Bar seats at a Hongdae bar: gin tonic and Glenfiddich 15, Bitters

Where is Bitters? 10 minutes on foot from Exit 9, Hongik University Station

I visited Bitters while looking for somewhere to have a drink with a friend in Hongdae. It's about a 10-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongdae Station.

The bookshelf door you push to get into Bitters

At first I got a little lost looking for the entrance, but it turned out you had to push through a bookshelf to get in. It was genuinely surprising when I first figured it out, haha. It looks like a plain bookshelf, but pulling out the marked book opens the door, so the moment I stepped in it felt like entering some kind of secret space.

Inside Bitters: the mood and the seating

Once inside, the space was bigger than I expected. There were bar seats and regular table seats together, and the overall mood was calm and well put together. The lighting wasn't too bright and the space felt tidy, making it a good spot to quietly chat over a drink.

Since the friend I went with usually likes whisky, we sat at the bar seats that day so we could also check out the drink selection.

Ordering at Bitters: tablet at the tables, paper menu at the bar

Table seats order via a tablet at each spot, while the bar seats had a paper menu ready.

Why the bar seats at Bitters are worth taking

There was another perk to sitting at the bar. I could watch the whole process of the cocktail being made right in front of me. Watching the bartender measure out the liquor and mix the cocktail was more fun than just ordering from a table.

The drinks: gin tonic, Glenfiddich 15 and Dalmore 12

That day my friend ordered Glenfiddich 15, and I had a gin tonic.

I'm honestly not that knowledgeable about drinks, so I don't know whisky types very well, haha, but since my friend likes whisky, it was fun listening to explanations while checking things out together.

House snacks at Bitters: pretzels and chocolate

They also brought out pretzels and chocolate as house snacks. The chocolate seemed to come because we'd ordered whisky! With the salty pretzels and the chocolate too, it was nice to pick at something while drinking.

The gin tonic was clean and refreshing, good for sipping slowly, and honestly, beyond the taste, what I liked most that day was the atmosphere of the space. It was quiet and calm, great for chatting about this and that with a friend over a drink.

After finishing the Glenfiddich, my friend ordered one more — this time Dalmore 12. I don't know whisky well enough to explain exactly how the two differed, haha, but my friend seemed quite satisfied with both.

If you're going with someone who likes whisky, it seems like it would be fun to sit at the bar seats and ask the staff for recommendations. I just enjoyed it as a nice atmosphere with good cocktails, but my friend said it was really great to be able to comfortably enjoy the whisky they wanted, with such a wide variety of drinks available.

Service with a blanket, plus the restroom at Bitters

Something I personally liked was how attentive the staff were. I was a bit cold that day, and a staff member noticed before I said anything and brought me a blanket. That kind of thing seems like nothing, but it's the sort of detail that sticks with you.

The restroom was also inside the venue, which was convenient, and the facilities were kept clean. In particular, the restroom had mouthwash, cotton swabs, and sanitary pads, which felt like a thoughtful touch. It's always a nice surprise when a bar pays attention to details like this.

What kind of night is Bitters good for?

Overall, Bitters felt like a good place to visit when you want to enjoy a drink a bit more calmly than at a loud, noisy Hongdae bar. The entrance itself — heading down to the basement and opening a bookshelf door — is fun enough that on a first visit, that process alone becomes part of the experience.

I drank cocktails while my friend had whisky, and it was nice that we could each pick drinks to our own taste. There seemed to be a wide range of cocktails, and plenty for whisky lovers to enjoy too. Above all, being able to watch the drinks being made up close at the bar seats makes this a good fit for anyone looking for a Hongdae cocktail bar. It works well for a date, and also for a quiet chat with a friend over a drink. If you're in Hongdae looking for a space with a calmer, more upscale mood instead of a loud bar, I'd recommend Bitters.

Final thoughts on Bitters in Hongdae

That day I started with a gin tonic and left after a relaxed conversation, but next time I'd like to try some other cocktails. What stuck with me was the unique bookshelf entrance, the calm bar atmosphere, and the friendly service. If you're looking for a good-vibe Hongdae cocktail bar, this one is worth a visit.🥃🍸