Celebrating its 103rd anniversary this year, The Westin Chosun Seoul is back with a modern classic look, one that extends to the renewed bar. This may come as a surprise to many who are familiar with Seoul’s 5-star hotel scene; unlike its counterparts, such as the Four Seasons’ Charles H. and the JW Marriott’s The Griffin, the Westin Chosun Hotel Lounge and Bar come with a distinct name while being located nonchalantly on the first floor of the hotel.
The Lounge & Bar has, however, distinguished itself by offering some of the most creative cocktails in the city. This is largely thanks to the leadership of bartender Kim Dae-wook, who has placed in the top ten in 2012, 2014 and 2016 at ‘World Class Korea,’ the regional version of the internationally-recognized cocktail competition. Kim’s creative cocktail list is now ten years in the making, indicating Kim’s dedication to crafting the best and most unique drinks.
While the Milk Tea Cocktail, featured at the 2012 World Class Korea competition, is the bar’s signature drink, there’s another cocktail stands out from the rest: Chai Wallah. By infusing the traditional chai spice with Guatemalan Zacapa Rum, French Cointreau, fresh lime juice and whipped cream, the Chai Wallah offers a surprisingly excellent balance. Do beware of the unsubtle notes of curry in the drink, though. Aside from these cocktails, the bar also offers cocktails representing specific eras from the 1700s to the 21st century.
Kim is also behind the moving bar table that makes The Westin Chosun Seoul Lounge & Bar so unique. Modeled after the drinks trolley used at London’s legendary Dukes Bar, the moving bar table offers customers the opportunity to see their drinks created right in front of them.
Aside from the drinks, there is also live jazz music every week night from 9pm to 11:30pm. Be sure to arrive early if you don’t want to pay the cover charge of 10,000 won starting from 8pm.