The best bars and cafés South Korea

A hushed atmosphere, music, smoke and good humor are the order of the day at the TBR bar. This chic yet modern establishment is ideal for a prestigious drink after a busy day of sightseeing. We were charmed by the quality of the cocktails, which, while not cheap, are delicious. A special mention goes to the elegant, Instagrammable presentation. If you're feeling peckish, there's a selection of salads and other dishes, and for cigar aficionados, there's a fine selection of cigars for sale.

We like a lot of things about this café! In first place is the decor, a mix of driftwood, old bricks, pretty green plants, a nice collection of cacti, and a very pleasant little garden. A mix of "elegant countryside" and post-industrial aesthetics, hats off to the decorator! In second place come the sweet and savoury treats, notably the famous bingsu, which is a delight to savour with your latte or americano. The delicacies are delicious and beautifully decorated with flowers and fruit.

Asian countries have a special relationship and connection with tea. Tea takes an important place in everyday life, such as at major events or more formal and traditional celebrations. The Beautiful Tea Museum honours it perfectly by hosting in its modern hanok a museum with elements characteristic of tea and the art of its service. There is also a charming café with an impressive choice of varieties. The covered terrace is particularly enjoyable in summer.

It is in an industrial, very minimalist and somewhat "destroy" setting that you can enjoy very good roasted coffees from the four corners of the world. The establishment also offers us some beers and wines by the glass. But we come here especially for the delicious homemade cakes and pastries, which are a little different from those found in the big chains (Ediya, Angel-in-us...). In case of good weather, we do not hesitate to take advantage of the roof terrace (often crowded we must admit).

Korea's passion for coffee is well known by now, but Gemstone stands out from the crowd. The concept? Using an abandoned building to give it a new lease on life. Here, we're dealing with a former swimming pool. In the pool, in the bleachers, there are cosy little nooks where you can sip your drink in this highly original setting. A touch of greenery adds a touch of exoticism. On the menu, we particularly recommend the Jeju Green Tea Latte or the Black Sugar & Peanut Cream Latte.

Pay close attention to the name and address, as the facade goes unnoticed. It's an old house, with old walls, old wood and eclectic decorative touches that give this café a crazy charm that modern signs don't possess. A variety of coffees, teas and cookies are on the menu. Fans of Korean cinema will recognize this place, where a scene from Hong Sang-soo's Seule sur la plage la nuit was filmed. Others will appreciate the warm smell of coffee and the panoramic view from the second floor. A charming little gem!

Undoubtedly one of Seoul's best-known tea rooms, in a small cul-de-sac in the heart of Insadong, next to the famous Sanchon restaurant. Delicious teas can be accompanied by sweet treats such as toasted tteok or 팥빙수/patbingsu, the famous Korean dessert of crushed ice; or 약과/yakgwa (our favorite), a small cookie made with honey and sesame. The decor and atmosphere are an invitation to relax after a busy day.

It's certainly the busiest place in the neighborhood. Just across from the famous Noriteo Playground Park, this two-storey bar/lounge is popular with foreign and Korean students alike. Meeting people, exchanging, starting to learn a language (one or two beers help for that): this is the program of the place. Cocktails on the terrace, international evenings or "all-you-can-drink", the young students will appreciate. Plus, the drinks are cheap.

This rooftop bar is the place to enjoy the sunset before throwing yourself into Itaewon's wild nights! It offers a wide range of drinks, including delicious cocktails, as well as gourmet dishes. A variety of concerts and DJ sets by local and international artists are organized every week. In addition to the rooftop and its incredible view, you can also enjoy a cosy indoor space. Run by two Frenchmen and frequented by both local and international clientele, it's the ideal place to meet new people.

With its fabulous, mouth-watering pastries and warm, industrial interior, Vintage 38 is a favorite with an upscale clientele. But don't panic if you prefer savoury dishes, as they also serve chicken, salads and burgers. The drinks on offer include original compositions such as cinnamon and avocado lattes. Open all night, it's also a paradise for late-night gourmands. To top it all off, the staff are truly adorable.

Fancy a good, tasty dessert? Then look no further, you've come to the right place. The name of the establishment, a combination of the words "delicious" and "dessert", speaks for itself. Our gold palm goes without hesitation for the waffle filled with a vanilla ganache with generous pieces of strawberries... it makes you want to, doesn't it? The chocolate fondant, the red fruit éclair and the tiramisu are not to be outdone. A simple atmosphere that highlights the undeniable quality of the desserts (and their beautiful dressage).

Minimalist card for this establishment. Some teas and coffees as well as some sweets as an accompaniment, ice cream and sweet breads. What has seduced us here is most certainly the setting, a successful alliance between the modern and the traditional. A wooden hanok (the front door is really beautiful), simple but modern furniture, touches of greenery and play of light. Moment in zenitude and for which time appears suspended. A bubble of serenity appreciable in this capital where everything goes very fast.

The more than minimalist menu of this bar is compensated by the great atmosphere, animated by a very "cool" staff and good music. The cocktails served are well done and not very expensive, so we can afford one more. The Mix Table offers a nice and well presented set including two cocktails + a platter of savoury delicacies (cheese, toast...) + a platter of sweet delicacies (cookies, fresh fruit, chocolates, dried fruit...). Preferably come during the week because on Fridays and Saturdays there is not a single chair available!

The best souvenir of Seoul is here, in this café which offers an unobstructed view of the Lotte Sky Tower (really splendid at night). A really well decorated interior with very well done "old fashioned" touches, where it is good to chill. But the highlight of the visit is on the roof terrace, for the famous souvenir photo with the tower in the background and the name Seoul (there may be a little wait to take this picture). On the menu are coffees, beers and cocktails as well as a selection of brunches.

An ideal place to start or continue your evening in a gentle way, your choice! The wine list has been lovingly concocted by Anthony, the owner, who will be happy to tell you about the virtues of each drink and the dishes that go best with it... We tested it and... approved it more than twice. What's more, you can nibble on all kinds of side dishes, pizzas, salads and, of course, cheese platters! All this in a chic and cosy atmosphere but at reasonable prices: we can only love it and recommend it to you!

Here's a charming café where you can relax for a while. On the second floor of a charming little clothing boutique, you can sip coffee or tea while enjoying one of their hearty homemade Anglo-Saxon-inspired cakes(cheesecake, brownie...) in a subtly hip, tasteful setting. Their signature drink, black pepperlatte, is surprisingly good! In summer, you can take advantage of the sunny weather on the large terrace. We love it!

Small establishment with a favourite decoration. It plunges us into the atmosphere of the street, from the 70s to the 80s in South Korea. There are also rain curtains (quite relaxing, it must be said). It's super original, we love it and we adhere to it! It is more a place to drink soju or beer than a bar itself. By drinking our alcohol we can eat spicy noodles with seafood, fried chicken (the latter is very good), breaded shrimp..... There is even a small room dedicated to smokers. Highly recommended establishment.

For a refreshing stopover in summer and a comforting one in winter, here's a place that will delight young and old alike. Part chalet, part traditional Korean house, right in the heart of the Hanok village, this café welcomes large tables and offers a multitude of drinks and sweets. We particularly recommend the rice cakes, equivalent to Japanese mochi, as well as the iced fruit specialties. The infusions are delicious, especially the honey-ginger one - a welcome boost on cold days!

Located in the heart of the antiques district, Nono shop is a vegan café-patisserie that also doubles as a zero-waste grocery store, with a bulk section and organic local and international products. They also host pop-up shops focusing on upcycling and sustainable development. The pastry chef is French and brings her personal, creative touch to the vegan desserts - which are to die for. With its warm decor and friendly team, it's the ideal place for a gourmet break in Itaewon!

A girly café, perfect for instagrammers and it girls. Young women from Seoul flock to this café... most of them in powder pink. At the far end, there's also a small swimming pool (which we don't enter), which adds to the originality of the place. Even if the decor is stylish, the drinks are quite ordinary; we come here mainly to take photos, let's face it. It's one of the capital's most famous cafés, but it's a nice one all the same.

Proud representative of the independent rock scene, this bar-club offers live rock performances before turning into a real dance floor. A festive atmosphere that brings together Koreans and foreigners alike and which, it must be said, is uninhibited as the night progresses. It must be said that the signature cocktails of the FF club are particularly tasty (but misleading). Since it opens early and closes late on weekends, it is perfect for those who just want to drink and drink and listen to music, as well as for those who want to dance.

In this large concrete square with its scattered colourful touches, there is a café-library in which it is a pleasure to take a cultural break by leafing through one of the countless books in English. The decoration is really neat, at the top! We would stay for hours sipping his comforting cappuccino so original, well arranged and cosy is the place. To top it all off, you can enjoy the wooden terrace overlooking the water and sunbathing...

This is the most famous tea room in Insa-dong. You can sit in the old Korean T-building in winter, which is always crowded on Sundays. Works have enlarged and renovated the site: there is now a large room pleasant enough for tea and a small gallery exhibiting ceramics. Among the drinks on offer, we recommend matcha tea or sik hye/식 혜 (a surprising rice drink). At the end of the garden, there is a café selling exclusively ice cream.

This large café with a very modern architecture and a refined but neat decoration (all white, but with small touches of colour), offers food and drink (omelette, toast or even a sandwich). We like the delicate flowers that the baristas put in the drinks and which are not without evoking the name of the establishment. Here, we especially love the different and charming little terraces where you can sit quietly while admiring the mountain. An attractive café that can be used as a restaurant.

Now that's a coffee with charm! This huge two-storey traditional-style establishment sits quietly on the waterfront. It is above all the place, the atmosphere as well as the decoration that seduce here. The latter, far from being flashy, is a subtle blend of industrial, vegetation and driftwood... a zenith of surroundings. If it's not too chilly, you can enjoy the charming pebble terrace overlooking the lake. On the menu, you will find the usual coffees and teas, pastries and some savoury dishes

A place for early music lovers who really have style! It is multifunctional because it is first of all a store that sells vinyl records (that you can listen to before buying). But it is also a café that offers some food and drinks (alcoholic or not). We advise you to taste all this on the roof terrace of the establishment because the view of the city and Mount Namsan is magnificent. It's really a very nice place and original in its concept. He really has everything to seduce! We love it!

You can't miss this beautiful old-fashioned European-style facade, unique in the Korean landscape. In this small jewel of delicacy and refinement, you can enjoy delicious teas, infusions (herbal and fruit) and coffees. Some sweets are added to the menu to perfect this tender moment (bingsu, cakes, cookies ... all homemade). A really charming tea room. There are several in the Gangnam district but this one is certainly the prettiest in its decoration. For a break with finesse.

This establishment, with its retro, subdued ambience, serves as a café by day and a bar by night. It stands out in the chaos of Itaewon, just a few blocks away. Renowned for its tasty cocktails, couples and groups of friends come to sip and relax on the soft vintage sofas. You can tell the place has many regulars, which isn't surprising given the charming, almost cinematic ambience and the bar tender 's mastery of his craft. Non-alcoholic cocktails are also available.

For a trendy and musical break, head to the I like it café. First of all, we like the decoration of the place vintage and modern at the same time, quite classy. Then, even if the drinks menu is not the longest, they are all very well done, comforting as one could wish for. Our little favourite is the truffle coffee, which is a cold coffee that drips (literally drips of cocoa). A real delicacy. If you are more reasonable than us, you also have the option of espresso or americano. One thing is sure, you will like it too!

This coffee appealed to us because of the beautiful garden it has, all softness and freshness. The building has huge bay windows that offer visitors a panoramic view of the plants, conducive to relaxation. Moreover, you will surely come across couples in the middle of their wedding who take advantage of the setting for their photos. For us, simple passers-by, you can enjoy teas, coffees but also (and above all) some sweet treats (including a really unforgettable cheesecake). For a break in zenitude and gluttony.

This resolutely trendy bar is a huge favorite. The plant decor, combined with industrial-style furniture, plunges us into the jungle. On the walls are projected videos of waterfalls or a snake undulating through the trees. It's like being in the jungle! The decor is enhanced by subtly placed lighting effects. The exotic cocktails are all signatures of the house. We recommend the King Louie and the SkyyBall. Very busy, especially on Friday nights.

It's hard to find a place with as much charm as this establishment. This old traditional-style house, which is decorated with a pretty garden full of surprises, contains an attractive junk shop. The list of teas on offer is really well stocked. But we'll let you discover two of them in particular, the Spirit of Christmas (에스프리 노엘) and the Wedding Imperial (웨딩 임페리얼). A simply adorable tea house that will most likely bewitch you as much as we do. A lovely favourite.

This two-storey café, with a charming sea view, is airy and beautifully decorated with a modern touch. You can take a break here and enjoy your coffee, fresh fruit juice or even a latte (the choco-banana will remain etched in our memory). To accompany all this, we also offer a range of sweet treats (cakes, rolls, fruit tarts...). An appetizing array! A beautiful view, good things to eat, a beautiful setting... café Egyo 661 has it all!

Superb little tea room (mainly green tea from China) in a traditional wooden house with windows opening onto a garden, Korean music in the background, bees in basins. The place really offers a moment of meditation outside of time during which we take the time to rest and recharge, far from any turmoil.

We prefer to come in the late afternoon or early evening because the place is otherwise very busy and therefore much noisier. The fine service is very pleasant.

It's a trendy lounge bar that's the talk of Busan's youth! In a highly original and highly successful decor (duck-blue walls, designer furniture, hundreds of chandeliers on the ceiling...), you can relax and enjoy beers or cocktails (the Gin Tonic is particularly good, in our opinion). To accompany your beverage, the house offers chicken dishes, seasonal fruit platters and cheese platters. Always packed with people, this very deco place is always lively and vibrant.

Perched on the 5th floor of a small building, this coffee shop caught our attention for its superb view of the traditional roofs of Hanok village, charming by day and breathtaking by night. Some sweets on the menu, including a very gourmet Nutella Choco Cake. As far as drinks are concerned, we find the usual teas, coffees, beers, smoothies and other fruit juices. Very popular, it is often overrun so for a little more tranquility we recommend you go there just before sunset, to enjoy both atmospheres.

If you want to tour the best bars, pubs and nightclubs in Hongdae or Itaewon, then join the Seoul Pub Crawl. Since 2014, the band has been offering young people and partygoers from all over the world crazy nights of sharing and good mood. Entrance is free, 4 drinks are offered, you don't have to wait in line, T-shirts and discounts galore... It's THE good deal for small budgets who still want to enjoy the Korean "night life". You can hardly find a better option.

For a charming break away from the hustle and bustle of the bustling Insadong district, make your way to this beautiful tea house, a little rustic but that's what, between us, gives it all its charm. Nestled in a traditionalhanok with a pretty inner courtyard, everything is homemade: teas with a long list (jujube, ginger, lotus, etc.) such as rice cakes or Korean cookies, simply delicious! Yuja tea (yuzu in Japanese) is our little favourite, especially in winter!

Nestled in a beautiful traditional two-storey hanok (said to be the only one in Seoul), this tea house with its wooded interior filled with pottery serves salivating Korean pastries. They are eaten on low tables, sitting on the floor as they should be on small cushions, in a very warm atmosphere. An authentic moment, full of tradition. We strongly urge you to take a break for a few minutes, you will come out of it completely soothed and with a spirit full of serenity. For a unique gourmet break.

Ideal for a tea break, this pleasant café is installed in a hanok with a patio in its center. The decoration is a subtle mix between traditional and chic. A bright and relaxing space with tea, coffee (classic and signature) and gourmet desserts (chocolate and strawberry cake is a real treat) on the menu! Even during the week there are always lots of people here, so if you want to visit this nice and charming café, it's best to choose mid-afternoon. Otherwise you might wait long enough..

An American-stylepubin all its splendour, with billiards and darts. The large bar offers you beers, liqueurs, wine and good cocktails (with or without alcohol). A festive atmosphere is guaranteed in the evenings, punctuated by an English-speaking staff. For those who would like to, there is also something to eat with pasta, pizza, salads, fried food and good burgers on the menu, which is also very generous. You will certainly meet many foreigners who appreciate this place very much.

On your way to the peak of the Seongsan Rising Sun, stop in at this bright, pleasantly decorated café and devour one of their homemade pastries. Among our humble recommendations, we advise you to try the different nut and dried fruit brioche breads. They are surprising but delicious! In the middle of summer, we recommend a batbingsu, a traditional Korean dessert made of crushed ice. He'll be your best ally in the heat of the moment. Don't forget to pop out on the terrace to admire the lovely view.

On four floors with a flat roof at the top, the view of the ocean is breathtaking. The coffees are excellent and of high quality. Moreover, there is the possibility of buying grain sachets (Ethiopia, Guatemala...). We can also order teas, fruit juices... To accompany all this, it's the holidays so we have a little treat: muffins, pastries, tiramisu... enough to satisfy the most gourous among us. Good establishment of superior quality to the large groups found throughout the country

In a hip industrial setting, with exposed brickwork and faded walls, this former rice alcohol factory now produces craft beers made from mostly local ingredients. Beer lovers will be delighted by the original flavours on offer. For gourmets, pizzas, fish & chips, cheeses... On the menu, just below each dish, there's a particular beer recommended. We appreciate the initiative, let ourselves be guided and enjoy!

We're buying into this place, we love it! Its decoration, a subtle and successful mix of wood, industrial and vegetation falling elegantly from the ceiling, is a pure success. During the day, you can enjoy hot drinks and in the evening, cocktails, wine or beer, the choice is yours. The establishment often welcomes musicians to liven things up a bit. You can also do some shopping (alcohol, jewelry, stationery ...) A nice Ali Baba cave to relax. A nice place where we strongly recommend you to make a stop.

Very modern, very elegant, very pure, that's how you could describe this establishment. It really has class! There is a touch of originality brought by the floor which is made of wood shavings (once seated, we advise you to take off your shoes to get a free foot massage). Since people come to a café mainly to enjoy good things, we recommend green plum tea with a slice of Earl Grey tea cake. A combination that works and that will bewitch you (tea).

Perfect bar for a moment in the tropics in the middle of Seoul! Everything in the decoration of this establishment is reminiscent of the islands and we love this immersion! Little crush for wicker chairs/swings. To remain in the caliente theme of the place, the signature cocktails are all based on tropical fruits and are served with a lot of originality. There are also a few dishes that are not out of the ordinary. A truly unusual place that changes from the soulless bars you often find.