Euljiro3-ga distilled soju bar with fig and sweet potato pours: Moss

If you're serious about traditional Korean liquor, you have to go to Moss, the bar near Euljiro3-ga Station — and this is my re-re-re-re-visit!!! Moss is my regular traditional liquor bar that I frequent even when I'm paying with my own money, and here's my report from my latest trip there.

Whenever I have plans in Euljiro, this is my go-to second-round spot — the vibe, the food, the drink lineup are all just right, so I always bring close friends here. This time I visited for round two with friends I hadn't seen in a while, for a happy occasion, and once again I could feel the owners' consistent skill and warmth throughout.

Where is Moss, what are the hours, and do you need to book?

Moss, the bar near Euljiro3-ga Station, sits right in front of Exit 11 — within a 5-minute walk. From the station, walk past the golbaengi (whelk) alley, turn left into the alley, and you'll spot the sign right away.

Take the stairs or the elevator up to the 2nd floor, and you'll arrive at Moss with its antique-style exterior :)

• Location: 46-2 Supyo-ro, 2nd floor, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Thu 18:00–01:00 / Fri–Sat 18:00–02:00 / closed Sundays
• Naver reservations available — be sure to grab the Naver notification coupon before you go!

Walk-ins are fine, but grab the good seats by booking on Naver ahead of time! I recommend reserving, haha. Right now there's an event where signing up for Naver notifications gets you free sesame oil honey potato fries.

Inside Moss: interior and atmosphere

The moment you walk in, the bar counter and that mysterious, green-filled atmosphere just win you over. Modern yet cozy — I always love this vibe. It's exactly why it's such a great date-course bar in Euljiro :) On top of that, it's calm and quiet!! Great for actually talking, which was perfect since we'd just come from a noisy first round and wanted to relax.

Off to one side, a whole wall of Korean distilled spirits, traditional liquors, and whisky bottles :) True to its title as the bar with the most traditional liquors in Euljiro, the sheer range gives you a lot to choose from — it might honestly be the place with the most Korean whiskies in all of Seoul, haha. And on top of that, you can enjoy nearly everything by the glass.

We sat at one of the group tables that seat four or more. If you're coming as a group of four or six, be sure to reserve ahead or call before you visit!

The Moss menu and what we ordered

Moss is built around the theme of "moss in the city" — a space to catch your breath in a busy day, and a bit of fuel for tomorrow. Just note that at least one drink order per person is required :) I only just learned this time that if you order a bottle, you can keep it for later. Next time I want to buy a bottle of Giwon whisky and keep it there...

Food menu: snacks and small plates at Moss

• Pork collar suyuk (boiled pork) with rocket salad (highly recommend)
• Seasonal sashimi ceviche (highly recommend)
• Salmon sashimi with mixed vegetables
• Broccolini with smoked doenjang mayo
• Sesame oil honey potato fries
• Fried mushrooms (highly recommend)
• Doenjang ragu pasta
• Gochujang butter seafood stir-fry
• Aglio e olio & seasonal herb pasta, and more

So many fresh Korean-style dishes you won't find anywhere else! It turns out the two owners actually came from a high-end restaurant in Itaewon, and you can really taste the skill, haha. We came for a second-round drink and suddenly it felt like an omakase.

Don't miss the daily menu either — perilla oil ice cream, triple-sauce sweet potato fries, and other fun ice cream items!

Drinks menu: traditional liquor and Korean whisky by the glass

• Kkumui Daehwa – by the glass ₩13,000 / bottle ₩34,000
• Jiranjigyo Makgeolli – by the glass ₩12,000 / bottle ₩39,000, and more

You can even enjoy makgeolli (unfiltered rice wine) by the glass! I'd always been curious but felt bad buying a whole bottle — at Moss you can comfortably try it glass by glass. Among bars near Euljiro3-ga Station, Moss is the only place like this, haha.

First round: Hwasim sweet potato soju, Jiranjigyo fig and Neunghwa

• Hwasim Roasted Sweet Potato Soju, 1 glass
• Jiranjigyo Fig Spirit, 1 glass
• Neunghwa Spirit, 1 glass

We each ordered a glass of Korean liquor we'd always been curious about, to our own taste. The handsome owner has this smooth, perfectly matched voice and explains each drink so kindly! Listening to the explanation before you drink really does make the flavor come through better and taste even more delicious. Knowing what you're drinking really is the best way, haha.

As a regular, Moss treated us to a service dish the moment we sat down — they seemed to be in the middle of developing a new menu item. It had a chipotle-sauce kind of flavor with a remarkable depth of savoriness, and honestly it made me feel like I was at an omakase. Everyone, go make friends with the owner, haha.

Moss signature: seasonal sashimi ceviche, 26.0

One of Moss's signature dishes — the seasonal sashimi ceviche! They make it fresh each day with whatever sashimi is in season. Is this ceviche really only in the ₩20,000s...?? The taste and presentation feel like it should cost at least ₩30,000-something. Even though we'd already eaten a full meal, it was the perfect second-round dish.

As a regular, let me pass on the secret to taking pretty photos at Moss, haha: hold up a light while shooting the food and people shots and they'll come out beautifully.

Delicious drinks, a good time~ The seasonal sashimi ceviche also has a bright, tangy kick, so there wasn't even a hint of fishiness — every bite was fresh and delicious.

And then, Royal Brackla 18 Year. What a blessing for a whisky lover like me. In fact, as I'm writing this post today, I happen to have plans with a friend in Euljiro again, and I'll be heading to Moss!

Moss, the bar near Euljiro3-ga Station I'm heading back to again today, the day I wrote this post — this has been a regular's-eye-view review!