Jonggak imported beer bar with Belgian bottled beers: Sudowonui Bimil

Out and about in Jongno and looking for somewhere light for a second round of beers, I ended up at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고)! The beer lineup was really varied, with lots of imports you don't usually run into, so there was fun in trying something new 🍻

Where Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is in Jonggak, and its hours

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is on the basement level (B1) at 47-1 Samil-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, down an alley off Jonggak's Jeongmeum Street. It's open daily 17:00–23:00 (last order 22:30), and there's no parking.

Being right off Jonggak's Jeongmeum Street alley, it's easy to find! There's a sign visible from a distance and a menu board out front, so it seems like an easy walk-in spot after a quick look at the menu outside.

They also had a good range of food menu items like gnocchi, pasta and wood-fired pizza!

Right from the entrance heading down to the basement, it felt like stepping into the secret chamber of some foreign monastery haha

There were also chairs set up separately for waiting guests.

Inside Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo: mood and seating

Inside, Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is decorated with soft candlelight and antique-looking props, with a range of seating from hall tables to bar tables to a group room. There's also a restroom inside.

The whole place is decked out in soft candlelight and antique props, giving off a bit of a Harry Potter vibe (?)🧙🪄 There was a good spread of seating — hall tables good for two, plus bar tables and a group room. There was actually a group dinner going on in the open room! It looked like a good spot for a casual beer with friends or a bigger gathering.

There's also a neatly kept restroom inside!

Table setting and how to order by tablet

At Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo, you order via a tablet at the table, and at the time of my visit ordering an alcoholic drink was required. Hall tables come set with cutlery, water, and Tabasco sauce as standard.

I visited with one friend and we were seated at a hall table, which had cutlery, water, and Tabasco sauce already set up!

There was also a no-fail roulette event running during my visit! Events can change depending on the season, but if one's on, definitely join in and grab yourself a nice little gift 🎁

Ordering is done via the tablet at the table, and you can check the store's usage guidelines before ordering too — worth a read! At the time of my visit, ordering alcohol was required!!

The beer sampler: witbier, pale ale, ale and stout compared

The beer sampler at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo lets you compare four different styles at once — witbier, pale ale, ale, and stout. Of the four, the stout was my favorite.

🍻 Beer Sampler — I ordered this because I wanted small tastes of a variety of beers! I got to compare witbier, pale ale, ale, and stout side by side, and having them all right next to each other really highlighted the differences in aroma, bitterness, and body. There was also the small fun of figuring out which style suited my taste haha. Of the four, the stout was my favorite🖤

Truffle fries

🍟 Truffle Fries — Since I'd already eaten, I ordered these truffle fries as a light side! There was a nice waft of truffle aroma, plenty of grated cheese on top, and the salty seasoning was just right. Ketchup comes on the side too, so dip as you like ♥️

Belgian bottled beers: De Dolle Oerbier and Van Steenberge Forcette

At Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo we each ordered a Belgian bottled beer — De Dolle Oerbier and Van Steenberge Piraat Forcette. Selecting a beer on the tablet brings up a detailed rundown of style and flavor notes, which made it easy to choose while reading through the descriptions.

We tried a couple of Belgian imports neither of us had seen before! The price was a bit steep, but it was fun experiencing beers you don't normally get to try.

De Dolle Oerbier

De Dolle Oerbier is a deep-colored Belgian strong dark ale. The menu described it as having a red-wine-like flavor, and sure enough, drinking it, I got a surprisingly vivid, tart aroma reminiscent of red fruit and wine! Recommended for anyone who prefers rich fruity notes like wine over a strong hoppy beer character❣️

Van Steenberge Forcette

Van Steenberge Piraat Forcette combines the crispness of a wheat beer with the fullness of a tripel. Behind a gentle bitterness comes a refreshing citrus note, giving it a different appeal from the Oerbier! Recommended for anyone who likes a Belgian beer that's crisp yet with a bit of a zing❣️

Verdict: who Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo suits

🤍Final thoughts🤍 I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a light second-round beer spot near Jonggak, anyone wanting to try uncommon imported beers, or anyone looking for a group hangout spot for friends with different drink preferences! If you want to compare a range of beers in a setting reminiscent of a medieval monastery, check out Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo 🍻🧡