Last Round Payer · 41 stories

A Last Tab in Mullae

Notes from a few Seoul bars, mostly written the morning after. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Stays · Things to do

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. cocktail bar after lamb ribs: 8+ cocktails & shots, V-Lab

V-Lab Konkuk is an unlimited cocktail bar with no time limit near Exit 2 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, where ₩18,000 per person (₩19,800 with VAT) covers signature and classic cocktails plus shots, and outside food is allowed. The writer went to V-Lab Konkuk for round two after a lamb rib dinner, ordered cocktails and shots together for 8+ drinks, and enjoyed the pink-and-blue lighting, board games and darts. V-Lab Konkuk is great value with good cocktails, but the drinks go down so easily that you should watch out for getting very drunk.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Sadang sashimi bar: giant futomaki and uni platter, Bunko Dining

Bunko Dining Sadang is a Japanese aged-sashimi bar on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 11 of Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul. Two friends sat at the bar counter with soju and shared a 2-person assorted sashimi platter (in the ₩60,000 range) of flounder, herring, mullet, tuna, uni and anago (sea eel), plus a half roll of futomaki (thick sushi roll). The generous, high-quality sashimi and the packed futomaki make Bunko Dining Sadang a Sadang bar worth a return visit.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung eel restaurant dinner: Hanwoo nabe set & BYO wine, Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese eel restaurant near Exit 2 of Seolleung Station in Seoul, serving eel rice bowls at lunch and grilled eel and nabe (hot pot) at dinner. On a booked dinner visit, the reviewer ordered the set of 1 whole grilled eel plus Hanwoo (Korean beef) nabe for 113,000 won and paired it with La Crasade red wine using the free corkage coupon from Naver booking. With neat side dishes, Kanto-style grilled eel and the new Hanwoo nabe, Manmok is well worth recommending for a team dinner or a date near Seolleung Station.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Renovated Apgujeong cocktail lounge with a seated club vibe: Lowkey

Lowkey is a cocktail bar and lounge on basement level 1 between Apgujeongnodeo Station and Dosan Park in Gangnam, Seoul. After hearing that Lowkey had been renovated, the writer went around 10:30 pm on a Friday and listened to a live DJ over a Wonsoju-based Oolong High (13,000 won), a non-alcoholic Lemon Sour (12,000 won) and Shrimp Heads & Chips (12,000 won). For a bar in Apgujeong where you can enjoy a club atmosphere comfortably seated, Lowkey is a good choice.

Written Apr 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. izakaya with an ex-coworker: sashimi, yakitori at Haru

Haru Konkuk Branch is an aged sashimi and charcoal yakitori izakaya on the 2nd floor near Exit 1 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a Friday, meeting a former coworker outside work for the first time after quitting, two women shared one Haru Sashimi + 6 Charcoal Skewers set (59,500 won) at the bar seats and finished 6 bottles of Chungha. If you want both aged sashimi and charcoal yakitori at Haru Konkuk Branch, starting with the set is the right call.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Day-to-night Jamsil Korean BBQ: scallion pork skirt at Hongkyojip

Hongkyojip Jamsil is a pork belly and Korean BBQ restaurant in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul, about 500m from Jamsil Station Exit 10, and it also has outdoor seating. After a weekend exhibition, the writer and a friend arrived early, around 4:30 pm, and ordered 2 portions of whole-scallion pork skirt (tongdaepa galmaegisal), blue crab doenjang stew and egg-topped cold noodles, staying past 9 pm until the outdoor tables were full. The pork skirt wrapped around a whole scallion is a treat on par with yakitori and the one dish to order at Hongkyojip Jamsil.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Sindang cocktail bar with Marsala cocktail and olive marinade: Plot

Plot is a cocktail and dining bar inspired by Italian food culture, near Exit 11-1 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On an after-work second round, the writer walked into Plot without a reservation and ordered the Bold Sicily (30%, made with Marsala wine) for ₩22,000, the non-alcoholic Balsamic Strawberry for ₩20,000 and an olive marinade for ₩5,000. Calm, dim and easy to talk in, Plot was a satisfying cocktail bar for a second round near Sindang Station.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam Station lash salon: black tint perm for bare eyes, Daet

Daet Gangnam Main Branch is a total beauty shop focused on lash perms and lash extensions, on the 4th floor of a building on Teheran-ro 6-gil near Gangnam Station Exit 4 in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer had let a faded lash perm go for a long time and asked Daet Gangnam Main Branch for a tight black tint perm. The treatment took under an hour and was comfortable, with no allergic reaction around sensitive eyes. Verdict: the black tint perm at Daet Gangnam Main Branch made bare eyes look defined, left the lashes looking coated and strong, and held well for over a week.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Myeonmok Station Korean BBQ: giant bowl of kimchi noodles at Daepan

Daepan Sotddukkeong Kimchi Samgyeopsal Myeonmok (대판 솥뚜껑김치삼겹살) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang, Seoul, where sow pork belly and Taebaek highland kimchi are grilled together on a cast-iron pot lid. Two diners shared the couple set (pork belly, pork neck, grilled cheese and steamed egg), melted cheese over potato to make wraps, and added 7,000 won yeolmu kimchi noodles that filled a mixing bowl so generously that two people still left some. With an unlimited self-serve corner and plenty of sides, Daepan is a satisfying, good-value pick for cast-iron lid pork belly near Myeonmok Station.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Raw fish restaurant in Sokcho for a day trip: 18 sides at Sinhaeburi

Sinhaeburi Hoejip (신해불이횟집) is a snow crab and live raw fish restaurant at Daepo Port in Sokcho, Gangwon. On a Sokcho day trip, the writer visited on a weekday evening in late June and ordered the A set for 2 (₩150,000), which comes with one small snow crab, mixed sashimi, side dishes and maeuntang (spicy fish stew). The 18 side dishes alone ran from mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) to abalone, and the meal ended with crab shell fried rice. If you want a Daepo Port raw fish restaurant with plenty of side dishes, Sinhaeburi Hoejip's A set is well worth ₩150,000 for two.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong Rodeo salon Rebuild clinic for frizzy semi-curly hair: Biorn

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is a hair salon on the 3rd floor of a building near Exit 5 of Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On an early-finish Friday, the writer had a Rebuild hair clinic for frizzy semi-curly hair that took a little over 1 hour. After a blow-dried C-curl finish, the writer left with calm, glossy hair and two natural angel rings (halo-like bands of shine). For anyone looking for a damaged-hair clinic, the Rebuild clinic at Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is worth considering.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. solo bar for a Black Russian after a jazz bar: Yahwa

Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar Konkuk University Branch is a cocktail bar for solo drinkers on basement level 1, near Exit 2 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. After a first round at a jazz bar on a Friday night, the writer went to Yahwa alone and drank a Sex on the Beach, a Black Russian and a Godfather in turn, playing card games and chatting with people met for the first time until the early morning. Yahwa's Konkuk Univ. branch is a good second-round bar for nights when drinking alone feels dull but you want easy, low-pressure socializing.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored