Once in a Blue Moon

In the late nineties, if you ever saw a jazz bar scene in a Korean soap, it was most likely shot at Once in a Blue Moon. When it opened in 1998, the jazz scene was just getting started and this was THE jazz spot in Seoul. The three story venue is spacious and you’ll see a diverse clientele: people on dates, groups of friends, and business people taking out clients, as well as the odd jazz aficionado here and there. Jazz clubs have not had it easy in Seoul—many of them close after a short while, and those that have managed to survive are usually quite small, so Once in a Blue Moon is special in that regard. Even better, they have live jazz every night, staging regular performances of Korean jazz musicians and hosting international acts on occasion, including Laura Fygi, Chuck Mangione, Wynton Marsalis and Roby Lakatos. Keep in mind, entrance is free but drinks are pricey.