Jonggak cocktail bar with Napolitan pasta and Dalmore 12: Gak Seoul

Guys, I don't know when my blog slump will end... I can't keep up one post a day, but I'm back with one post every two days! I really tried hard! This time I'm introducing a bar with a great mood that Leon (레옹) and I went to as our third round while on a date in Jongno! The place we visited is Gak Seoul (각 서울)!

What kind of bar is Gak Seoul in Jonggak?

Gak Seoul is a cocktail bar in a basement near Jonggak Station where you can enjoy cocktails, whisky and even pasta. There's a random sundae-guk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant right next door, which threw me off, but the mood at Gak Seoul is really good. I liked the atmosphere and I was happy with the menu too.

Can you bring outside food to Gak Seoul?

I heard outside food is allowed at Gak Seoul. So I bought almond chocolate to bring, but we didn't end up eating it.. haha. If you're visiting, you can bring food that doesn't smell strong!

Personally, when I go to a bar, taste matters, but the mood of the space matters a lot to me too. Gak Seoul was a good place to wrap up a date, chatting away quietly with Leon.

A bar with a great mood near Jonggak Station, Gak Seoul — 1 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, B1

Is Gak Seoul a good cocktail bar for a date?

What I liked most about Gak Seoul was the atmosphere. It feels less like a place to just drink casually and more like somewhere to enjoy the mood and spend time! Since we came in the middle of a date, we wanted a space where we could talk rather than somewhere too loud, and it matched exactly what we were looking for, which made me really happy~

Leon looking over the menu. A place like Gak Seoul seems good to put into a regular date course, even when it's not a special day! Dinner then a café then home is nice, but sometimes finishing the day with a cocktail at a bar with a good mood feels different. This was our third round, and since even the last stop was so satisfying, we headed home happy after the date ㅎ3ㅎ

At Gak Seoul, the owner prepares water and potato chips for each person. The owner was super friendly 👍

Looking at the Gak Seoul logo, it seems to depict the interior of the bar.

What we ordered at Gak Seoul

We ordered Gak Seoul's signature cocktail Malty Salty, Dalmore 12, and Napolitan pasta (ketchup-based Korean-Japanese style spaghetti)!

🍸 What does Gak Seoul's Malty Salty signature cocktail taste like?

Malty Salty is Gak Seoul's signature cocktail made with Jolly Pong (a Korean cereal snack), salted caramel and milk. It's the first thing I want to introduce from this order. Isn't the combination already a bit unusual? Jolly Pong brings to mind a nutty, sweet flavor, salted caramel is sweet but a little salty, and with milk added on top, it had a personality different from an ordinary cocktail.

Trying a signature drink is one of the reasons to visit a cocktail bar like this. Instead of a drink you're used to, you get a special combination you can only find at that bar! I think even people who don't drink much could have Gak Seoul's Malty Salty. Sweet with a gentle nutty flavor!

🥃 Dalmore 12 at Gak Seoul

What we ordered alongside the cocktail was Dalmore 12. Being able to enjoy a variety of whiskies as well as cocktails is part of Gak Seoul's charm. You can enjoy cocktails in their own special way, and whisky for a different mood, so you can pick by taste. Dalmore is a whisky I fell for while watching Kingsman over and over.

🍝 Napolitan pasta, Gak Seoul's side dish

Not wanting to just drink, we also ordered Gak Seoul's side menu Napolitan pasta! Leon and I have been really enjoying Gianjang 2 (기안장2) lately. I saw Kazuha making Napolitan pasta there and thought it looked delicious! Right then, Gak Seoul had Napolitan pasta as a side menu. We'd already finished dinner and this was our third round, but having something to eat with the drinks makes it richer.

Is Gak Seoul worth it to end a date in Jonggak?

If you're looking for a bar near Jonggak Station that's good for a date, I recommend Gak Seoul. It was a satisfying stop on a date course, and above all I really liked the atmosphere. We came as a third round while on a date in Jongno, and I was glad we could spend the last stretch happily!

The signature Malty Salty was unique, and being able to enjoy Dalmore 12 and Napolitan pasta too made choosing from the menu fun. It's a good fit for days when you'd rather have a drink and chat in a nice space than at a rowdy drinking party. If you're looking for a bar with atmosphere in Jongno, I recommend the Jonggak bar Gak Seoul!