Gangnam jazz bar date without alcohol: truffle lasagna at Flat Nine

Here's an honest review of Flat Nine, a jazz bar where you can eat a meal while watching a live jazz performance.

Where is Flat Nine and what are its hours?

Flat Nine is close by, about a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 10, and I visited on a Saturday with a 3pm reservation. Here are the hours.

• Mon–Thu 18:00–23:00 (last order 22:30)
• Friday 18:00–24:00 (last order 23:30)
• Saturday–Sunday 15:00–24:00 (last order 23:30)

Groups are welcome, reservations are available, and it's a no-kids zone.

In front of the building there's a board with today's jazz lineup and a simple menu. Flat Nine is on the 5th floor, so just take the elevator.

There's a sign showing the month's performance schedule and a bit about who comes here. You can also check the details on Flat Nine's Instagram.

How do you book a table at Flat Nine?

You can book through Catch Table too. I reserved a week ahead through Naver Reservation, but if you walk in, they said calling ahead lets them guide you depending on availability.

Inside Flat Nine: the room and the seats

Inside there are tables for two, four, and groups of six or more, plus bar-table seating where you can chat with the bartender. Since I came with one other person, we sat at a two-person table with a great view of the jazz stage. Corkage is allowed too, so it looked like a great spot for groups to gather and enjoy jazz together.

What comes with the classic two-person course?

There are two courses to choose from, classic and signature. I ordered the classic two-person course. The course came in this order:

• Appetizer
• Bread
• Salad
• Pasta
• Steak
• Dessert

that's the order it came out in.

Each table has a mini lamp that glows in the dark, which made for a great atmosphere.

Welcome drink at Flat Nine: non-alcoholic or alcoholic

First up was the welcome drink, and you can choose non-alcoholic or alcoholic. I picked one of each. The non-alcoholic one tasted like a sweet soft drink, while the alcoholic cocktail was made with a cranberry, lemon, and mint base, giving it a refreshing edge.

The amuse-bouche was crispy dauphinoise — thinly sliced potatoes stacked and fried, topped with lemon butter and herbs. Cutting into it with a knife released the herb aroma into the potato, boosting the flavor. It paired well with the welcome drink.

Bread and the squid and Korean melon carpaccio

Next came the salad and bread. The bread was oven-baked focaccia, and dipping the warm bread in balsamic glaze and olive oil made it even better. The salad was a squid and melon carpaccio — smoked squid, melon, and radish, a combination and flavor I'd never had before. Eating the melon, sauce, and squid together gave a crunchy texture along with the squid's flavor, and it was delicious. Filling up before the main dishes can sometimes feel like a letdown, but the portion here was just right, so it was a nice light bite.

The mood was so good I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail just to soak it in more, haha.

Weekend happy hour and the live charge at Flat Nine

The time I visited (Sat–Sun 15:00–18:00) fell within happy hour, so all cocktails were 30% off. Normally the live charge for watching the performance is ₩15,000 per person, but during happy hour it's ₩10,000.

White truffle mille-feuille lasagna for 4,000 won more

Here's the mille-feuille lasagna. You can choose between basil tomato mille-feuille lasagna and white truffle mille-feuille lasagna (+₩4,000); I paid the extra and went with white truffle. It came loaded with cheese and had a lovely nutty truffle aroma — I felt like I made the right call switching it up.

The 4pm jazz trio show at Flat Nine

Since I'd booked for 3:30, I was still eating when the trio started warming up like a rehearsal, and shortly after, the show began at 4pm.

Herb-crusted Jeju black pork tenderloin steak

While watching the show, the herb-crusted Jeju black pork tenderloin steak arrived! It was my first time having a pork-based steak, and it was completely different from the pork I usually eat. The dry-aged black pork was incredibly tender and melted in my mouth. No sinew or tough bits at all, just soft meat all the way through — delicious. Every bite made me sad it was disappearing so fast, haha. The green herb crust on the outside was seasoned just right. The potatoes and mushrooms served alongside were well cooked too, and went great with the steak and mango purée.

The final dessert was a chocolate cake. Decorated with homemade cream cheese and nutty toppings, it felt like a proper end to a full course. The cake had a dense sponge, sweet chocolate cream, and cream cheese for a rich, upscale flavor.

Verdict: is Flat Nine good for a blind date or early dates?

Being able to enjoy music while eating a full meal makes this a strong recommendation for an awkward first meeting, a couple who just started dating, or anyone looking for a new date spot! There's plenty to talk about with the food, and plenty to talk about with the music — it really is a jazz bar that gives you lots of conversation topics, haha. Listening to songs we already knew and the vocalist's own compositions gave us a chance to connect through music, and I left feeling a little more cultured. I'd recommend visiting Flat Nine, a jazz bar and go-to spot near Gangnam Station!