A night out in Seoul can feel like five nights in one. That may be because the best drinking city worldwide conducts its nights on a five-round regimen. Hopping from one place to the next, often up until dawn, a high alcohol tolerance and won’t- quit attitude are generally compulsory if you’re partying in Seoul.
At the root of Korea’s awesome drinking culture is the wish to connect with pals as well as colleagues as well as loosen up after a lengthy day. I assume Hooni Kim, the proprietor of New York City’s Danji, says it ideal in his new recipe book: Explaining the definition of hanjan (or having a drink), he composes, “It is the beginning of an evening of laughter and also heartfelt conversations with friends, cooperating joy, sharing in suffering.”
The high incidence of all-nighters in Seoul could also be a consequence of the subways closing at twelve o’clock at night. As opposed to pay out for a cab, individuals linger for another cha (or round). The best way to pass the time prior to the trains start up? Singing your face off in a noraebang (a personal karaoke space).
Though karaoke was developed by the Japanese, the majority of Koreans would certainly argue they “do it much better”– and also with a belly packed with pork, a container of soju on the table, and your tune turning up next, there’s very little factor in suggesting. Bars and noraebangs in Seoul are presently closed, however thinking you’ll intend to blow off some steam when traveling opens and every little thing quits sucking, Korea will certainly be there to state gunbae (joys!). Below’s how to manage a legendary night out in Seoul.
The first cha (or round) normally starts around 7pm with dinner. Korean bbq is the relocation here. You want your tummy well-coated with oily samgyeopsal (pork stubborn belly) to help you last via all five rounds. Try Gold Pig, which offers half-cracked Maldon salt flakes to dip your meats in, or Mong Tan where they smoke their pork ribs over hay for a whole various taste experience.
A bottle of soju is an offered: You’ll see the ubiquitous environment-friendly containers of soju giants like Jinro or Pal Churum. But better craft alcohol brand names like Tokki Soju are also preferred– the shots go down easier, and hangovers are a bit a lot more workable.
Also on the table: A pitcher of beer to make somaek (a mix of soju and also beer, usually to make soju bombs). If you remain in it to win it for all 5 rounds, skip the bombs as well as opt for some lower ABV makgeolli (rice beer).
Some standard soju rules: See a vacant glass? Load ‘er up! Always put with 2 hands– as well as hold your cup with two hands when you approve soju. If somehow you’re as well sidetracked (speaking with your neighbor, for example) to pick it up, tapping your glass is a courteous option to the two-hands rule. As well as when every person embraces a group gunbae (joys), chink your glass less than those older than you. 풀싸롱
With a tummy filled with pork and a light buzz on, we’re off to the next cha!
Pinkies up for a high end ee-cha! The all-natural a glass of wine and cocktail bar scene in Korea has blown up in the past couple of years, yet be warned, it is not inexpensive.
Speakeasies are big right here, specifically with the millennial group. After Le Chamber opened up in 2014, hordes of speakeasy copycats followed suit. Even the Four Seasons Seoul chose to engage, opening up Charles H in 2015. To bar hop, attempt the Gyeongbokgung neighborhood– there’s a collection of speakeasy-style bars hidden away from the major street outside exit 7. This area is additionally a must-visit for traditional hanok-style bars like The Cobbler or Tender Bar. Just be prepared to divulge $20 a beverage, possibly also a cover charge.
Alternatively, the natural a glass of wine scene has actually chased the very first natural wine bar, Big Lighting, opened in 2017. Koreans like it, and if you’re keen to hop from one all-natural wine bar to the next, the Hannamdong location has you covered.
Round 3 ought to fall around 10pm. Remain on the stylish cocktail course if it feels right– lots of Seoulites will adhere to one community and/or one “style,” whether it’s leaping from wine bar to red wine bar, or pocha to pocha (which are casual drinking spots, usually tented on the street).
Yet it might be time to let your purse cool off with some economical consumes and also draft beer. Pub-style bar jumping is finest experienced at the trendy “newtro” (Oriental slang integrating new and also retro) location of Euljiro.
Here, lively Nogari Street is the location to be. You’ll find groups of pupils, grandparents, and also every age in between outside embracing this street-style variation of Korean night life. Look for Eulji OB Bear, the first hof (a hard-to-translate word identified with bars as well as draft beer) developed in Korea in 1980, or the impossible-to-miss Manseon Hof, where bright red and also blue plastic chairs trash the street.
Crisp draft beers and anju (drinking food) usually including nogari (dried pollack) are must-order products below, all for less than $5. Include a few bottles of soju for good action– obtaining great and sloshed is what this round’s everything about, as are consuming alcohol video games like “Titanic” (where you try not to sink a soju glass right into a pint of beer by pouring in a little bit at once).
Traveling solo? Seeking some romance? Choose a “searching pocha,” where individuals go to get compared for a group blind date. Popular with college students, searching bars like Samgeori Pocha are usually situated around universities. The idea is to meet in a much more wholesome setting rather than a raucous club– although usually, that’s specifically where you’re going next with your new-found friends.
When the clock strikes twelve o’clock at night, it’s time to hit the clubs. The most effective area for a foreigner to go clubbing in Seoul would be at Itaewon hotspots like Cakeshop and Soap. Simply behind Hamilton Resort, you’ll locate a rowdy scene with plenty of clubs, including the popular Prost. And also nearby from Prost is the epicenter of LGBTQ+ nightlife in Seoul. If you want to catch a drag show, try Trance Bar around 2am. Just be warned, gay bars in Korea are notoriously discerning at the door.
It’s common to purchase container solution, which safeguards your very own table. Not inexpensive, but a deserving investment if you intend to stay awhile (and things might conveniently go till 4am). Anticipate to obtain some nicely arranged fruit with your container, because you can not anticipate to drink in Korea without getting some kind of anju!
Congratulations, you made it to o-cha! It’s time for karaoke at a noraebang, no bookings needed. Also at 4am, the beverages are still flowing; shots of soju are accompanied by saewoo-kkang (shrimp crackers) or you can opt for expensive container solution with yet an additional expensive fruit plate.
Noraebang is everything about hyping the group up: When people are singing, make certain to clap as well as sing along. Shake the tambourine to keep energy levels high. Do not hog the mic. Prepare to listen to Adele’s “Hello” a minimum of twice.
When it involves noraebang, four seems to be the magic number as everyone gets a likelihood to sing, however it’s not uncommon for 10 to twenty people to press right into a space.
Required a smaller sized room for a smaller group? There’s additionally coin noraebang– a preferred karaoke alternative for teens, couples, or people who dumped their friends yet do not wish to go residence yet. These completely automated noraebangs (the name is deceptive, you can pay with a card) can not fit more than two people, but there’s no drinking enabled. Have A Look At Old Man Coin Noraebang in the Gundae area, however just search 코인노래방 and a number of options must appear.
Now you might have wondered how Koreans handle to get up as well as feature in culture after 10 straight hrs of alcohol consumption. Enter the last (optional, yet very recommended) cha: A dish of haejang guk (or hangover soup). Popular ranges include soondae gukbap (blood sausage soup and rice), gomtang (oxtail broth), as well as kong namul guk (bean grow soup). However really, any type of slushy choice will assist thin down all that alcohol.
In tourist-heavy Itaewon, it’s really a lot more common to end up the evening with a kebab, however in almost all areas of Seoul, also at 4am, haejang guk will be very easy to discover: just look for words like 국밥 (soup rice), 탕 (broth), or 국 (soup) in the restaurant name.
One of the very best places to get your haejang guk repair is in Myeongdong at Michelin-rated Hak Dong Gwan. But, just the most committed as well as resilient night-dwellers will certainly obtain a possibility to slurp down their popular gomtang: You’ll have to last until they open up, at 7am. 강남풀싸롱