Jongak craft beer pub for West Malle Duo and roast chicken: Sudowonui

Today I visited a hidden hangout in Jongno that's perfect for a moody, unusual craft beer and a deep conversation. It's a pub that feels like a medieval monastery moved right into the city, and this is my visit to Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고) in Jongno~

Sunday at 8 p.m. at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo near Jongak Station: is there a wait?

⏰ Visit time and wait info

• Visit time: around 8 p.m. on a Sunday evening
• Wait: none

A vibe like a medieval underground monastery

The moment I opened the door, it felt like I'd hopped in a time machine and landed in an underground monastery pub in medieval Europe. Of course, I've never actually lived in medieval Europe though, haha.

The lighting is dark and cozy with a subtle, weighty vibe, and the atmosphere is honestly a work of art! It's a perfect setting where you can focus completely on quiet conversation, and my eyes went wide. It really felt worth bringing my date here, hehe.

Group seats and bar seats: how many people can fit?

For a hidden hangout, I was surprised by how varied the seating is! There are standard 4-person tables that are great for a cozy face-to-face chat, and also group seating for bigger gatherings.

The group seating you can reserve in advance on Naver is a big deal. There's the 'Secret Monastery Private Room' that holds 10 to 14 people and the 'Monastery Brick Arch Open Room' that seats 6 to 10, both fully set up. Book it for a year-end party or a company dinner and you'll definitely get praised for having good taste! It also seems good for a first-year-student or club gathering.

There are also bar seats where you sit side by side and chat with the bartender,

so just pick whichever suits your mood and group size that day.

What I ordered today: food and drinks

As unique as the concept is, the menu and beer names were really fun too!

• Flames of the Monastery roast chicken
• Saint's Garden Ale: a craft beer with a soft, subtle aroma
• Silent Vow IPA: a hearty beer with a bitter hop kick

4. West Malle Duo (300cc, limited time): a 7.2% Belgian blonde ale that came over from a real monastery brewery

Flames of the Monastery roast chicken, impressive from the first look

The name alone is out of the ordinary. True to 'flames', the outside is golden and crisp, while the meat inside holds its juices and is so tender and soft.

The grease is gone, so it's light yet nicely salty, perfect as a beer snack. My boyfriend took one bite and then devoured it like a storm.

Three craft beers

The real charm of Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is its high-quality beers that stay true to the concept! Each one has a distinct character, so choosing is half the fun.

Saint's Garden Ale. A great light starter. Fruity and floral notes spread softly through your mouth, and it goes down very smooth and fresh. I highly recommend it if you're a light drinker or prefer gentle flavors.

Silent Vow IPA. One sip and the bitterness and heavy body hit strong, and the pairing with the salty roast chicken is just incredible. Beer fans will absolutely love it!

West Malle Duo (limited time). A 7.2% Belgian blonde beer brewed at the Westmalle abbey brewery. Since it's limited, I ordered it right away. Behind the typical refreshing crispness of a blonde ale came a weighty alcohol feel and deep grain aroma, and it was such a refined taste that I instantly understood why abbey beers are recognized worldwide.

It felt great to put our smartphones down for a bit, for the first time in ages, and have a long, heartfelt chat over good beer and chicken in a medieval mood with my boyfriend.

The menu lineup

The real fun here is the menu names! 'Ribs Permitted After Confession', seriously, isn't that naming sense wild? The menu is completely swallowed up by the concept, so let me walk you through it!

• 🍗 Main platters and meats
• 🍕 Wood-fired pizza, gnocchi and pasta
• 🍟 Sides and dessert-style snacks

Receipt review roulette event

Oh, and a tip you shouldn't miss: if you join the receipt review event, you can spin a roulette and might win refined prime short ribs! Definitely take part when you visit and grab the perk~

Also, the restroom is neatly located inside the pub, so you don't have to go outside mid-beer. That was so convenient.

Overall verdict

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is a one-of-a-kind craft beer haven with a medieval monastery concept, tucked into a Jongno alley. The unique interior that evokes a monastery and the limited abbey beer you can only taste here were both excellent.

With varied seating, it covers everything from get-togethers with friends to cozy dates, and the indoor restroom made it very comfortable. Crispy, tender roast chicken with a hearty IPA made it a perfect place to make a special memory.

If you're looking in Jongno for a pub with serious atmosphere, an unusual wine or beer bar, or just want to try craft beers, I recommend Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo!