Jazz bar in Gangnam: Lee Gyuri Quartet and squid carpaccio, Flat Nine

Today I've got a review of a Gangnam Station hotspot that pampered both my ears and my mouth at once — total sensory overload, in the best way!

I always love listening to music, but eating a meal while live jazz spreads out right in front of you is a totally different kind of healing. A dining jazz bar where you can enjoy a gorgeous live jazz performance alongside a course meal that rivals a fine restaurant — that's Flat Nine, near Gangnam Station!

Where Flat Nine is and when it opens

Flat Nine is on the 5th floor of a building at 10 Gangnam-daero 65-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Hours are Mon-Thu 18:00-23:00, Fri 18:00-24:00, Sat 15:00-24:00, and Sun 15:00-23:00. No parking available.

• Address: 10 Gangnam-daero 65-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 5th floor
• Hours: Mon-Thu 18:00-23:00 / Fri 18:00-24:00 / Sat 15:00-24:00 / Sun 15:00-23:00
• No parking
• Tip: since this place is popular, I strongly recommend booking through Naver in advance if you want a good seat for the live show
• Monthly lineups are posted on Flat Nine's Instagram

Flat Nine's dark, moody room and its surprising seating layout

Taking the elevator up to the 5th floor and opening Flat Nine's door, a dim, sensory space unfolds with the lighting all concentrated on the stage!

Overall the interior is modern and upscale, with soft low-saturation lighting flowing through — the mood really comes alive haha.

From couple seats for two to tables for four and group seating, it's well laid out — but what I loved most was the seating setup! The seats are arranged so you and your companion face the stage side by side, which made it the perfect structure for chatting comfortably while watching the stage, whether on a blind date or a second-stop date night.

Check the performance schedule before you go! I caught the Lee Gyuri session haha.

What comes in the classic course for two at 39,000 won per person

What I ordered at Flat Nine was the classic course for two, ₩39,000 per person. It started with a pre-dinner cocktail and amuse-bouche, then moved through bread and a seasonal salad, pasta, a main steak, and finally dessert.

1. Pre-dinner cocktail and amuse-bouche: crispy dauphinoise

It started with a refreshing pre-dinner drink loaded with raspberry, cranberry, mint, lemon, and sparkling wine! (alcoholic or non-alcoholic option available)

The amuse-bouche was a crispy dauphinoise — thinly sliced potatoes stacked in layers and fried — and it was crispy outside, soft inside, with a lemon butter aroma soaked all the way through. So good!

2. Focaccia and seasonal salad: squid and Korean melon carpaccio

After dipping the fluffy oven-baked focaccia into olive oil, out came a carpaccio combining Korean melon and smoked squid.

The squid and sweet Korean melon blended together so refreshingly that I actually said out loud, "Wait, is this really a jazz bar? Feels like a proper fine-dining restaurant?" haha. So bright and delicious, I almost teared up.

3. Pasta course: basil tomato mille-feuille lasagna

A lasagna packed with a rich, thick meat ragu sauce between layers of fresh pasta sheets!

4. Main course: Jeju black pork tenderloin steak

A Jeju black pork tenderloin steak cooked sous-vide with a gentle smoky flavor! The texture was unbelievably tender for pork, and paired with mango puree and pepper sauce it tasted seriously upscale haha.

5. Dessert: chocolate tiramisu cake

A tiramisu topped with homemade cream cheese, savory nuts, and thick chocolate! The perfect sweet finish to recharge with while watching the show.

The Lee Gyuri Quartet live sets at Flat Nine

While enjoying the delicious course at Flat Nine, the Lee Gyuri Quartet's stage finally began! Honestly,

They started with just piano, saxophone, and double bass, and truly showed off their skills haha. It genuinely gets you excited and pulls you right into the mood.

Vocalist Lee Gyuri's live rhythm was carried perfectly by the drum beats, and combined with her captivating, overwhelming vocal tone, I got chills!!

Throughout the 40-50 minute first and second sets, I couldn't take my eyes or ears off the stage, and I could feel every fingertip movement and breath from the musicians — pure healing!

Is Flat Nine worth it? Verdict and weekend happy hour tips

Flat Nine is a perfect five-senses date course — food, atmosphere, and high-quality live music, nothing missing. If you visit on weekends (Sat/Sun) between 3-6pm, the live charge drops to ₩10,000 and all cocktails get 30% off, so I strongly recommend timing your visit for happy hour!