Outdoor terrace cocktail bar in Hongdae/Mapo for a second round

Rosetta

After dinner in Hapjeong on a Friday, I was wondering where to go for a second round and ended up at Rosetta 🍸 I'd always noticed this place walking by because the exterior looked so pretty, and this time I finally went in! It's a bar with signature cocktails inspired by famous paintings and art, so it felt a bit different from a typical cocktail bar. You even get to watch performances during the cocktail-making process, so there's fun in just watching, haha.

Rosetta hours, parking, and corkage

• 🕰️ Hours: Daily 18:00–05:00
• 📍 Address: 1F, 35 Eoulmadang-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🅿️ Parking: On-site parking available (free)
• 🥃 Corkage: Available (charge applies)

Exterior close to Hapjeong Station and the outdoor terrace

The building itself is so pretty!!! Walking down the street in Hapjeong, this is the kind of exterior that catches your eye at least once ㅠ.ㅠㅠ

It has a vibe reminiscent of an old European bar, so it looked even prettier once the lights came on in the evening (never actually been to Europe though ^.^ haha). I used to walk by wondering what this place was, and I finally visited.

📍It's also easy to get to, about a 10-minute walk from Hapjeong Station. There's an outdoor terrace right in front of the shop. Sitting there when the weather's cool must feel amazing 🪽 In the evening with the lighting added, the atmosphere is clearly different from other bars!

Inside like a small gallery, with bar seats, tables, and a private room

The moment I stepped inside, what caught my eye first was a famous painting 🌹 Since Rosetta's whole concept revolves around art, there's artwork-based interior everywhere, which gave it the feel of a small gallery!

The bar table atmosphere is really something, isn't it?! 🫢 Sitting at the bar lets you watch the bartenders make cocktails up close ♥ But we chose table seats so we could chat comfortably while drinking.

The table seats are spaced out generously, which was nice for talking quietly. The lighting was soft too, giving the whole place a calm, cozy atmosphere!

There's also a private space inside where several people can sit together 🤐🔐 It seemed like it would work well not just for dates but also for wedding invitation gatherings or work dinners with a group.

Three cocktails and one side dish chosen from the menu

Rosetta's menu doesn't just list cocktail names — it also shows the concept, ingredients, and characteristics of each drink, which made choosing fun ♥ After going back and forth, we ordered three cocktails and one side dish.

• Cocktails: Summer Sunshine, Madame X, The Scream
• Side dish: Burrata cheese with peach tomatoes

Since I couldn't decide, the bartender explained the menu to us directly. Each cocktail has a fairly different taste and aroma, so if you're not sure, it's a good idea to describe your preferences and ask for a recommendation!

🚻 The restroom is separated by gender inside the store. Small details like hygiene products, mouthwash, and blotting paper were all stocked, which gave the sense that even the small things are taken care of ♥

Water and tofu crackers came out as complimentary items. The tofu crackers were crispy and light, perfect for snacking on one by one while waiting for the cocktails.

The cocktails we ordered came out at once, and seeing all three together, each had a completely different color, so they were already pretty just to look at.

Summer Sunshine — yuzu and lemongrass with a seaweed garnish

First up was Summer Sunshine ☀️ A cocktail that's summery from the name alone, centered on refreshing yuzu and lemongrass notes, making it relatively light and crisp to drink compared to the other two.

The seaweed garnish on top was unique!!

Seaweed in a cocktail, haha, it's a little unexpected at first sight, but the salty touch it adds made it different from a cocktail that's simply sweet and refreshing. ** If you like light flavors, this one should suit you well.

Madame X — a cocktail sprayed with edible perfume

Second was Madame X, and even the name has a certain mood to it!

With a sweet port wine base and a fragrant aroma added on top, it stood out quite a bit among the three. What made this cocktail fun was that you enjoy it for both taste and scent, not just flavor.

Madame X uses an edible perfume infused with rose and hibiscus scent! The bartender sprayed the scent onto the cocktail right in front of us, and I'd never seen edible perfume used before, so it was fascinating 😳 It's not just about taste — feeling the scent along with it made it a truly memorable cocktail.

The Scream — a performance of setting orange peel on fire

And the one that left the biggest impression that day, The Scream 🥃 As the name suggests, it's inspired by Munch's painting, and during preparation they showed us a performance of lighting orange peel on fire to add aroma! Having it done right at the table made it fun to watch up close ♥

The finished Scream! The smoky notes of peated whisky blended with various spices, making it the heaviest and most intense of the three. Because the orange peel was charred with fire, you could feel a subtle citrus scent together with the smoky note, which was quite alluring... 🌟 If you're expecting a light, sweet cocktail, this flavor might surprise you, haha.

Seeing all three cocktails lined up at once, the concepts were clearly different, which made it fun to look at >.< Summer Sunshine is fresh and crisp, Madame X is sweet and fragrant, and The Scream is smoky and intense!!! You can just pick based on your mood 🍸

Personally, out of everything I had that day, Summer Sunshine was the easiest to drink without any burden, and Madame X and The Scream stood out as the more unique experiences.

The side dish: burrata cheese with peach tomatoes

The side dish was burrata cheese with peach tomatoes — soft burrata cheese paired with refreshing tomatoes, making it a light snack that went well with the cocktails ♥ Rather than something too heavy while drinking, I like ordering a dish like this and just chatting over it, haha.

When they cut into the burrata cheese, the soft, creamy cheese inside spills out 🧀 The combination of savory, soft cheese and refreshing tomato felt like it cleansed the palate each time.

Eating a good side dish alongside cocktails just puts you in the best mood ㅠ.ㅠㅠ Cheers to a happy cocktail moment 🥂 Having dinner in Hapjeong and then drinks for round two at such a nice-atmosphere place made me feel great ♥

One bite with tomato and burrata cheese piled together~ The side dish itself wasn't overpowering, which was nice because it didn't get in the way of the cocktail flavors!!!

After we finished eating, paid, and were heading out, the bartenders were still busy making cocktails at the bar table. I ended up watching for a bit longer on the way out too, haha. Seeing that made me think I'd like to sit at the bar next time and watch the cocktail-making process up close 😎

Final thoughts — how was Rosetta as a spot for a second round

Rosetta 🌹 was where I ended up while looking for somewhere with a nice atmosphere in Hapjeong. It wasn't just a pretty cocktail bar — being able to enjoy art-inspired cocktails together with the making performances felt fresh! It's great for a light second round after dinner, and if you're looking for a stylish bar for a date or blind date in Mapo, I recommend Rosetta 🍸