Dong-gu, Gwangju cocktail bar for social games: Chomyeon

A new kind of solo-drinking bar in Dongmyeong-dong

After properly enjoying our first round with delicious food at Jumyeongdang, the Hwan-sang-i Nam-mae duo wandered around Dongmyeong-dong asking, “Where should we go for round two?” That is when we visited the newly opened solo-drinking bar, Chomyeon (초면).

These days, when you look up solo-drinking bars in Gwangju, there are places where you can drink alone yet naturally mingle with other people. The problem is... neither of us had ever been to a solo-drinking bar before. Hahahahahahaha.

We are both getting a little further from new-generation culture with age... especially Hwan-sang-i, an “Young Forty” hyung who is about to hit 40. So today, we are properly going to experience this newfangled thing.

Where is Chomyeon?

Chomyeon immediately catches your eye from outside, with “solo-drinking bar / WHISKEY / COCKTAIL” written beneath it. Is the name not absolutely perfect? The word Chomyeon itself means a first meeting, so just seeing the name gives you the feeling: “I’m a solo-drinking bar!” Hahahahaha.

For people looking for a solo-drinking bar in Dongmyeong-dong these days, it seems like a name that will really stick with them. The venue is on the second floor!

A strange night, a familiar drink

That phrase appears alongside the Chomyeon logo. When I visited, the posted hours were OPEN 19:00–CLOSE 04:00. With whiskey, cocktails, and highballs available, it looked like a good option for people seeking a second stop in Dongmyeong-dong late at night.

※ Hours may change, so please check the venue’s latest information before visiting.

It was already busy at 9 p.m.

I think the Hwan-sang-i Nam-mae went in around 9 p.m. There were already quite a few guests, more than expected. But then... Hwan-sang-i’s gaze paused for a moment. Huh? There are seriously so many women here? Hahahahahahaha.

At the time we visited, the proportion of women guests was quite high. When we first looked around, there were barely any men in sight, so Hwan-sang-i internally panicked: “Wait... am I the only guy here?” Hahahahahahaha.

Chomyeon was quite different from the bar atmosphere I had known, so this Gwangju solo-drinking bar was fascinating from the first impression.

The interior is generally darkly lit with a soft mood. Lighting runs beneath the bar and tables, and there is lots of black-toned décor, so purely in atmosphere it absolutely feels like a stylish cocktail bar.

That makes it seem good for people looking to drink a cocktail alone in Dongmyeong-dong and enjoy the mood. But this was not simply a place to sit quietly and drink. That was Chomyeon’s biggest defining feature.

How does Chomyeon get guests mingling?

When the Hwan-sang-i Nam-mae first entered, the owners came over themselves and kindly explained how Chomyeon works. The solo-drinking bars I had imagined were places where people visiting alone chat with the person beside them, or sit facing someone and naturally have a conversation one-on-one, you know?

But Chomyeon felt different. The owners facilitate games and various activities in the middle, so rather than just two particular people talking, all the guests there that day naturally mingle together! Oh-ho... this is exactly Hwan-sang-i’s style?! Hahahahahahaha.

Even if you come alone, you can blend into the atmosphere with other people rather than feeling completely separate. Compared with other Dongmyeong-dong solo-drinking bars, I thought that was an interesting concept Chomyeon offers.

We viewed the menu and ordered on our phones

Right, time to order drinks! But then... where is the menu? As I looked around, I brought my smartphone to the table and the menu appeared right on it! Huh?! What is this?! Hahahahahahaha. Hwan-sang-i was once again shocked by new technology.

There is no kiosk, and no tablet at every table; you can view the menu and order directly on your own smartphone. Personally, I found this much more convenient than a kiosk. It was nice to take our time looking through the menu on our phones and order individually.

The actual screen even says, “Chomyeon solo-drinking bar” and “I’m ordering alone.” We could also check the guide to using the venue, and there was information about a review-related event when I visited.

First-time visitors can check everything one by one and order on their phones, so even people experiencing a Gwangju solo-drinking bar for the first time should find it less difficult than expected.

Signature cocktails built around the Chomyeon concept

Chomyeon has signature cocktails too. First, First Impression: 10% / ₩14,000, described as a first drink that approaches sweetly and stays in the memory refreshingly. And what we ordered! Chomyeon: 13% / ₩15,000. “The awkwardness is only for a moment; one drink is all it takes to become close.” Hahahahahahaha. They really named these well.

Then there is Courage: 35% / ₩16,000. “If a first meeting feels awkward, borrow the power of alcohol!” Every menu name connects to the solo-drinking-bar concept, making it fun just to browse. If you visit for a solo cocktail in Dongmyeong-dong, picking one of these signatures could be fun.

There was quite a variety of cocktails too. Based on the menu when I visited, there were Today’s Cocktail for ₩13,000, Catharsis at 45% for ₩15,000, Sweet Killer at 40% for ₩15,000, Godfather at 30% for ₩13,000, and Peach Crush at 11% for ₩13,000, among others.

You can see the alcohol strengths vary quite a bit, right? You can choose from sweet, relatively light cocktails to stronger ones, so pick according to your taste.

The Chomyeon cocktail chosen by Hwan-sang-i Nam-mae

What we ordered was Chomyeon at 13%. For us, visiting a solo-drinking bar for the first time that day, there could not have been a better-fitting drink! We received the cocktail made by the owner and took a sip... Oh? Oooh?! This is good?! Hahahahahahaha.

It was refreshing with a subtle alcohol taste, the kind of drink that is better for sipping while you talk than gulping down all at once.

There was lime on top of the glass, so it looked very pretty too. Naturally, you cannot leave cocktail visuals out of a solo cocktail outing in Dongmyeong-dong. It was nice for photos and for slowly drinking while enjoying the atmosphere.

But... Hwan-sang-i still did not know at that point that this would not be the last alcohol of the night... Hahahahahahaha.

Pretzels come as the basic snack. Take a sip of cocktail, pick up a pretzel, talk to the people beside you... exactly that kind of atmosphere.

And the moment the Yuyu cards in the background of the photo came into view—the cards asking, “Who seems the most ~?”—I think Hwan-sang-i’s fate was already decided. Hahahahahahaha.

The energy rose when the games began

From here, people started playing games together. Hwan-sang-i is naturally the type who barely gets shy. Talking to strangers does not feel difficult, and especially when there is a group game... Hwan-sang-i’s energy suddenly goes completely wild. Hahahahahahaha.

I cheer well, react well, and when the game’s atmosphere rises, Hwan-sang-i rises with it. That is definitely a strength, but on this day... it became a fatal weakness.

You can enjoy darts and card games too

There is an electronic dart machine on one side too. It is not just a space for drinking: there were plenty of ways to naturally become close with people, including card games, darts, and conversation.

So you may walk in thinking it is an ordinary Dongmyeong-dong solo-drinking bar, then find yourself playing much more actively than expected. If you enjoy mingling with people and playing games like Hwan-sang-i, this style could be quite fun.

Behind the bar, many kinds of liquor are lined up. Seeing the bottles under the lights together with the dart machine in back gives it a hip feeling as well as a proper cocktail-bar atmosphere.

It was also impressive how the owners kept creating an atmosphere where conversation could naturally continue between guests. When you visit alone, the hardest thing is, “Who should I talk to first?” They naturally loosen that awkwardness through games.

There is fun in watching cocktails being made up close too. With all the different liquors and syrups laid out, Hwan-sang-i, who knows nothing about alcohol, immediately became full of questions. What is this? What is that? Hahahahahahaha. Waiting for a cocktail made directly by the owner was another part of enjoying the bar.

There are really so many kinds of alcohol, right? If you do not know what to drink, it might be good to say what flavors you like or what strength you want and ask for a recommendation. Especially for a first solo cocktail experience in Dongmyeong-dong, I recommend starting with a drink suited to your taste rather than blindly choosing a high-proof option.

And I cannot avoid mentioning the owners here... both are younger than Hwan-sang-i, but their looks are... at a level where you would believe they were in their twenties. Hahahahahahaha. When they heard Hwan-sang-i’s age, they were surprised and said I looked young... thank you. Even if it was just flattery, thank you. I will remember those words forever. Hahahahahahaha.

Why is Hwan-sang-i the only one getting picked in every game?

Now... we had become close with the guests and the group games really began. Hwan-sang-i was raising the energy alone, shouting, “Wooooo!” and “Let’s gooooo!” Hahahahahahaha. Because of that, we got close to complete strangers really quickly. At some point, it was no longer a solo-drinking bar; we were all just at a party together.

But there was one problem. Every time we played a game... why... why do they keep picking only Hwan-sang-i?! Hahahahahahahahaha. One penalty shot. Another penalty shot. Yet another penalty shot. And why do the penalty shots keep getting stronger?! Hahahahahahaha. These young men and women caught one Young Forty hyung and kept feeding him drinks. Hey, hyung is old now!! Go easy on me!! Hahahahahahaha.

How Chomyeon differs from other solo-drinking bars

That day, I also talked with guests who had visited a few times. From what I heard on site, Chomyeon has a fairly high proportion of women guests compared with other solo-drinking bars. There really were a lot of women there at the time I visited too.

So Hwan-sang-i thought about why that might be... Ah... is it because the owners are handsome? Hahahahahahaha. Of course, that is only Hwan-sang-i’s personal thought.

But on the day I visited, it was certainly impressive how men and women naturally mixed, played games, and talked in a lively atmosphere. Among Gwangju solo-drinking bars, people who want to mingle with strangers rather than quietly drink alone may find this concept fun.

Videos play on one side, and with a cocktail under the dim lights, the mood itself is quite atmospheric. So when I first came in, I thought, “Oh... it feels like a quiet cocktail bar?” But once the games started and guests became close, the atmosphere changed completely.

It starts with a quiet drink, then somehow turns into everyone laughing and chatting together. That was the Dongmyeong-dong solo-drinking bar Chomyeon as I experienced it.

Is it okay to visit alone?

The Hwan-sang-i Nam-mae visited together this time, but after actually hanging out there, I thought it could be plenty of fun even alone. Even if you visit by yourself, the owners create the atmosphere through games, and as you play, you naturally start talking with the strangers beside you.

So if you want a drink alone but would rather lightly mingle with people than remain completely quiet by yourself, Chomyeon’s approach may suit you well. In particular, if you like cocktails and naturally meeting new people, it seemed worth visiting at least once for a different kind of solo cocktail experience in Dongmyeong-dong.

In the end, I walked out drunk

Here is the problem. Hwan-sang-i had already been drinking at the first stop. Then I had cocktails here, penalty shots while playing games, more penalty shots... again... and again... Hahahahahahaha. By the time I left, I was simply drunk. Really drunk. Parts of my memory are a little hazy too. Hahahahahahaha.

At the end, the guests we had played with said Hwan-sang-i was fun because I talked and reacted well. Wow... thank you +ㅁ+ I really had fun too. But next time, please give me only a little penalty alcohol... hyung is nearly 40. Hahahahahahaha.

Final thoughts on Chomyeon in Dongmyeong-dong

It was my first solo-drinking-bar experience, and it was quite different from what I had imagined. Rather than a place to simply sit and drink alone, it felt closer to a space where you naturally become friendly with first-time acquaintances through games and have fun together with cocktails as the connection.

So if you are looking for a solo-drinking bar in Dongmyeong-dong and prefer an atmosphere of meeting new people over a quiet drinking session, the Chomyeon concept may feel quite fun. You can also enjoy whiskey, cocktails, and highballs, so it is worth keeping in mind if you are seeking a place for solo cocktails in Dongmyeong-dong.

Hwan-sang-i? I plan to go again next time. Why is having fun like this so enjoyable these days... this is a serious problem. Hahahahahahaha.

A place where you enter to drink alone, become friends with strangers, and ultimately walk out drunk.

Hahahahahahaha. That was Dongmyeong-dong’s Chomyeon as experienced by Hwan-sang-i. 😎