Ale Dang (Ale 堂), it is a house of ales. When spelled in Chinese characters (愛日堂), though, it gets another endearing title: a house where love is shared every day. Beer and love—two things that many of us can't live without are offered at this pub housed inside a 100-year-old hanok.
Having opened in December of 2016 in one of the landmark alleys of Ikseon-dong, Ale Dang has kept most of the original weathered-look of the ancient dwelling while adding elements of modern-vintage with tasteful furniture, lighting and decor items. The result is an unfamiliar type of warmth and comfort surrounding the whole rough-yet-polished space.
In terms of the beer line-up, Ale Dang is specialized English-style craft beer produced by the local Goodman Brewery. The more popular beers from their wide selection include the Table Beer Amber (3.3%) and Table Beer Pale (3.1%), which are pretty low in alcohol content and very much refreshing. On top of the great beer line-up, the pub also makes sausages and pizza in-house.
During the spring and summer seasons, we highly recommend you get a seat in the center madang (traditional open-air garden). Once you experience it, you may see that rooftops were so 2016. In fact, traditional terraces are the new thing that will take on, and Ale Dang will definitely be the front runner of the trend. It's, of course, great for day-drinking but for those in need of a bit of caffeine can also enjoy specialty coffee made from Coffee Montage’s beans. Ale Dang's popular tiramisu and banana bread go awesomely with the coffee.
Lastly, another reason Ale Dang preserves its name as an 'it' bar in Seoul right now is the music. Sitting inside a beautifully revamped hanok, drinking some amazing, locally-brewed beer under the bright sunlight, and to top it all off, having some great background music wil surely let you know how Ale Dang's been one of the coolest spots in Seoul.