Jongno cocktail bar with non-alcoholic options: Hondonju at Hanuk

Hanuk B1, 14-3 Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (1-minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 12) Hours: daily 19:00–02:00 Reservations via Catch Table and Instagram

Hanuk: a hanok-style cocktail bar one minute from Jonggak Station Exit 12

When fall comes, doesn't a Jongno date somehow come to mind? After a stroll past the palace tucked in the middle of the city, following it up with a drink in a hanok-style cocktail bar for good vibes would make for a night where love blooms ♡ This is Hanuk, a cocktail bar near Jonggak Station.

Hanuk means a harmonious, cozy space, and it's a brand where Western culture and Eastern beauty coexist. Maybe that's why I saw so many foreign guests — I thought I'd have to bring my foreign friends here next time they visit.

Full by 8pm on a weekday: waiting on Hanuk's daecheongmaru-style bench

I visited around 8pm on a weekday and it was fully booked, so they let us wait in a space styled like a daecheongmaru (traditional wooden veranda). The waiting area had such a strong hanok feel that it put me in a good mood.

First they handed us the menu, which turned out to be a QR code haha

What is Chagyeong, Hanuk's signature cocktail?

Hanuk's signature cocktail is called Chagyeong, named after the Korean architectural technique of 'borrowing scenery' — bringing in natural views through a hanok's windows and floors like a painting in a folding screen. Apparently they capture the food and culture of every region of Korea in a single cocktail. Later when the bartender served it and explained this, and now reading it again in writing, it hits even harder.

The menu explains in detail what ingredients go into each cocktail, what it tastes like, and what it smells like — just reading it made me feel like I could taste it.

Hondonju, Korea's first cocktail — ₩25,000 Dongbaek, capturing Jeju Island from the Chagyeong line — ₩21,000 Dongbaek, non-alcoholic

We ordered three drinks in total.

The seat we were shown to was so cozy and atmospheric that all three of us couldn't help but smile ^____^

Korean beauty shows up in every corner of this place, so my eyes were happy the entire time haha

Gyeongseong Gwahaju, poured on the house as an apology for the wait

We waited a little while, so they gave us this drink as a service (?) to apologize for the wait. Oh, you didn't have to.. but thank you so much ♥

Gyeongseong Gwahaju literally means 'liquor that gets through summer.' Fermented liquor spoils easily in summer, so high-proof distilled spirits are added to prevent that — which is probably why it's a whopping 20% ABV! They said it has a port wine-like feel, and it really was rich yet clean, sweet enough that you'd never guess the proof. I wanted to drink the whole bottle..

Hanuk's hospitality, down to the wet wipes and a glass of water

And even this wet wipe — even a wet wipe here doesn't come without thought. It had a fresh, lemony scent, so when I wiped my hands, my hands smelled nice too, which put me in a good mood.

There's probably a reason they even photographed the water. If our water ran low mid-conversation, they refilled it without us having to ask — everyone was so kind and attentive, I was happy the whole time.

The welcome tea was sujeonggwa (cinnamon-persimmon punch) and yakgwa (honey cookie).

To think you get this kind of luxury just from ordering one cocktail... I've been really into historical dramas lately, and I felt like a noble lady from a yangban household hahaha

Hondonju, 25,000 won: what Korea's first cocktail tastes like

Hondonju, Korea's first cocktail, ₩25,000. As an alcohol lover, how could I not try Korea's very first cocktail? It's one of Hanuk's signatures and perfect for a Jongno date.

The white bottle holds the liquor, and the black bottle holds the fragrance. A liquor that comes with its own scent — pretty fascinating, right?

You pour the liquor first, then add the rose-scented black bottle, and a subtle lingering fragrance rises up~~ It tasted sour and sweet, kind of like a slightly tangier Milkis with a berry note — a really pleasant flavor.

Dongbaek, 21,000 won: alcoholic vs non-alcoholic at Hanuk

Dongbaek, ₩21,000. Dongbaek is a drink that captures Jeju's camellia flowers, made with camellia flower tea syrup, milk oolong, and tonic, finished with actual camellia petals for a soft floral aroma. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions only differ by the gin, so there's no huge difference in taste, but having tried both, the non-alcoholic one felt a bit sweeter.

And of course we had to toast like this.. hahaha

Why Hanuk works as round two on a Jongno date

As we were finishing up and heading out, I noticed the other tables — the group seating and bar seats were all packed too, and we all lamented not knowing about this Jonggak cocktail bar sooner, feeling like all our past Jongno dates had been a waste ㅜㅜ But now.. we're regulars with standing reservations.

It's located within Jonggak's Street of Youth, and within easy walking distance of Euljiro Station, Jonggak Station, and Jongno 3-ga Station, so visiting during a Jongno date should make for an even happier night.

Do treat yourself to great drinks and warm hospitality in such an atmospheric space~?