Traditional liquor bar near Jeju City Hall: Jichilliya Jeju

Work in the guest rooms department has been relentless lately — honestly, the days fly by with barely a moment to breathe. Running around the hotel all day and dealing with guests while staying on high alert leaves me completely drained by the time I clock out. I came to Jeju dreaming of a laid-back island life, but it turns out being a twenty-something office worker is intense no matter where you go..

Still, after a grueling day, the one real joy left is winding down with good food and a cold drink in a place with great vibes, right? Today I'm going to give you a vivid review of 'Jichilliya Jeju' (잊힐리야 제주), the absolute best-vibe bar near Jeju City Hall that I stopped by on my way home from work to unwind!

Jichilliya Jeju: location and hours

• Address: 17 Gwangyang14-gil, 1st floor, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea (Ido-i-dong)
• Hours: Daily 17:00–01:00 (Saturday opens at 14:00 / last order 00:00)
• Closed: Every Wednesday
• Other: Naver Reservations available, no parking on site (nearby public parking lot recommended)

This place sits within walking distance of the City Hall food alley, so accessibility is really excellent. If you're looking for a bar in Ido-i-dong, I highly recommend it!

Jichilliya Jeju menu board

Traditional liquor Dowon-gyeorui, mixed with tonic water

True to being a specialist in traditional Korean liquor, this Jeju bar has a really diverse, crowd-pleasing lineup. My pick today was 'Dowon-gyeorui' (도원결의)!

The Dowon-gyeorui bottle design is gorgeous, isn't it? It's 15% ABV, with a subtly sweet peach aroma that makes this distilled spirit really charming. It's clean straight, too, but I much prefer it over ice, served cold in a glass.

And of course, tonic water is essential here. I ordered two bottles of Canada Dry tonic water to mix with the Dowon-gyeorui. With the sweet peach aroma plus the sharp fizz, all the fatigue and stress from the day just melted away. It's a combo that even lightweights can enjoy happily, so I highly recommend it.

Tender fire-grilled chicken thigh, 12,000 won, wrapped in sweet rice bread

This was the dish that grabbed my heart instantly when I searched Naver Place beforehand!

It's the 'tender fire-grilled chicken thigh' (12,000 won).

The tender fire-grilled chicken thigh arrived! As soon as it hit the table, the deep smoky aroma filled the air and I couldn't help but swallow before even tasting it. Chicken thigh soaked in a salty soy-based sauce, stir-fried with cabbage, peppers, and other vegetables, and lined up alongside a snow-white sweet rice bread — the plating was really striking.

Just look at the pale sweet rice bread dotted with black sesame seeds. Even just looking at it, it seems soft and pillowy, right? Pick it up with chopsticks while it's warm and it's springy like a sponge — it puts you in a good mood just holding it.

Following the instructions on the menu, I put a piece of the tender, smoky chicken thigh and some crunchy stir-fried vegetables on top of the soft rice bread and ate it wrapped up in one big bite.

Wow... it's a flavor that makes you gasp in admiration! The spicy, savory kick of the chicken thigh gets gently wrapped and softened by the sweet, fluffy rice bread — it's the perfect 'sweet and salty' balance. The claim that it's '1.8 times more delicious' was absolutely not an exaggeration. The chicken thigh is completely deboned so it's super easy to eat, and the chewy, springy texture with every bite is just art.

Hogamjeon, 17,500 won — the chive salad is the real MVP

'Hogamjeon' (호감전, 17,500 won)

This is potato and zucchini sliced very thin and fried until crisp, like fritters. The outside is crispy like fries, while the inside keeps the moist, faintly sweet juices unique to zucchini. The spicy-tangy chive salad served on the side is an absolute masterstroke — it cuts through the greasiness of the fritter, so you keep going without ever getting sick of it.

This empty plate is proof of just how much I enjoyed it. I scraped the hogamjeon clean down to the last strand of chive salad, leaving nothing but an empty plate. The grilled chicken thigh disappeared just as fast, leaving nothing behind on the table either. I came for a quick after-work drink and ended up having a full-on feast.

Overall verdict on this Jeju City Hall bar

If you're looking for a bar near Jeju City Hall with great atmosphere, excellent food quality, and a chance to enjoy trendy fusion Korean dishes alongside a wide range of traditional liquors, I 200% strongly recommend 'Jichilliya Jeju.' Next time friends from the mainland come to visit Jeju, I'm definitely bringing them here to show off a little!