Mapo bar with art-inspired cocktails and pasta: Rosetta

Rosetta, a Baroque-style bar between Hapjeong and Sangsu

If you come by subway, it sits between Sangsu and Hapjeong. Whichever station you use, walk about 5–10 minutes and you will spot this small European-style place.

Step inside and a very Gothic, European Baroque-style atmosphere unfolds. The spacious yet neat arrangement of bar seats, tables, and even a private room immediately caught my eye.

Even the chairs at the bar had backrests and were incredibly comfortable. I somehow felt like I was receiving sacred treatment—such a curious feeling.

Sit at the bar and you are given a complimentary snack and water. I really wanted the unusual water glass, which reminded me of Baccarat crystal. Even the dish holding the snacks was impressive.

Signature cocktails inspired by famous paintings

As you would expect from a bar, there are classic signature cocktails, but the especially interesting ones are right there too. They are a variety of cocktails inspired by “famous paintings.” If there is one regret, it is that I could not drink them all. I want to come back and try them one by one.

There are plenty of standard bar-food options and cocktails too, along with a solid selection of drinks by the glass.

To the right of the back bar were single malt and blended whiskies, plus cognac. On the left were all kinds of liqueurs; I could see nearly every liqueur I knew.

Pumpkin cream gnocchi that was better than expected

Pumpkin Cream Gnocchi

This dish has well-cooked gnocchi in pumpkin cream, topped with sage. I had heard the dishes here were especially good, so I ordered it right away—and it was even better than expected.

The chewy potato texture and pumpkin were delicious even on their own, while the creamy texture with just the right sweetness really whetted my appetite. It was such excellent cream gnocchi that even about ten pieces would not have felt insufficient.

The moment I tasted it, I understood why there are so many reviews saying the dishes here are delicious. It felt very carefully considered. They explain each dish much like at fine dining: the sauce, garnishes, and why each element is included. It was easy to understand, and the flavors came through exactly as described.

Linguine seasoned with cuttlefish and ragù, without salt

Cuttlefish Ragù Linguine

As always, whenever I see ragù on a menu, I order it immediately. This pasta was seasoned with cuttlefish and ragù without using salt.

On the first bite, a subtle squid aroma and the scent of the sea from seaweed spread out, followed by the textures of cuttlefish and ragù. The pasta was cooked well, too, and the strong squid flavor made it delicious. I tend to be satisfied with pasta at bars, and this one did not disappoint either. Before I had even started on the cocktails, I was already hugely pleased by the food alone.

Second Serve and Dream for the first round

Second Serve

A gin fizz is delicious too, but today I finally ordered the Second Serve.

The color and bubbles were just beautiful. Usually, carbonation is added as a top-up, but they put sparkling water into a Boston shaker and pour it back into the glass. I thought this might be to blend the base spirit and carbonation more thoroughly. It is a very good drink to open the night with.

Dream

Just seeing the combination of peat, strawberry wine, and mala spices made me want to try this cocktail already. But the alcohol presence was quite low, so I was very curious how they had interpreted it. On the first sip, the base spirit comes through, followed by textured strawberry wine spreading across the palate. Then, interestingly, the mala flavor arrives in the middle and gives an oddly gochujang-like note. It was sweet and spicy but not harsh—a flavor you could experience only in a cocktail.

A Hapjeong bar where both food and cocktails were excellent

When restaurants or bars become too absorbed in their concept, the result can be disappointing, but this is a bar where both the food and cocktails are excellent. It is great for a Hongdae cocktail-bar date, and I would actively recommend it whenever you want delicious drinks or a different kind of experience. Honestly, I visited because people I know insisted that I should, and once again, a bar recommended by friends seems to leave you with an experience you will never regret.