Best bars in Itaewon

PP Seoul have a gorgeous night view of Seoul where you can take in the soft breezes on its beautifully designed rooftop. They use real mangos and guavas in their tropical cocktails and their signature Southeast Asian finger foods are incredibly delicious.

For those who love art, artistry, and old movies, Hephzibah will be like love at first sight. Founded by two sisters who studied performance art and acting, they actualized their college dream of creating a secret space filled with dramatic intensity. The space includes a small screening section for visitors to get tipsy on a retro-film along and some wine. It’s the humanistic element within older movies that the sisters like while they still provide the entertainment that is needed. This is not to say that visiting Hephzibah means sipping on wine and watching a black-and-white movie. Outside of the mini-cinema is an area not filled with music and chatter like any other bar, but rather dialogues from movies playing in the background, while you sit and relax in the couch getting lost in your thoughts. Hebsiba is surely a hide out for artists, with some visitors exclaiming that that the venue is a dream come true. The fantastical venue that offers an ambience of boundless imagination is place to search for your imaginary reality.

Baraboom is an "eating bar," a bar that is also a restaurant. The main ingredients change from season to season, and wine, vodka, and beer are available at affordable prices. The long table that can seat lots of people at once is reminiscent of something from Europe or New York. Exhibitions, parties, or other such large-scale gatherings are possible. The food isn't that cheap, but it's reasonable, considering how fresh the ingredients are, or how creative the concoctions tend to be. This isn't so much a casual setting as it is something to save for a more elaborate, fancy night. It's perfect for enjoying wine without too much stilted fanfare. The menu, presented by two directors that have tasted some of the best stuff the world has to offer, is thoughtfully curated.

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.

This bar is located on the second floor of Pizza Muzzo in Itaewon. On one side, there’s a large bar and a marbled and tiled hall, which is more chic than showy. But the bar’s real charm lies in its separate space. The space on the left side of the bar looks like the inside of a car on the famed Orient Express. On the opposite side of it is a space that resembles a Mediterranean terrace. All the ingredients used in their cocktails are made from fresh fruits and vegetables, and they offer about 20 different kinds of signature cocktails. (They also have wine, single malt whisky and beer, of course.) They even ornately embellish a small piece of lime for garnish and their Dark and Stormy has a great blend of honey lemon and ginger puree. Sitting at the bar and watching bartender Kim Jin-rok make his cocktails, one can have a great time just chatting and drinking. It’s a nice place for different types of social gatherings and date nights.