Jongno cocktail bar with Korean bar snacks: Jaehoe cocktail at Hanuk

Cocktails enjoyed inside a hanok

I visited Hanuk, a Jongno bar, looking for cocktails with a different concept. I tend to like drinks with a twist, a bit of a kick, so the menu names alone caught my eye and curiosity pulled me in.

Where is Hanuk, the Jongno cocktail bar, and what should you know first?

📍Location: within 5 minutes of Jonggak Station Exit 4, down the basement stairs to the left of the Yongyong Seonsaeng building

• ⏰Hours: 19:00–02:00
• 🅿️Parking: Jongno Building parking lot / Gwancheol-dong public street parking
• No cover charge

💡Low lighting, a calm mood, and partitions that help you focus on conversation.

🍵Welcome drink and snacks provided

🇰🇷A Korean atmosphere came through naturally in every corner of the space.

Hanuk's seating and mood: what time to arrive for a table

Besides the bar counter, Hanuk also has 2–4 person seating, which felt like a good fit for a second date or an offbeat second round. We went after 7pm as our round two, and there were only about 2 other tables at that point — but by 8pm it was nearly full. Seems like a lot of people come here for round two.

I was surprised to see quite a few tables of men out together too — clearly the cocktails themselves have real appeal, and with the low lighting good for comfortable conversation, it seemed like a solid spot for a Jongno date or a Jongno blind date.

We used the 2-person table, but sat at the bar counter for a bit too, to watch the cocktails being made. The bartender was skilled but also easy to chat with, so waiting for the drinks was never boring. It seemed like a great spot for solo drinkers too. We got some fun stories about the cocktails and enjoyed some small talk — if you like that kind of atmosphere, the bar seats might be worth choosing.

First impressions of the Hanuk space and its scent

The wet towel they gave us right away made an impression. 🍋A subtle lemongrass scent spread as soon as we sat down, setting a pleasant first tone.

The menu itself was shaped like a hanok door opening, which was a unique touch, and ordering was simple via QR code. You can request a custom cocktail if you tell them your preferences, but they recommend the signature cocktails for first-time visitors. Each one had such a different personality that I spent a long time deciding.

What do Hanuk's signature cocktails Jaehoe and Chusu taste like?

🍹Jaehoe (재회, "Reunion") ₩22,000

A smooth, sweet style of cocktail. You can taste the soft flavors of omija (schisandra berry) and yogurt, with a faint bitterness from vetiver lingering at the end. There's a meringue-like cream on top, adding a playful texture along with the softness. Overall it's sweet and creamy, so even cocktail beginners could enjoy it comfortably. Honestly, it tastes like the kind of drink that could melt away a fight between a couple, haha.

🍵Daegwallyeong (대관령) ₩20,000

A matcha cocktail with potato ice cream — the name alone made me curious. Since it's a dessert-style cocktail similar to Jaehoe, I skipped it this time and saved it for my next visit. Matcha with potato ice cream — matcha lovers will probably be into this combo for sure.

🌾Chusu (추수, "Harvest") ₩23,000

This time I chose a whisky-based cocktail. The name has a seasonal feel, which I liked even more, and compared to Jaehoe, the alcohol flavor is clearly more pronounced. To me, the whisky's heavy character took up most of the flavor, with a slight refreshing note rising up at the end. So it seemed better suited to people who enjoy the flavor of the spirit itself over sweeter cocktails. And the fun part of Chusu is that it comes with nurungji (crispy scorched rice) crackers! Alternating between the cocktail and the snack made it much more interesting than just drinking.

💛Recommended pairing at Hanuk: Chusu plus Jaehoe

Personally, I'd recommend the Chusu and Jaehoe combo. As the whisky buzz starts to kick in, take a sip of Jaehoe's sweet, creamy flavor. Since they're such different styles, I kept alternating between the two.

🌺Dongbaek (동백) ₩20,000 — a highball mixing camellia flower tea syrup with milky oolong and tonic. The subtle, soft floral scent of camellia is said to be the highlight. It's a light, easy-drinking highball, so this one seems like a good option too.

Hanuk-myeon and perilla oil rice gelato: how good are the Korean bar snacks?

Alongside the cocktails, there was a good variety of snacks and desserts to pair with them. The one that stuck with me most was Hanuk-myeon (하눅면)!

It's a perilla oil buckwheat noodle dish with gosari (bracken fern), and it was perfect as a second-round dish. The nutty perilla oil flavor came through subtly, and it paired better with the cocktails than I expected. Personally, I'd highly recommend Hanuk-myeon.

The last thing we ordered, a perilla oil rice gelato for dessert, is also a strong recommend.

Have you ever had gelato with perilla oil on it? One bite, and the nutty perilla flavor really worked with the ice cream. It's clearly a different kind of dessert from the usual, and it made for a perfect Korean-style finish.

Beyond that, from cocktails using traditional Korean liquor to a range of spirits for whisky lovers — for anyone looking for Jongno traditional liquor or Jonggak traditional liquor spots, Hanuk stands apart from your typical traditional liquor bar by letting you enjoy traditional liquor, whisky, and cocktails all based on your taste! I'd especially recommend starting with the signature cocktails♥️. From light snacks to full dishes, there are plenty of Korean bar snacks to keep you satisfied too.

When is Hanuk in Jongno the right bar to visit?

Apparently the cocktail 'Jaehoe' (reunion) is also meant to represent hoping to see a guest again at Hanuk. That detail stuck with me. There are still plenty of signature cocktails I haven't tried, so I think I'll be back.

• ☑️When you're looking for a Jongno date or Jongno blind date spot
• ☑️When you need to have a serious conversation
• ☑️When you want to get a little closer to someone new
• ☑️When you want to patch things up with someone you've drifted from

Hanuk, a Jongno bar that makes those meetings feel meaningful and special — that's the kind of place it seems to be.🕯️