Sinsa-dong speakeasy bar in Seoul for drinking alone: Birdman

Today I'm introducing a spot with a secret-hideout vibe — a Garosugil cocktail bar and Apgujeong/Sinsa-dong watering hole called Birdman.

Where is Birdman, and what are its hours?

• Address: 533-14 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (55-4 Garosu-gil, B1F)
• Reservations available via Catch Table
• Parking: use the Sinsa Station public parking lot
• Hours: Fri–Sat 19:00–03:30, other days 19:00–02:30

How to walk to Birdman from Sinsa Station

For directions on foot: come out of Sinsa Station Exit 8 and walk straight, and when you spot the building with the IBK bank, turn left into the alley in front of it (Garosugil). Keep going straight, and when you see the Starbucks building, turn left into the alley in front of that — and you've arrived.

They say the space is a converted old underground boiler room, and honestly the passage leading in really does feel like a basement storage room. But once you actually step inside, a sleek interior and atmosphere greet you.

Inside Birdman: atmosphere and seating options

The interior of Birdman, this Garosugil cocktail bar/Apgujeong watering hole, is made up of a bar table and regular tables. I heard the owner of One Size in Itaewon, which I'd visited before, launched this bar in Sinsa-dong — and the vibe really shows.

The lighting itself is dim and soft, perfect for a cozy mood, and I'm not sure if they use a specific scent, but a pleasant aroma seemed to spread through the whole space.

Going all the way to the back, there's even sofa group seating like this. I recall the bathroom was inside too. Group gatherings, dates, solo drinking — Birdman, this Apgujeong/Sinsa Garosugil cocktail bar, handles it all.

Taxidermy birds, huge self-portraits and other unsettling objects

It's obvious the owner put a huge amount of thought into the space, thanks to the variety of objects around. First, two overwhelming large self-portraits are displayed right across from the bar table.

The butterflies and leather pieces displayed here and there apparently aren't imitation — they're real taxidermy. And true to the name Birdman, birds are on display too. Apparently those are real taxidermy birds as well.

No wonder they didn't look like props when I first saw them — each of these taxidermy pieces is quite expensive. They're clearly serious about the space's concept, curating only the best possible objects for the setting, for real.

Birdman's cocktail menu and welcome drink

Here's the cocktail menu at Birdman, this Garosugil/Sinsa/Apgujeong cocktail bar. There are signature cocktails alongside classic ones. They also have whisky, highballs, wine, beer, non-alcoholic options and more, but I forgot to take pictures of those, sorry.

There are naturally good snacks for pairing too. I decided to enjoy solo drinks with 3 cocktails plus 1 snack — let's go.

Oh, and when you arrive they serve a chilled sujeonggwa (cinnamon-persimmon punch) as a welcome drink, and it really wakes up your appetite.

Drinking alone at Birdman: three cocktails and nachos

Grey Goose Yuja Fizz (19,000 won)

Anyone who reads my blog regularly knows my first drink is almost always a gin fizz. But they had a new item here — I ordered the Grey Goose Yuja Fizz, based on Grey Goose vodka, yuja (Korean citron), mint and lemon juice.

The foam on top is made from lemon juice, and the texture is almost like a cappuccino, I'd say? When you drink it, the two flavors of lemon and yuja hit your palate together while the carbonation explodes — the balance of sour, sweet and sparkling made this signature cocktail really work.

Old Fashioned (20,000 won)

For my second drink I went classic. Every order I made went down smoothly — the bartender's skills are solid.

I asked and photographed it with flash, which made it look even better. The fragrant orange oil scent and the weight of the bourbon. This is a true old-timer's drink, and its fundamental appeal is exactly why I keep ordering the Old Fashioned regularly.

Nachos (13,000 won)

I got hungry midway and ordered a snack too. It's not just plain nachos — they come with garnish on top.

The tomato salsa served alongside is apparently homemade. The various sauces and tomato salsa seasoning add variety to what would otherwise be simple nachos. The portion was bigger than expected, and I was genuinely stuffed by the end, haha.

New York New York (19,000 won)

My last-round order was the New York New York. Bourbon whisky and lemon juice as the base, with red wine layered progressively on top.

I understand the layering happens because of density differences, but I'm a liberal arts person so I don't really get it, haha. The red wine hits your mouth first, followed by the bourbon and lemon juice flavors together — a genuinely fun cocktail to drink. Think of it like a whisky sour minus the egg white, topped with red wine instead.

Anyway, all three cocktails I had were satisfying, and that wraps up my honest review of Birdman, this Garosugil cocktail bar/Apgujeong watering hole. Bye!