Best bars in Gangnam

Posh. High-end. Sophisticated. All words that come to mind when you step into Le Chamber. From their pricing to their service, Le Chamber is a speakeasy that strives for the finest. Diageo World Class champions and owner-bartenders Eom Do-hwan and Lim Jae-jin offer seven-star service. Consecutive Korean champion Park Sung-min recently joined the star roster, garnering more interest. Their sign has no distinct shape or form, understandably so as a speakeasy, but the entrance to their basement is even more intriguingly mysterious. The entrance is shaped like a bookshelf, and only if you pick the right book will the door open. It's a classic mystery novel touch in a modern-day setting. With the recent growth of high-end bars like Vault +82 in Cheongdam, Le Chamber is at the top of our list of must-sees.

“We don't want to be the only beer you drink; we just want to be the best beer you drink” — it’s such a self-confident slogan, and we’re feeling it. The beers offered at Goose Island Brewhouse which opened in Yeoksam-dong last month are simply heavenly, letting us almost forget about the high price tags that come with them. At the moment, the menu includes 5 types of drafts, 12 types of bottles and a few non-Goose Island draft beers (mostly from Elysian Brewing Company and Blue Point Brewing Company, both of which are subsidiaries of Anheuser-Busch). There are also beer cocktails and spirits. The food menu (priced at 15,000 won – 23,000 won, except for steaks) includes mac & cheese, beer-battered fried calamari, beef tartare, smoked chicken wings and salads. They’re all no-frills, with quite generous portions. As for space, the brewhouse has a rooftop area and a reservation-only “barrel room,” on top of two spacious floors with table and bar seatings. One of the drafts that are currently available is Goose IPA (5.9% ABV), which is pretty light with subtle fruity notes. There’s nothing insane about it and that’s a great thing, in this case of overall well-balanced beer. If you’re into farmhouse ales, you should go for Sofie (6.5% ABV). Aged in wine barrels with citrus peels, it’s got an almost blissful aroma of elderflower with a hint of coriander and a subtle note of vanilla to finish. Sour, sweet and spicy without any domineering flavor, it’s such a deliciously gentle...

The pojang macha is practically an institution—nearly every Korean has fond memories of sitting on rickety plastic chairs and throwing back soju and street food at these ubiquitous stalls. Hanshin Pocha (short for pojang macha) recreates the nostalgic nights when college students in the 80s would hang out at the pojang macha tent city near Hanshin Apartments in Jamwon-dong. Hanshin Pocha’s owner is a minor celebrity in his own right, as the successful food industry CEO and newly-wed husband to a Korean actress, and the crowds are his pocha are a testament to both his popularity and the restaurant’s quality. Once you get your seats, settle in with a group of friends to order plates of fried seafood and ddeokbokki and, if you like your food with a kick, get the spicy chicken feet. There’s plenty of space for large groups (unlike the old pojang macha, this indoors spot has high ceilings, large tables and an open kitchen). The vibe at Hanshin Pocha is young and full of energy—we even hear it turns into a bit of a mingling hot spot on the weekends, earning the nickname “Hunting Pocha.”