Jongno bar for soju and draft beer: Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo

Today, I’m introducing Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고), a great atmospheric bar in Jonggak for a second round of drinks. The name alone is pretty unusual, and once I stepped inside, it really did feel quite different from a typical Jonggak bar. It is themed around a secret cellar in a medieval European monastery, with dark lighting and a lovely vintage feel. Best of all, they have everything from soju to draft beer, bottled beer, and wine, so it is easy to drink together even when everyone wants something different.

A Monastery Cellar Theme and Plenty of Seating

Near Jonggak Station, Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is an atmospheric bar with everything from bar seating to group tables, plus soju, beer, and wine.

From the entrance, it feels as if you are entering a secret cellar—such a fun bar near Jonggak Station! With its distinctive concept, I totally recommend it to anyone looking for an unusual place to eat or drink in Jonggak.

The concept is stronger than at an average Jonggak bar, but it never felt overly intimidating. It would be nice for a date near Jonggak Station, or simply for a drink after work.

What makes this a good second-stop bar in Jonggak, especially, is the range of spaces: bar tables, hall tables, and private rooms. It would work for a blind date near Jonggak Station, too, or for a company dinner with a group!

Even though I went on a weekday, this Jonggak wine bar was busy. I think that is because it has both good value and a nice atmosphere.

For a group visit, you can use a private room or an open room, so it looked like a good venue for a company dinner in Jonggak. It is also a nice gathering spot, so I recommend it for a wedding-invitation gathering, too!

All the rooms were reserved for groups on the day I went. Since it is such a good group bar and gathering venue in Jonggak, lots of people seemed to come here for work dinners near Jonggak Station. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a work-dinner venue or a clean, atmospheric bar with private rooms in Jonggak.

From Soju to Draft Beer and Wine

This is especially known for good draft beer in Jonggak. It is run by an MDM draft-beer quality management master, so apparently they pay close attention to draft-beer quality.

Personally, the drink selection was fun. At a Jonggak Station pub with this kind of atmosphere, the focus is often on wine or beer, but they also sell soju here, so the choices are very broad. I ordered soju that day, and it was fascinating that it came in a glass bottle rather than a typical soju bottle.

I ordered draft beer along with my soju and tried them together, and the draft beer really did taste noticeably different. Since it is also a wine bar near Jonggak Station, it would be a good place to visit with someone who likes wine. So, if you are looking for a Jonggak bar where you can enjoy soju, draft beer, and wine all in one place, this is quite a good option.

A Sausage Platter That Was Great for a Second Round

I expected simple bar snacks, but the menu had more variety than I thought. There were Western-style dishes such as barbecue platters, pork ribs, pizza, pasta, and gnocchi, as well as drinking snacks like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), dried pollack, and sausages, making it great for a second round in Jonggak.

Out of all those options, we chose the sausage platter. Sausages are an easy, unfussy snack for a second round at a bar near Jonggak Station, and above all, they went really well with soju.

The sausages were plump and salty, American-style sausages. After a shot of soju, I would pick up a sausage, then take a sip of draft beer, so I naturally ended up switching between drinks.

The platter comes with sausages, fries, salad, and pickles. Honestly, rather than overly elaborate bar food, I like having something like this that you can eat comfortably with drinks, so it was great for a second stop in Jonggak.

By the way, you can bring in an outside cake and light candles, which was even better! The manager was thoughtful and kind, making this a pleasant group bar near Jonggak Station—and such a nice place for a birthday party, too.

Restrooms and Final Thoughts

The restrooms at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo, a group bar that is good for company dinners in Jonggak, are inside the venue and completely separate for men and women.

It is an unusual, atmospheric bar that would be good for a date or even a blind date near Jonggak Station.

Overall: 3.5/5. The dark lighting and monastery-inspired interior make it a good bar for talking over drinks, and I liked the varied menu, from Western dishes such as pizza and pasta to sausages, dried pollack, and tteokbokki. The soju was expensive, but I liked that people who drink soju and people who prefer beer or wine can all go together. If you are looking for an atmospheric bar in Jonggak, a date bar with a special concept, or a wine bar in Jongno, it is worth visiting at least once. It would be nice for a casual shot of soju, or it could be fun to go with several people, order a variety of dishes, and choose different drinks. Cheers today, too~