Gangnam jazz bar with my sibling: binchotan steak course, Flat Nine

I went to Flat Nine (FLATNINE) with my younger sister, who absolutely loves jazz. You can listen to live jazz and have a proper meal right in the middle of Gangnam, which I loved. If you've been looking for a Sinnonhyeon date spot with good food, or you're planning a nice date around Gangnam Station, I really hope you'll give it a visit.

What are Flat Nine's entrance and 5th-floor room like?

At the entrance, Flat Nine posts that day's performance list, and you take the elevator up to the 5th floor, a jazz bar with tables arranged around the stage. It seemed they put up the day's lineup at the entrance every single day. It's nice to see at a glance which band is playing and in what lineup 😄

The moment I stepped out of the elevator on the 5th floor, the sleek, upscale atmosphere caught my eye. With the soft lighting, stylish interior and tables arranged so you can watch the live show comfortably, it looked like you could see the stage well from any seat.

You could also see the bartender making cocktails, and watching a single drink come together felt like a performance in itself, which was a lot of fun to watch. The atmosphere alone made it clear why so many people come to this Gangnam Station bar.

Can you enjoy a jazz show at Flat Nine if you're new to jazz?

Before the show starts, a staff member kindly explains jazz concert etiquette, so I thought even first-time visitors could enjoy the performance without pressure. When the show began, piano melodies filled the room, blending with the deep resonance of the double bass, the rhythm of the drums and a sweet vocal, and it felt like stepping into a scene from the movie "La La Land."

It reminded me once again how happy it can make you to eat delicious food while listening to good music.

What comes in Flat Nine's Signature Course for 2?

We ordered the Flat Nine Signature Course for 2. What impressed me was that the courses came out one by one while we watched the live jazz, so they never interrupted the flow of the show.

Bread and olive oil to start

First came bread with fragrant olive oil, and the warm bread alone got my appetite going. The bread was so good that I got excited for the food to come 💛

Berry aperitif and Korean melon carpaccio

Next came a refreshing aperitif with berries, and for the appetizer, Korean melon (chamoe) carpaccio. The sweet melon and the light dressing went really well together, and it was just right to kick off the meal!

Potato amuse-bouche

The amuse-bouche that came next was crispy fried potato topped with a fresh lemon sauce, crunchy and clean-tasting, which I found charming.

How does Flat Nine's mille-feuille lasagna taste?

The next course was the mille-feuille lasagna. It tasted like something an American grandma would make at home! Between the layers of pasta sheets were plenty of slow-simmered ragù with deep flavor and smooth béchamel sauce, and rich melted cheese covered the top, so with the first bite the nuttiness and deep meaty flavor filled my mouth.

The outside was baked golden for a subtle flavor, while the inside was moist and tender. I thought it was a more refined take on the charm of classic lasagna. I could fully understand why Flat Nine is known as a great course-meal spot.

Main course: Hanwoo striploin steak grilled over binchotan charcoal

The main dish of the Flat Nine Signature Course was a striploin steak grilled with domestic Korean beef (1+ grade). They explained it was grilled over binchotan (white charcoal), and perhaps because of that, it had a deep, subtle charcoal aroma unlike an ordinary steak, which was really appealing.

The outside was nicely seared while the inside held its juices, and the doneness was just right, with a tender texture that stood out the more I chewed. Maybe because I was eating steak with music, it felt even more special.

What drinks and dishes are on Flat Nine's menu?

Flat Nine isn't just a place to watch jazz. It has 9 signature cocktails, over 100 wines, a range of whiskies and non-alcoholic drinks, plus a full lineup of contemporary Italian dishes such as steak, truffle gnocchi, cream pasta and brownies. From meal to dessert to a drink, it was satisfying all the way through.

Top jazz artists from Korea and abroad perform every day, and thanks to the high-quality sound system I felt as if I'd walked into the jazz club in La La Land. Having visited in person, I now see why so many people recommend it as a famous jazz bar. I'd confidently recommend it to anyone planning a nice Sinnonhyeon date or a special Gangnam Station date.

Great food, sweet music and a stylish space all satisfied me, so it suits anyone looking for a good bar near Gangnam Station. If you want a course-meal spot that makes an ordinary day feel special as well as a special day, and a real jazz bar recommendation, remember Flat Nine. For anyone who loves live performances, it's a famous jazz bar well worth visiting at least once. You can check the lineup on Flat Nine's official Instagram, so I'd suggest looking before you go.

Flat Nine hours, live charge and reservations

• Address: 10 Gangnam-daero 65-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 5th floor
• Hours: Mon–Thu 18:00–24:00, Fri 18:00–24:00, Sat 15:00–24:00, Sun 15:00–23:00 (last order 30 minutes before closing)
• Live charge: ₩15,000 extra
• You can also dine when no musicians are performing
• Reservations available via Naver Reservation and CatchTable