Front-row live jazz at a Gwangjin bar: Kick Ass Jazz Club

I found a Gunja drinking spot that is absolutely my taste....!! If you’re looking for a cocktail bar or wine bar too, you really have to try this place: Kick Ass Jazz Club (킥애즈재즈클럽). I visited with a friend on a Friday, when they have live jazz, and totally fell for it ㅠㅠㅠ (Two jazz-bar lovers here... this was only our second jazz bar visit together, eek!)

How to get to Kick Ass Jazz Club from Gunja Station

It’s near Gunja Station, so it was easy to find (just walk straight out of the exit), and being on the first floor made it even easier. Most jazz bars seem to be underground... but Kick Ass Jazz Club, the Gunja cocktail bar I was looking for, was right on the ground floor :) Live shows happen every Friday and Saturday, and they announce the lineup on the bar’s Instagram feed. Definitely! I recommend booking ahead through Catchtable. (When I went, almost every table was reserved.)

A bar like this in Gunja!

They open at 6 PM, and we booked the first time slot, 6:30 PM, for two. (Through the Catchtable app; there’s a deposit, but it’s refunded when you arrive.) We were the first guests, so I could photograph the interior comfortably, and I loved the red-toned atmosphere. Other than the bar seats, every table had a “Reserved” sign on it.

It’s great for drinking alone too (they even have menu items for one person—nice), as well as a date for two, and there are tables for four. Personally, I thought the side-by-side seats for two were the best, and since we arrived at 6:30, we got the very front row, hehe.

Being able to see the stage right up close is the highlight. The show started at 7:30 PM that day, and it was perfect to leisurely order our snacks and cocktails, chat for an hour, then start watching the performance. Keep that in mind :) haha

There’s a clothes rack at the back of the bar, which I thought would come in handy once it gets colder and outerwear season arrives.

Must-read for live-performance days

Over welcome drinks and popcorn, the basic snack, we looked over the menu and decided what to order. There’s one thing to remember if you visit on a live-performance day.

• There is a ₩12,000 cover charge per person.
• Each table must order one bottle of whisky or wine, or one plate or dish item plus one drink per person.

Those two things are mandatory!

We ordered one fruit-and-cheese plate from the dish menu and one cocktail each. We had eaten an early dinner nearby and came here for a second round, so we kept the food and drinks light, but next time I’m planning to enjoy it with wine, hehe. (I love white wine, so I’ve got my eye on the Chardonnay ^^)

Happy feasting before the show

As I mentioned above, we arrived with plenty of time before the performance, so naturally, we started with the feasting.

I ordered my favorite, a gimlet, and my friend got a mojito. They were as easy to drink as they were pretty. As a Gunja cocktail bar, I thought it would be lovely even on a day without live music, haha. The interior atmosphere and service were good from the start!

The fruit-and-cheese plate arrived before long, and I loved the selection!!!!

The yellow lighting meant these photos didn’t turn out as well as the real thing, but I loved the tangy, fresh fruit and the variety of cheeses. It’s a snack I want to have again next time, hehe.

Why I’m 200% planning to return

There are lots of reasons I’m 200% planning to return: it’s close to the station and on the first floor, the interior and mood are great, and the drinks and snacks are delicious. But of course... the live jazz performance was the very best ㅠㅠ

If you go early and claim the front row, you can enjoy a stage this close up.. hohoho

I love bass, so I also filmed the fingers working hard at the back of the stage ㅠㅠ sob sob. I really love improvised jazz. Looking at the short-form videos Kick Ass Jazz Club posts, I wondered if they only invite incredibly talented players, because every performance is insane.. I filmed far more videos than this, including several longer ones, but because I really want you to experience it in person, I’ll share only two... ^. ^ haha

Kick Ass Jazz Club was a Gunja bar where my friend and I could have such a happy time, and I recommend it 100 times whether you’re after a cocktail bar or wine bar!!! I’ll be back for another live jazz performance. (Remember to book through Catchtable~!)