Saturday cocktail bar in Sillim, Seoul: pineapple sherbet at Yahwa

Where is Yahwa Sillim?

Yahwa Sillim (야화 혼술바 신림점) is a solo-drinking bar 108m from Sillim Station Exit 4, at 1640-33 Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul. A younger friend talked me into going to a hon-sul bar (a bar for drinking solo or casually) together, so we went on a Saturday night, and it was the very definition of a vibey cocktail bar.

Yahwa Sillim is on the basement level (B1) of a building, so you take the elevator or the stairs down.

What the name Yahwa means

Yahwa combines 夜 (night) and 話 (story): a hon-sul bar that holds stories blooming like flowers at night.

At the entrance there are hooks where women can hang their bags. Very thoughtful of the owner!!

How do you order at Yahwa Sillim, and what do menu items cost?

You order by tapping the NFC tag on your table!

Signature cocktails are ₩15,000 or less, and easy snacks like truffle potato chips, pineapple sherbet, chocolate, cheesecake and cassava chips are about ₩5,000–8,000. Totally friendly prices! Another plus: outside food is allowed.

Cocktail menu prices

• Dohwa ₩15,000
• Kkotjam ₩14,000
• Byeoljineunbam ₩14,000
• Dalbitjakyak ₩13,000
• Malibu Orange ₩12,000
• Black Russian ₩12,000
• Kahlúa Milk ₩12,000
• Peach Crush ₩13,000
• June Bug ₩13,000
• Faust ₩14,000
• Long Island Iced Tea ₩14,000
• Cosmopolitan ₩14,000
• Catharsis ₩13,000
• Jack and Coke ₩12,000
• Earl Grey Highball ₩12,000
• Peach Highball ₩11,000
• Highball ₩11,000
• Gin and Tonic ₩10,000

Default setup: drumstick-shaped snacks and mouth rinse

As the default setup, Yahwa Sillim brings out chicken-drumstick-shaped snacks that go well with drinks, plus a mouth rinse. The snacks can be refilled!

What is the atmosphere at Yahwa Sillim at 10pm on a Saturday?

My friend and I visited around 10pm on a Saturday. Maybe because hon-sul bars are so popular these days, there was an even mix of people who came with friends and people who came alone. The balance of women and men felt about right too!

If you're looking for a bar with good atmosphere in Sillim these days, this Seoul hon-sul bar is easy to recommend. The lighting is moody, the brightness is just right, and the vibe is emotional, so it was totally my taste! I like bars that are comfortably dim rather than too bright, and this was exactly that.

How were the Malibu orange, Kahlúa milk and snacks?

Both of us started with a Malibu orange (₩12,000)~ It was basically sweet juice, so it went down super easily.

Pineapple sherbet served in a whole pineapple

The pineapple sherbet is a cool sherbet at a friendly price. It comes in a whole pineapple with the sherbet inside, a refreshing dessert and drinking snack that anyone can enjoy!

Kahlúa milk, my order at every hon-sul bar

I love Kahlúa milk (₩12,000) and order it every time I go to a hon-sul bar. It tastes like coffee milk, kind of? Pleasantly sweet and delicious. The atmosphere was great too, so I sipped it while chatting with my friend haha.

Truffle potato chips, a must for potato lovers

Partway through we also ordered the truffle potato chips, and the truffle flavor was strong and savory. As a potato lover, potato chips are my must-have snack....

What if you run out of things to talk about at Yahwa Sillim?

Yahwa Sillim also has little bits of content on hand, like a "magic problem-solving book". Think of a question and flip it open for fun~~

There are also balance games and image games that are good icebreakers for a group, and even a crocodile teeth pressing game. With this kind of content at every seat, it seems like a place where you can still have fun when it's awkward with someone you just met, when you're bored, or when the conversation dries up.

Who is Yahwa Sillim recommended for?

• You want to drink your own drink in a quiet atmosphere
• You want to have a little chat with other people
• You want to enjoy a variety of drinks
• You want a casual second round after a meal