11 Best Pubs and Bars in Seoul

Whynot Cocktail Bar serves a plentiful selection of cocktails, though whiskey is its real specialty. The bar shelves are packed with imported bourbons, scotches and ryes. Its whiskey of the week scheme showcases some truly delicious drinks. Staff are on hand to lend their expertise and help you sort through the menu, which spans several pages.

If you don't fancy a glass of whiskey, the cocktails are equally tasty. A standout is the Rose Petal cocktail, flavoured with lychee and elderflower. Whynot Cocktail Bar also sells a good range of cigars, which you can then enjoy in its dedicated smoking room. The atmosphere is convivial but discreet, so you're more likely to hear quiet conversations than raucous partying.

Pussyfoot Saloon is a sophisticated drinking joint modelled after a vintage train car. The cocktail menu is filled with classics like Manhattan and Old Fashioned, along with innovative creations. Standouts include Sherry Flip, made with sherry and nutmeg powder, and Milk Punch, which combines milk, cognac and spiced rum.

True to its travel theme, Pussyfoot Saloon hosts bartenders from around the world, who create their own unique cocktail menu based on their home countries. The eclectic food menu includes candied bacon chips, Taiwanese deep-fried shrimp and Russian imperial caviar. Try to grab a booth on the top floor, with its train-like padded benches and rounded windows.

Alice Cheongdam imitates the atmosphere of a venerable gentlemen's club, with opulent sofas, dark wood panelling and elegantly dressed windows. Thanks to the creativity of the owner and their team of award-winning bartenders, you can enjoy offbeat cocktails made with unique ingredients and daring flavours. Snacks are equally unique, combining traditional English flavours with a Korean touch.

Try the Hippity-Hoppity, made with vodka, elderflower and aloe vera and served in a rabbit-shaped cup. The 'Alice Boutique' gin with grapefruit juice comes in a glass shaped like an elephant. You can find Alice Cheongdam’s entrance at the back of a quaint little flower shop, signposted with an appropriately themed white rabbit.

Le Chamber is a glamorous bar styled like an old-fashioned speakeasy, with beverages created by many of Seoul's award-winning mixologists. The extensive cocktail menu features classics like whiskey sours alongside more inventive concoctions inspired by flavours from all over the world. They also have more than 200 different whiskeys.

Try Chamber Story, a spiced rum served with tropical fruits, or Le Chamber's signature Moscow mule, made with fresh ginger. Heavy chandeliers, plush leather armchairs and live music from the grand piano all add to the speakeasy atmosphere. To get in, push the right book in Le Chamber's bookshelf, and the hidden door will slide open.

Sky Lounge, located on the 30th floor of InterContinental Seoul COEX, serves modern Italian cuisine and cocktails in an aviation-inspired setting. The lounge has a sleek design with minimal décor and white furnishing, but it’s the views that are incredible. The windows overlook the Han River and downtown Seoul.

You can enjoy imported wines and whiskeys with Italian and pan-Asian dishes. The ambience here is rather subdued, with unobtrusive music and efficient service, making it a good place for quiet gatherings and romantic dinners.

The Library at The Shilla Seoul is an all-day lounge with a contemporary design. It offers a very extensive drinks menu, which includes around 250 wines and 70 malt whiskeys. You can enjoy live jazz on weekends, giving this bar a mellow vibe.

It’s not just the music, however. The name isn’t just an affectation. When you explore The Library, you’ll find that the lounge stocks plenty of books on art, culture and history. Grab a sofa and enjoy some quiet time during the day.

The exquisite Griffin Bar at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is one of the city’s best spots to enjoy signature cocktails and fine wines. Set on the 11th floor, the bar has a rooftop terrace overlooking Heunginjimun Gate, a 600 year-old heritage site built during the Joseon Dynasty.

The bar has a classic style and a laid-back atmosphere. A favourite among affluent travellers, local socialites and celebrities, Griffin Bar is a nice place to mix and mingle while enjoying classical piano performances.

Pierre's Bar serves around 28 types of vodkas, signature cocktails and premium champagnes. This posh establishment is set on the 35th floor of Lotte Hotel Seoul. You can enjoy a great view of downtown Seoul and N Seoul Tower in Namsan Park.

Fitted with intimate booths and plush sofas, the atmosphere is livelier come night time, with resident DJs spinning electronic, hip-hop and house tunes. Catering to an affluent clientele, the service here is graceful and poised, but it's best to make a reservation for a window table.

The Timber House’s design concept is based on the traditional hanok Korean house. Located on the lower level of the Park Hyatt Seoul, the bar is decorated with roof tiles, patterned sliding doors, a wall of stacked books and a glass wall decorated with old furniture locks.

With a clientele of local celebrities and affluent travellers, the bar serves boutique sakes, signature cocktails, Korean soju, vintage champagnes, new world wines and whiskeys. At The Timber House, you can also enjoy live jazz music performances.

Glam Lounge attracts fashionable elites, young executives and business travellers with its upscale setting and specialty cocktails. The 2-storey lounge features vaulted arched windows, glittering chandeliers and stylish interiors.

The ambience here is relaxed, with unobtrusive house music playing in the background. A central horseshoe-shaped bar is fronted by skilled mixologists, who can easily whip up something unique for cocktail lovers. The price range at Glam Lounge is higher than most bars in Itaewon, but the experience is worth the price.