Gangnam cocktail bar for a date: Moai and Melon Prosciutto at Ugly

Ugly, Gangnam, Seoul

After dinner near Gangnam Station, I wanted a nice place for a light drink with good vibes, so I went to Ugly, a cocktail bar near Gangnam Station. It's only about a 2-minute walk from the station, the interior is upscale, and it's easy to talk there, so it'd make a great spot for a Gangnam blind date or a second-round date. The cocktail visuals were pretty unique too, so let me walk you through the vibe and the menu one by one.

Location and hours of Ugly, a Gangnam Station cocktail bar

Ugly is only a 2-minute walk from Gangnam Station, so accessibility is really good. It's an easy spot to walk to right after eating at a restaurant near Gangnam Station, so it'd work well for a date's flow too.

It's open until 2am, so it's great for enjoying Friday nights, and it's a good place to spend late hours with a partner or friends. I visited on a weekday around 7pm and got in right away with no wait at all.

Ugly's interior vibe and seating

Cocktail bars usually fall into one of two categories, either budget-friendly or upscale. Ugly went for a mysterious yet upscale vibe, which made it perfect for a blind date.

The ceiling design in particular reminded me of tarot cards, giving it a feel a bit different from your usual Gangnam Station cocktail bar.

The lighting overall was on the dimmer side, but not so dark you couldn't see in front of you — just enough to bring out that distinctive cocktail bar atmosphere.

The seating was largely split between regular tables and room-like sections for a more private seating. There were also seats upstairs and outside, which looked great for enjoying like a rooftop when the weather's cool.

When I visited, there were couples on dates and tables that looked like blind dates. Interestingly, I also spotted what looked like people out with business contacts, so it seemed like a good fit not just for dates or blind dates but also for a casual chat.

Three cocktails chosen from the picture menu

At Ugly, a Gangnam Station cocktail bar, I ordered three: Moai (₩19,000), Holy Smoke (₩26,000), and Melon Prosciutto (₩25,000).

Personally, I loved that Ugly's menu lets you see the cocktail visuals as drawings. If you don't drink often, cocktail menus can feel unfamiliar with all those base spirit and ingredient names, and it's hard to picture what it'll actually taste like.

Even I sometimes struggle to choose when there's just a name listed, but here I could see exactly what glass and look each drink would come in beforehand, which made picking so much easier.

Moai ₩19,000 - sweet and tangy pineapple

The Moai I ordered had a tropical feel. The sweet and tangy pineapple flavor made it easy to drink without any pressure, like a cocktail you'd have on a resort vacation.

If you prefer sweet, refreshing cocktails over strong ones, Moai should suit you well.

Holy Smoke ₩26,000 - cigarette-shaped glass, over 30 proof

On the flip side, Holy Smoke is a cocktail I ordered right after seeing the picture on the menu, since the glass itself is shaped like a cigarette. Being over 30 proof, the alcohol hit hard the moment I took a sip.

One sip and I could practically trace where the alcohol was traveling. Every time I drank Holy Smoke, I felt like a grown-up beast straight out of a black-and-white noir film.

Melon Prosciutto ₩25,000 - a light side dish for when you're full

We'd already eaten a big dinner, so we ordered the lighter Melon Prosciutto as a snack. The soft, sweet melon topped with salty prosciutto made for a nice sweet-and-salty combo.

Ugly, recommended for these occasions

I'd recommend Ugly, this Gangnam Station cocktail bar, as a blind date spot. With its great location and uniquely visual cocktails, it's worth visiting on a day when you want a bit more of a mood than your average bar.