Best bars in Itaewon

Brewed for centuries in Belgium and trending in the past few years in North America, sours are relatively new in the Korean market. And there’s no better place to start experimenting with your taste buds than at Sour Pongdang, the first bar in Asia to specialize in sours. Recommended by none other than Lee Inho, owner of Pyrus Taproom & Bistro, Sour Pongdang exudes a distinct personality in Seoul’s craft beer scene. Headed by BJCP- certified manager Jo Ye-lim, Sour Pongdang guides you through the infinite world of sour beer.  Serving as ‘comfort food’ of a sort for some and a new experience for others, the sour beer is not only diverse but also has a longer shelf life. While IPA’s with fragrant hops either lose their characters or change in a negative sense over a period of time, the sour beer can, in fact, develop a richer flavor and aroma over time. Sour Pongdang currently offers 10 different kinds of drafts and over 80 bottles of imports. While the taps change quite regularly, the usual line-ups showcase both domestic and imported selections (such as Boon and Brooklyn Brewery). And while some beers are sold out within a week, the bar tries to order enough supply to last at least one to two months—so you’ll be guaranteed a broader range of choices the more frequently you visit. One sour beer to check out is the ‘Jeju Island Tangerine Gose,’ which is created by exporting dried tangerines from Jeju to Oregon’s Upright Brewing, brewing such transnational, tangy batches...

While it seems that there are new venues popping up in Itaewon all the time, most of them are too… predictable: fancy lights, hipster furniture and whatever sound that's "in." But this one, let me tell you, is different. With its rough, warehouse-like atmosphere and dim lighting, Beton Brut brings coziness and, most importantly, good music. It's surely a place you can "hang," unlike many of the clubs in the area that are just too much while lacking character. Perhaps that's why you can occasionally spot older crowds here, but of course, that certainly doesn't mean this place isn't hot. With 2 dance floors inside, you can go for drum n base, dub step and trap, or choose to roll with techno and house at any point of your night. If these options still don't satisfy your diverse taste, visit Beton Brut before 10pm for some jazz, acoustic or music critic Lee Dae-hwa's talks. Wait, I have an idea: if there's that special someone that you're into, head here after the dinner. You'll have a chill couple of hours to get into the night, then once the floor turns into a club you'll realize how natural and easy it can feel to be clubbing with a date.

 

 

Riding the wave of the single male whiskey trend is the second coming of the speakeasy. At Speakeasy Mortar, there is no sign—and you can't even open the door yourself. It opens only after the staff slides open a little wooden peephole to see who's outside. The “chosen” can enjoy their moderately-priced drinks in a moderately comfortable environment. Whiskey at 20,000 won a pop isn’t exactly affordable, but relatively so if you keep in mind that a certain bar in Cheongdam serves up glasses at 30,000 won each. Speakeasy Mortar is a easy place to kill time with excellent music backed by a quality sound system. It's relaxed with a mature sophistication. Note: your mobile won’t get much signal here, yet another rarity in hyper-connected Seoul (we're counting that as a plus).