Sillim basement bar for a couple's date night in Seoul: Yahwa Sillim

We were looking for somewhere to grab a drink after dinner in Sillim, and this time I wanted somewhere with a bit more atmosphere, so we went to Yahwa Sillim, a solo-drinking bar. We've been to a bunch of solo-drinking bars on dates before, and we went in expecting a quiet drink, but honestly I was surprised how many people were there!!

Where is Yahwa Sillim? 5 minutes from Sillim Station, basement level 1

It's a 5-minute walk from Sillim Station and it's on the basement level.

A solo-drinking bar with a wait? Inside Yahwa Sillim

It's a "solo drinking" bar, but quite a few guests were visiting as couples like us. There were already people in when we walked in, and more groups kept arriving as time went on. By the time we left, there were people waiting, so it seems like a pretty popular spot in Sillim~ I've been to a lot of solo-drinking bars, but this is the first time I've seen one with an actual wait.

Turns out Yahwa isn't just this one Sillim location — it's a franchise of solo-drinking bars with branches in multiple areas. I only found this out from this visit, but checking the official website, they have locations not just in Seoul and Gyeonggi but also Incheon, Busan, Daegu and more. We ended up here by chance, and it's kind of amazing that solo-drinking bars even have franchises.

It wasn't hard to find, and once inside it felt totally different from the outside. The lighting was soft and on the darker side overall, which made for a good atmosphere for chatting over drinks.

Retro props and the omok guestbook at Yahwa Sillim

There were retro-style props scattered throughout the interior, so it was more fun to look around than at your average bar. There was an old-fashioned-looking TV, plus mirrors and posters and other props, so there were plenty of spots worth taking photos!

People play omok (five-in-a-row) on what's kind of a guestbook. I did too.

Drink menu at Yahwa Sillim: cocktails, whisky and highballs

On one side there was a whole lineup of whiskeys on display, so if you're into that kind of thing, browsing there would be fun too. We had cocktails that day, and the variety was bigger than I expected. Beyond cocktails, there were also whiskeys and highballs, so it'd be easy to pick something to suit your taste.

Free snacks: hutgae sticks and honey chicken-leg crackers

They give you hutgae sticks and honey chicken-leg crackers as complimentary snacks. I heard they give these out if you write a review haha — first time I've seen a place do that.

QR and NFC ordering plus card games at the table

There was ordering info at the table, and you could order using QR or NFC. It was convenient not having to keep calling a staff member over — you could just check what you wanted and order it yourself. These kinds of ordering systems have become more common lately, but it felt especially handy at a bar.

There are several card games at every table.

This place mixes up seating to balance the gender ratio on its own. If you don't want to join, you can opt out, and there's a separate seat-change time for that! Seems great for people visiting to meet someone new!

The Welcome Tropical cocktail, an easy pick for women

The drink looked pretty and tasted good too.

The snacks were cheap and good too. I'd recommend this cocktail to women!! It's called Welcome Tropical, 8.7% ABV. It's sweet with a pineapple? pear? kind of taste. My boyfriend likes to drink, so it was nice picking cocktails together and chatting.

Is Yahwa Sillim okay for a couple's date?

Because of the name "solo-drinking bar," it might feel like you're supposed to go alone, but visiting as a couple like us didn't feel awkward at all — actually, the atmosphere itself is pretty great for a date over drinks~ It's a good spot to stop by in Sillim when you've had dinner on a date and want a slightly more atmospheric place for one more drink!

If I go again, I'd like to try some of the other cocktails or whiskeys I didn't get to this time. If you're in Sillim looking for a bar that's not too loud and rowdy, with good atmosphere, a wide drink selection, and snacks you can order without breaking the bank, Yahwa Sillim is worth a visit.