Bar open till 5am near Konkuk University Station, Seoul: Yahwa

After dinner in Konkuk, there's always that dilemma of where to go for round two, haha! Instead of a loud, noisy bar, I wanted somewhere a bit more relaxed to sit down, have a drink and talk, so I went to Yahwa, a solo drinking bar in Konkuk.

True to its name, it's not intimidating to visit alone, but the vibe was also pretty good for a casual drink with a friend, haha.

📍 16-4 Achasan-ro 33-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, basement 1st floor 🚇 About 159m from Exit 2 of Konkuk University Station It's close to the station so it was pretty accessible!

Finding the entrance to Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar in the Konkuk University alley

🌙 A big YAHWA sign hangs in the alley, so the mood was set right from the entrance. Along with the sign there's a phrase that reads something like 'Tonight, conversation blooms,' which felt quite different from a typical Konkuk bar.

The stairs down to the basement had soft lighting with posters and props along the way, so the atmosphere already started to shift the moment you walk in!

At first, since it's called a solo drinking bar, I pictured a quiet space full of people who came alone, but in reality it felt natural whether you came solo or with a friend.

What are the bar tables at Yahwa like for drinking alone?

🍸 Walking into Yahwa, the warm-toned lighting and the bar table caught my eye first. It wasn't too bright or too dark, just right for having a drink and chatting!

Because it's set up bar-style, if you're looking for a solo drinking bar in the Hwayang-dong area of Seoul, it wouldn't feel too awkward to go alone. When I visited, other guests were naturally chatting away, so it felt more relaxed than a stiff, formal bar!

Question cards and the alligator teeth game on every Yahwa table

🐊 On the table at Yahwa Konkuk branch, there were props like question cards and an alligator teeth game! I pulled a question card and got: 'Who do you think would burst into tears over missing just one question on a school exam?' haha.

Questions like this quietly become good conversation topics, so pulling one out with a friend was actually fun! Having these little games made the mood much more relaxed than just drinking on its own.

Long tea and Jack Coke at Yahwa: two easy-drinking glasses

🍹 We ordered one long tea and one Jack Coke at Yahwa! They came in highball-style glasses packed with ice, so they were easy to drink and perfect for a slow, chatty round.

Looking at the bar, there was a wide variety of liquor on display, so it seemed good for picking something to your taste. If you want cocktails or whiskey instead of soju or beer in Konkuk, this place felt like a good option.

Cheesecake as bar food, and how it pairs with long tea and Jack Coke

🍰 We ordered cheesecake as our anju (drinking snack)! I don't usually think of ordering cheesecake at a bar, but the sweet dessert actually paired surprisingly well with the long tea and Jack Coke, haha.

It was soft and rich, so it was nice to take a sip of a drink and then a bite of cake. If you're already full from dinner and heading to a second spot, going with a light dessert like this instead of a heavy snack seems like a good idea!

Yahwa opening hours: a Konkuk University bar open until 5–6am

🕔 Staying open late is another plus for Yahwa Konkuk branch. As currently posted, it runs Monday to Thursday from 8pm to 5am the next day, and Friday to Sunday from 7pm to 6am the next day, so it's a solid option when you need a late-night second or third stop.

It's also close to Konkuk University Station, so if you're looking for bar recommendations near Konkuk, it's worth checking out. Go on a day when you'd rather talk comfortably than deal with a loud, packed bar, when you want a light drink alone, or when you and a friend want a slightly different kind of bar.

What stayed with me most was the warm lighting, the relaxed bar atmosphere, and the question cards to play with at the table! If you're looking for a place to have a late-night drink in Konkuk, Yahwa Konkuk branch is worth keeping in mind~~