Sindang-dong whiskey bar inside Seoul Jungang Market: highballs at CMS

Sindang-dong is turning into a Seoul hotspot lately, so I did my homework hunting for a Sindang-dong whiskey bar worth a second-round stop, and found CMS Soundbar. The vibe was so uniquely good I saved it on the spot. There's even a nickname now for this scene — "Hip-dang-dong" — so let's check out this Sindang bar together.

Where is CMS Soundbar? Inside Seoul Jungang Market, really?

CMS Soundbar is super close to Sindang Station, and it's actually inside Seoul Jungang Market (서울중앙시장). Wait, a bar with this vibe is in here?? I went in half-doubting myself haha🤣🤣🤣 It's really inside a traditional market.

Finding the well-hidden entrance to CMS Soundbar

I was clearly following the map but couldn't spot the entrance at first — panic mode. Look closely and there's a really pretty CMS sign, plus an extremely narrow staircase!! I promise I'm not directionally challenged🥹

What are the interior and seating like at CMS Soundbar?

The inside of CMS Soundbar feels like a vintage dabang (tea room) mixed with a modern club. There are bar seats and group sofa seating, so it works whether you come alone or with a crowd. I don't know anything about sound equipment, but even with untrained ears I could tell the sound was rich and full despite the small space.

The music and atmosphere match perfectly. They say they don't stick to one genre — hip-hop, jazz, city pop, all of it. The mirror ball and red lighting combo is very hip.

CMS Soundbar menu (and why the snack list falls short)

CMS Soundbar's menu has whiskey/beer/highball/non-alcoholic/snacks. You can order whiskey by the bottle or shot, and adding ₩3,000 to the shot price gets you a highball. I'd already filled up at the first spot, so I checked for something light to snack on, but the options weren't very varied, which was a bit of a letdown. None of the tomato cream cheese, potato salad, tuna canapé, or pineapple sherbet really called to me. I wish there was something lighter. So I decided to just go all-in on highballs🥳

When you order, the person who was DJing makes it for you haha. Whips it up in a flash, then heads straight back to the DJ booth😂😂😂 Doing double duty like a pro👍👍👍

How the highball tastes, and how to order it drier

They pick great tracks and also mix a delicious highball. I drank the first round however it came, but for the second I asked for it drier, and that suited my taste much better. Tell them your preference — sweeter or drier — when you order🙆🏻‍♀️ My friend loved theirs too, said it was strong and tasty, so I felt proud for bringing them along.

Final verdict: a Sindang-dong bar that works for solo drinking

It's great for casual drinks with friends as a second or third stop, and the mood works for dates too. Solo-drinking bars are trendy right now and popping up everywhere, but honestly a lot of them have drifted into feeling more like pickup bars. CMS Soundbar has the kind of atmosphere where you can quietly listen to music and drink solo comfortably, so it's a good pick when you feel like sipping whiskey alone. I want to go back for when they play hip-hop — when is that, exactly...?