean Language day, and the bar opened on October 9th, 2023. One decorative highlight of the bar is a wooden beam on the ceiling decorated with dancheong, a traditional Korean pattern of five bright colors typically seen at palaces, done by a professional dancheong artisan using the art form’s customary powder paint (a rarity outside non-traditional spaces). Other nods to Korean culture include the serving of cold barley tea instead of water (typical of Korean households before the ‘90s) and Korean radio playing in the bathroom. None of the elements feel gimmicky and the ambience is never pretentious. Ms. Kim’s husband and co-owner, Jung Hyo-won is a veteran bartender in Seoul’s mixology community so each drink is made to perfection. Try the Cacao Fizz or Boulevardier; if you'd rather opt for a classic, they also make a great Old Fashioned.

The country’s most recognizable noraebang has tall glass windows allowing pedestrians to look in on your singing shenanigans and clean, spacious facilities. Thanks to Su Noraebang’s popularity, the area is filled with several similar establishments.

Opened in 2012, Brown Soul/Seoul is a hip-hop club recognized by many artists in the community. They play a mix of soul, funk, hip-hop, and R&B—both Korean and Western—and well-known DJs like Soulscape, Mello, and Ghostex spin here on a regular basis. Weekends are packed with dancing partygoers and weekdays are typically more lowkey, making it possible to focus on enjoying the music and cocktails. Brown is the playground for nearby YG Entertainment employees who hang out here on quiet nights, so don’t be afraid to mingle.

Often glowing under sparkly, disco lights, Channel 1969 is a live music venue and alternative music bar/club. On any given night, you could walk in to find an improv comedy set, an indie music performance, or DJ sets with playlists ranging from Bollywood to Afrobeats to psychedelic to J-pop. Drinks are mostly commercial beers and cheap, basic cocktails, and the vibe is very friendly. Although Korean bars are generally considered difficult places to meet new people, Channel 1969 is the rare venue where it doesn’t raise eyebrows to strike up a conversation with a stranger. On summer nights, the bar’s scene spills out into the street where revelers drink and smoke.

A café that transitions into a bar at night, Jebi Dabang is a great place for non-drinkers and drinkers alike to get a feel for Hongdae nightlife. Operated by an architectural studio named CTR that also dabbles in both sound production and publishing, the bar’s name means "Swallows Café." It refers to a salon of the same name that poet Yi Sang opened for intellectuals in the early 20th century. Decorated with books and posters by local artists, Jebi has a counter with a bar and seats perched against a large window on the first floor and a small stage in the basement level that hosts live music concerts. Come for the moka pot coffee; stay for the music.

Two of the hottest clubs to open in the area in the past five years, both MODECi and Henz Club operate out of a five-story building near Hongik University’s main gate and are both run by street apparel brand Henz Clothing. MODECi, located on the building’s fifth floor, focuses on playing hip-hop and funk music while Henz, on the basement level, leans toward bass-heavy and lyrical music. With tall windows facing the street and a spacious rooftop, the former is a great option for clubgoers who feel claustrophobic in closed-off spaces and the latter is more of an intense, packed experience for those looking to mingle.

This wineshop and outdoor bar comes to life during Seoul’s warmer months. While the bottles on sale can be taken to go, many visitors choose to have their drinks on the benches just outside the shop on a brick-laden pathway. There are small samplers of cheese and fruit, as well as snacks like chips and pretzels at the counter. There is also a limited selection of beers and Korean liquors. Wine glasses and serving plates are available for guests choosing to drink on-site. When the weather’s fine, the neighborhood residents---often accompanied by their dogs---come for a day drink and enjoy the sun.

A beer-and-pizza joint owned and operated by three Americans, Spill Out offers 10-inch pizzas straight out of the oven, whiskey and bourbon highballs, and a welcoming ambience. The bar’s garlic knots, which are fried and then sauced with pesto and marinara, pair perfectly with cold beer. The bar is known for their American holiday parties, celebrated with cornhole and special drinks. If you are a solo traveler, this is one place you’ll rarely feel alone. Many of the tables are open for a chat and Scott French, Spill Out’s chief pizza maker, can rattle off pizza facts and recommend the city’s best pies.

One of the edgiest venues in Seoul, Vurt is a techno club that highlights local electronic music DJs and calls itself a music venue with “sounds from the ancient future.” To enter, you have to get past a front door on the first floor and walk down a long corridor in the basement, which gives Vurt an authentic underground feel. This is further accentuated with the club’s decor: concrete walls, dim lights, minimal furniture, and a bar tucked in the back. The scene is less friendly than others, but it's a must-visit for music lovers of this genre of music.