5 Best Bars in Seoul, South Korea

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.

This landmark club in Itaewon is one of the most established names in hip-hop nightlife in Seoul. Many would even credit the opening of Cakeshop to shifting the nightlife center away from Gangnam and into Itaewon. A basement space with a capacity for up to 200 guests, Cakeshop hosts a range of musical guests from Kode9 to FKJ (French Kiwi Juice) and has often hosted after-parties for bigger festivals. Local music lovers in Seoul might argue that Cakeshop’s prominence over the years has caused it to lose a certain edginess, but the club is still a good bet if you’re looking for a full house on a Saturday night. The club also has a brother location with a more relaxed feel, called Pistil, down the street.

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.

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.

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.