Cocktail bar by Konkuk University Station, Seoul: Negroni at Yahwa

My plans ended early and I was a bit sad about it, so I looked around and ended up at Yahwa, a solo drinking bar near Konkuk University! It's a great spot for solo drinking, a second round, or a quick drink — even introverts will feel comfortable here haha.

Where is Yahwa Konkuk University Branch, and what are its hours?

Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar Konkuk University Branch is at B1, 16-4 Achasan-ro 33-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (5-70 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu). Hours are Mon–Thu 20:00 to 5:00 the next day, and Fri–Sun 19:00 to 6:00 the next day.

The entrance: down the basement stairs

The super hip poster and entrance vibe are so good~~ Feels like you'd get a great shot here if you took a photo lol. There's a bench out front too, and people clearly love using it for a breather.

Inside Yahwa: U-shaped bar seats and a guestbook

The long U-shaped bar runs around, and the stools are pretty tall. There's a spot to store your bags under the stools — such a smart touch, bb. There's a big mirror on one side, which looks great, and all the empty bottles lined up underneath show how many people have passed through.

There are simple games, which were nice to play with a friend and also good conversation starters when chatting with people I'd just met! There's also a guestbook from past visitors — everything from casual greetings to worries and dating stories, which made for a fun read lol. If you visit, I highly recommend flipping through it!

Cocktail menu and prices at Yahwa, plus bottle keep

From Yahwa's signature cocktails to familiar classics, highballs, and a wide range of whiskies, everything's there, and the bottle prices are all transparently listed, which made ordering easy. Bottles can also be kept, so if you're a regular, keeping a bottle is the way to go~

Three cocktails: Peach Highball, Godfather and Negroni

• Peach Highball 11.0
• Godfather 15.0
• Negroni 15.0

They give you chicken-leg-shaped crackers as a basic snack, and honestly my hand kept going back for more — it went well with every drink. My first drink was a light Peach Highball, and it was so good, sweet with a really nice peach aroma and flavor! Such a light, delicious highball for a first drink — highly recommend for anyone who isn't great with alcohol but loves something sweet!

Second up, the Godfather — the one I always order at any bar. Yahwa's version stuck to the basics, and the smoky flavor wasn't too strong, so it'd be a great first try for anyone who hasn't had one before. I personally love a strong smoky flavor so I was very into it! The cinnamon was piled on generously too, giving it that no-holds-barred feel haha.

Last was the Negroni, which I'd never had before. Orange is the highlight here, and it's quite strong with a dry edge, making it perfect to finish the night on a high note lol. At first I wasn't sure what to make of the taste, but it grew on me weirdly addictively the more I drank.

Is Yahwa comfortable alone? A packed Sunday and a one-day friend

Even though I visited on a Sunday, the place was completely packed. At first I felt a little awkward and just watched the vibe, but the staff were so friendly, and after one drink, people around me started chatting with me. I ended up talking excitedly with the person sitting across from me and properly enjoyed having a one-day friend haha.

One clever thing about Yahwa is that ordering is done by phone, and the request options are built right into the menu — beyond basics like calling staff, they've added fun but thoughtful options like 'please move my seat' and 'villain removal,' which I thought was a great touch!

If you're craving a drink but don't want to go alone, don't feel like a full-on night out, want a light second round, or just want to relax and chat with new people, Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar near Konkuk University is a great spot to check out!