Haebangchon cocktail bar with a fireplace and live singing: Check-in

One-line summary: Check-in at the entrance of Haebangchon was really easy as a last stop for the night, and the atmosphere was better than I expected.

A bar near Namsan in Seoul: Check-in in Haebangchon.

Why I picked Check-in in Haebangchon for the last stop

Check-in is a cocktail bar at the entrance of Haebangchon, close to the bus 402 stop. After the first and second rounds, the last place I went with my girlfriend was Check-in at the Haebangchon entrance.

To get home I have to head toward Soonchunhyang University Hospital and transfer buses, and since Check-in is close to the bus 402 stop, the route worked out really well. Whisky and cocktails are usually either a light first round or a final stop, and Check-in seemed made for that role.

It was raining, which made the mood even better.

What are the inside and seating at Check-in like?

Inside Check-in there is a bar counter where the cocktails are made, and I saw about 2 regular tables. I first thought it was a small, cozy bar, but there was a separate area that looked like a space for performing music, which surprised me.

Going into the right-hand area, there were also about 2 tables for larger groups, and we were shown to a seat further inside.

Why the back seats with the fireplace were great

The back room at Check-in had a fireplace(?) going, and the mood was wonderful. The moment we opened the door, a sweet, dalgona-like (Korean honeycomb candy) smell drifted through, and it turned out the next table had ordered s'mores. That smell alone made the room feel much warmer.

Cocktails and snacks we ordered at Check-in

At Check-in we ordered a cocktail called Dohwa, a Hurukku highball (non-alcoholic), cheese jerky (with nuts) and chocolate. The order was simple, but we were quite satisfied.

The owner handed us a menu book, but every seat also has a QR code, which made ordering easy. The QR code shows more items, so the range of snacks was wider than I expected, which I liked.

Dohwa has a lovely name, and in reality it is a peach-flavored cocktail, so the first impression was soft. The Hurukku highball is non-alcoholic yet tastes like a whisky highball, which was amazing. It's a flavor you'll want to try at least once.

Dogs in a whisky bar? Check-in's two bar dogs

Check-in has two dogs that live at the bar. While we were waiting, my girlfriend suddenly screamed, because the two dogs had run past her feet, haha.

But the dogs were so cute that the mood loosened up even more. They didn't leave my table after the food came, and I think the reason was the cheese jerky. They kept sitting next to me and doing tricks to beg for some, and that moment was seriously adorable.

Cheese jerky, chocolate and the owner's live singing

Check-in's cheese jerky has cheese between the layers of jerky, so it was softer than I expected.

The chocolate was Bouchard milk caramel sea salt chocolate, and the salt kept the sweet-salty combination from getting boring. Caramels and candies came with it too, which were nice for cleansing the palate.

While my girlfriend and I were enjoying our cocktails, the owner set up a microphone and sang for us. He sang so well that I thought he was a singer, and he told us he really was a singer before running the bar.

What I liked about Check-in

• Close to the bus 402 stop, so the route home was easy
• The back room with the fireplace made the mood great
• QR ordering was easy and the menu was wider than expected
• The dogs made the atmosphere more memorable

Who is Check-in in Haebangchon right for?

I think Check-in suits these people especially well.

• People looking for a second round or a last drink in Haebangchon
• People who want to enjoy whisky or cocktails in a nice atmosphere
• People who prefer a quiet back seat
• People who like a bar with dogs

Check-in FAQ

Q. Is Check-in okay as a first stop? A. I think it could work, but I felt it suited a second round or a final stop better.

Q. How practical is it, apart from the mood? A. The route home was easy, so it was quite practical for people like me who have to transfer buses.

Q. What are the snacks like? A. Light things to nibble on, like cheese jerky and chocolate, went well.

In conclusion, I'd recommend Check-in to people looking for a well-located bar and a second stop with atmosphere. Next time I need to finish a night in Haebangchon, I'll probably stop by again.