Best bars in Itaewon

The area behind Hannam Ogeori’s Richensia building is quite an interesting one — while filled with unique shops, bars and restaurants, it is usually quiet and peaceful. One of the newest additions of the alleys, which we’re welcoming with both arms, is Ox Bar. Living up to its name, the bar serves up quality beef (Hanwoo) menus (even the welcome drink is — instead of any classic or creative cocktail — genuine seolleongtang, Korean ox bone soup) along with great cocktails. The menu’s actually quite large, and includes T-bone steak, roast beef and ossobuco. The service is top-notch, yet “How would you like your steak done?” is a question that’s never asked around here. Instead, everything is cooked to the level that’s the most ideal for each cut and the type of dish. Exclusively on Mondays, the kitchen serves up burgers (18,000 won), which is another reason to find this bar. At the bar section, manager Lee Su-won and bartender Choi Beomgyu create delicate cocktails. From classics to be paired with the Hanwoo dishes to fresh fruit cocktails including the Halla Fizz made with a whole hallabong orange, their creations are smart, witty and well-balanced. Wrapped in the skillful service and attractive atmosphere, what Ox Bar serves every day is a special type of authenticity. It’s so warm, charming and genuine that we wouldn’t be surprised to see this young and hidden venue become a landmark of its own in a near future.

Unit 208, Building 31, Hangang Mansion, Ichon-dong — even if you had the address, you’d probably wander around, looking up and down the run-down building in which it’s located. While walking up the stairs built in the early 1970’s after vaguely locating this new café and bar, you’d only see a few residents of the apartments around it visiting their family doctor or picking up small bags of groceries. Hell Café Spiritus, however, has been attracting coffee and cocktail aficionados as well as industry professionals from all over Seoul, with its all-star squad of baristas (who are behind Bogwang-dong’s Hell Café) and bartenders — namely, Lim Seong-eun, Kwon Yo-seop, Lee Hun teamed up with Vault +82’s Seo Yong-won. Inside, you’ll find a minimalistic setting: the tables, bar counter, bar back and even window blinds are all dark brown woods. The simple flower arrangements placed on a few of the tables add an emphasis to the exceptional simplicity, while the classical music played through the large speakers create a nostalgic feel that goes well with the surrounding area. As for the café menu, it is exactly the same as that of Bogwang-dong’s Hell Café, the first venture of the star barista team; the famous Hell Drip and classic cappuccino are available from 9am until 9pm. From 7pm until 2am, a large selection of cocktails, single malt whiskeys and other liquors are available. The list of cocktails including Rolls-Royce (which, here, is made with the Macallan Rare Cask, orange...

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.

Want to deviate from reality?—or, first of all, from the hustle and bustle of the Itaewon alleys? Located on the 6th floor of a building resting on a relatively quiet alley between Hannam and Itaewon, Deviate offers affordable drinks, comfy seats with large tables and nice dance floor. The well-known DJ Yeonjun is the owner of this place, so you can expect some edgy selection of music as well. The overall design of the space is quite impressive, and the full-wall windows offer a view from the top floor. While it's not exactly a "Hangang view," the scenery offered here around the sunrise is quite impressive—which, of course, can only be found with enough stamina and booze. BY Estevan Kim (Editor-in-chief at Bling Magazine)

There are some places you visit once and remember for a long time. The Pyrus Taproom & Bistro located in Itaewon is one of those places. A must-visit for a smooth introduction into the Seoul craft beer scene, the casual tap room is headed by Lee Inho, one of Seoul's innovative cerevisaphiles that have led the movement to promote craft beer diversity in a relatively homogenous market. This no-frills bar and restaurant celebrated its 3rd anniversary this May, a testament to the quality of the beer and food you’ll find here. One of the things that set Pyrus apart from competitors is its exclusive seasonal beers. In the spring, they offer ‘Spring Rain IPL’, a lager with subtle notes of tropical fruits such as papaya, pineapple, mango and a hint of citrus. During the summer, the ‘One More Pils’ offers a refreshing take on the classic German pilsner by taking inspiration from the crisper pilsners made in Portland, Oregon. As the name suggests, one sip of this “Americanized German pilsner” will easily have you calling out for just “one more”. If you’re not a fan of pilsner, there’s always the ‘Sunshine IPA’ for more of a fruity taste. In the fall (which seems so far away in this heat), the ‘(Rye) Brown Ale’ has a deep roasted-flavor from a combination of nuts and coffee. Finally, the ‘Cacao Stout’ is the perfect beer for the winter with its fragrant vanilla coffee bean notes. Aside from these seasonal varieties, you can also find many signature beers as well as imported tap and...