Suwon wine bar with a 70s-80s playlist and slushy beer: Nonchalant

After a long while, I went on a Haenggung-dong date with my girlfriend to relive some old memories — this used to be one of our regular spots early in our relationship. Even after a few years, it's still just as loved. Young couples, families, and even foreign tourists were all there, really such a mix of people haha.

Where is Nonchalant Lounge? Location, parking and weekend hours

Nonchalant Lounge is a Western-style restaurant near Hwahongmun Pavilion, at 896 Jeongjo-ro, 1st floor, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi. We visited after making a Naver reservation, and since there's no break time on weekends, you can visit without worrying about timing — just a heads up.

When you're on a Haenggung-dong date, a good-vibes pasta place is basically a must.

We made a Naver reservation and visited this Western-food spot called Nonchalant Lounge, located near Hwahongmun Pavilion.

Since there's no break time on weekends, you can visit without time constraints — just a heads up.

The exterior has a calm, white-toned design.

Pasta, risotto, and steak — you could call it a proper, classic Western restaurant.

A wood-toned interior with a 70s-80s playlist

The interior vibe at Nonchalant Lounge is pretty hip. There was a projector playing on one wall, running a 70s-80s playlist.

The overall wood-toned atmosphere felt quiet, and it seemed like a great spot for a glass of wine.

Nonchalant Lounge menu, prices and QR ordering

At Nonchalant Lounge, you order through a QR code at the table. Classic carbonara is ₩15,000 and bisque rosé pasta is ₩19,000 — the menu prices are reasonable overall.

You order through the QR code.

The Nonchalant Lounge menu

• Bisque rosé pasta ₩19,000
• Classic carbonara ₩15,000
• Sirloin steak platter ₩37,000
• Truffle bulgogi risotto ₩18,000
• Handmade jambon sandwich ₩13,000
• Homemade meatball French baguette ₩23,000
• Mushroom soup ₩8,000
• Chicken thigh alfredo cream pasta ₩18,000
• Slushy draft beer ₩5,000

The menu prices are reasonable. Since they had classic carbonara, I ordered it right away.

There was a candle on each table, adding an extra spoonful of mood haha.

How do the classic carbonara and bisque rosé pasta taste?

Nonchalant Lounge's classic carbonara is made with egg yolks and turned out way thicker and richer than I expected, while the bisque rosé pasta came topped with four plump shrimp and garlic crunch. We paired these with a ₩5,000 slushy draft beer.

With the weather suddenly turning hot, we couldn't help but order the slushy draft beer. I got the regular draft, and my girlfriend ordered the signature lemon draft, which had a taste somewhat similar to Somersby cider.

Here comes the classic carbonara — made with egg yolks.

The chunks of meat, which look like pancetta, are quite generous.

Next up, the bisque rosé pasta, ordered for my girlfriend who loves shellfish.

Got a nice aerial shot too for good vibes... I've been using the word 'vibes' a lot today, but please bear with me — I'm just excited to be back at a moody, atmospheric place after a while haha.

Four plump shrimp and garlic crunch were sprinkled on top.

This was my first time seeing carbonara made with egg yolks, and I was surprised at how much thicker it was than I expected.

Since it can get heavy, I asked for cucumber pickles on the side.

There was a generous amount of parmesan cheese, so every bite brought a rich, savory cheese flavor.

The bacon, which I thought was pancetta, was also sliced just as thick, so every chew brought a burst of salty umami.

Everything coating the noodles right now is cheese.

The thick, creamy taste of the cheese is pretty intense, and if you keep eating it can start to feel heavy.

That's exactly the moment to top it with a cucumber pickle — it refreshes your palate completely and gets you ready for the next forkful.

Having had a good taste of the carbonara, let's move on to the bisque rosé pasta.

The chef here seems to cook the pasta noodles just right — hitting that exact middle ground of al dente that a Korean palate won't find too much.

The sauce was as rich and silky as if a hundred shrimp had been pressed into it.

You can also give the lemon that comes with it a light squeeze if you like.

Slushy draft beer and a glass of red wine

One more round of the slushy beer...!

My girlfriend ordered a glass of red wine. The tannins weren't heavy at all, so even as a red wine beginner, I could enjoy it comfortably — a solid, easy-drinking red.

Sipping on beer and wine as we ate... before we knew it, we'd cleaned our plates completely.

Final verdict: is Nonchalant Lounge worth a return visit?

Friendly owner, great atmosphere, and pasta that tastes good too — that's Nonchalant Lounge. Because of how special that classic carbonara was, this is a pasta spot I'd want to visit again. That's my review of Nonchalant Lounge.