Best bars in Gangnam

“I didn’t open the bar to please the customers’ requests for a location in Cheongdam,” says Kwon Byeong-su, the owner and bartender who often gets called out for his brusque manners. “The Gyeongridan bar was designed to mimic a “home bar,” like drinking from your living room, but this branch feels like the whole house.” The walls glow as if soaked in a diluted emulsion of Marciano cherries and the bar is spacious without being showy, just as a Cheongdam bar should be. An infusion of tea leaves and Tanqueray gin, the Earl Grey martini is served clean without the artfully carved out fruits, and if you’re not satisfied with the drink (or if your face shows it), the bartender will whip up another drink on the house. “At the end of the day, bars aren’t defined by concepts. It’s a place where you can have a good drink, enjoy, and leave,” Kwon adds. With fragrant cocktails, lounge-like rooms and bartenders sensitive to customers’ reactions, I resolve to often make the cut of twelve at Twelve.

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.

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.”