Euljiro solo drinking bar packed 30 minutes after opening: Yahwa

Today I'm bringing you my visit to one of Seoul's hottest solo drinking bars, Yahwa Honsul Bar Euljiro, located in Euljiro. (About me: woman, INTP)

Where is Yahwa Honsul Bar Euljiro, and what are its hours?

Yahwa Honsul Bar Euljiro is located very close to Euljiro Station, so it's easy to get to. It's on the 2nd floor, and there's a signboard out front that makes it easy to find.

• Hours: Fri, Sat 19:00–04:00
• Hours: Sun–Thu 20:00–04:00
• *Note: only opens an hour earlier on Fridays and Saturdays

Even on weekdays, Yahwa Euljiro apparently fills up within 20–30 minutes of opening. So I'd recommend checking Instagram ahead of time and either rushing at opening or joining the waitlist. (Waiting is only handled through Instagram!)

The restroom is located on the stairs leading up to the store. Men's and women's are separate, so be careful not to mix them up!!

Friday 7:10pm: three parties already in 10 minutes after opening

I arrived at Yahwa Euljiro around 7:10pm on a Friday. It had only been open about 10 minutes, but I was worried about a wait so I hurried over — and three parties were already there!!

Amenities at Yahwa, from lens solution to body perfume

On the wall at Yahwa Euljiro they have contact lens solution, mouthwash, and self-serve water.

They also had chargers, hand cream, body perfume, and more. I've been to quite a few solo drinking bars, but Yahwa Euljiro felt like it had the best amenity setup by far!

Board games for breaking the ice with strangers

They also have games that are great for breaking the ice with the people next to you. Halli Galli, Rummikub, balance games, image games, crocodile dentist games — classics are best!

This is the scene just 10 minutes after opening!! I really got a sense of how popular this place is — a steady stream of customers kept coming even after me, and it was full by roughly 30 minutes after opening.

How the waitlist works and the waiting zone inside

You can join the waitlist through Instagram or in person at Yahwa Euljiro. Since so many people are waiting, if you don't show up within 10 minutes of getting the call, you get bumped to the next spot — so I'd recommend waiting nearby or in the store's waiting area! This was actually the first solo drinking bar I've seen with a dedicated waiting zone inside, which was pretty surprising haha.

There are even blankets available for anyone who's cold. Though honestly, with so many customers packed in, it got pretty warm and you probably won't need one haha.

Ordering by QR code and paying by table number

Staff personally seat you, and you order through a QR code menu. Right under your table there's a number — that's your table number — so just tell them your number and pay when you leave.

A glass of Macallan, chatting with the next seat, and the age range

I started off simply, ordering a glass of Macallan and looking around. I also checked out the guestbook — a must — and chatted with the people next to me to break the ice. Since this is Euljiro, there were a lot of office workers who'd come straight from work. The age range varied widely; there were a few people in their late 20s to early 30s, and quite a few in their early 20s too. Overall the crowd skewed a bit older, so anyone worried about it being too young can come without concern.

The crocodile dentist game and balance games! The balance game especially was great for loosening up the mood.

Table setting: chicken-leg crackers and bourbon chocolate

The default snacks were chicken-leg-shaped crackers and bourbon chocolate. The crackers were refillable, but the bourbon chocolate was listed separately on the food menu, so it seems like it wasn't refillable.

You could choose neat, shot, or on the rocks, and I started with on the rocks. Everyone else seemed to be ordering a lot of the signature menu items. I tried a bit and it had a strong sweetness, which made it seem like something women could enjoy without tasting much of the alcohol.

One glass per person: what the 'Yahwa' liquor tastes like

And this one was ordered by someone else — the drink everyone's curious about, sitting right at the top of the menu, called 'Yahwa.' Its proof is a whopping ???, and it's limited to one glass per person. When we ordered it, a staff member actually came over to double-check that we really meant to order Yahwa!! We all took turns tasting it, and honestly, it's insane... tastes like Powerade with an incredibly strong kick of alcohol underneath. Not even a full glass — just one sip and you can feel yourself getting tipsy.... Even people who can really hold their liquor should think twice, maybe three times, before ordering.

Seat shuffles at 10, 12 and 2, plus a free tequila shot

At Yahwa Euljiro, seats get randomly shuffled at 10pm, 12am, and 2am, and in between the owner runs little games that were honestly so much fun! I won one and got a free tequila shot as a prize. There's also a Naver review event where you can choose or draw for things like a wakku-wakku ball, keycaps, or a slang gift — so make sure to take full advantage of it! I ended up winning another tequila shot from the draw too, so I got two free shots total haha.

Is Yahwa Honsul Bar Euljiro comfortable to visit alone?

I visited Yahwa Honsul Bar Euljiro, a solo drinking bar in Euljiro, Seoul. It's genuinely popular, crowded, and stylish — and I could tell exactly why it's so loved. This is the kind of place you can visit alone without it ever feeling awkward, perfect for those late nights when going straight home feels like a waste. Highly recommend.