Signature Zezé and mojito at Bitters, a Hongdae cocktail bar
In short
Bitters is a cocktail bar in the basement of a building near Hongik University's main gate in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul, entered through a hidden door that opens when you press a button on a large bookshelf. On a repeat visit the signature cocktail Zezé (22,000 won), a mojito (21,000 won) that can be made non-alcoholic, and gambas (25,000 won) were ordered, and the Zezé was finished with a spray of orange essence at the table for extra aroma. With low lighting and wide gaps between tables, Bitters works just as well for a date as for a quiet solo drink at the bar.
Good to know
- Location
- Basement of the building with the Hongdae mulgalbi restaurant, near Hongik University's main gate (elevator access)
- Entrance
- Press a button on the large bookshelf and the door opens
- Seating
- Choice of bar counter or regular table; tables are widely spaced
- Ordering
- Order from the kiosk at your table; two menus, with alcohol content rising towards the back
- Zezé
- 22,000 won (fig, Pineau sherry, lime, orange blossom, bitters, soda)
- Mojito
- 21,000 won, available alcoholic or non-alcoholic
- Gambas
- 25,000 won, served with 6 slices of baguette
- Extra baguette
- 3,000 won for 8 slices
- Complimentary snack
- Salty pretzel crackers
- Price reference
- ₩3,000 ≈ $2.2 (2026-09-21)
as written by the visitor on Sep 20, 2026
If you're looking for a great date spot in Hongdae, or just want to unwind quietly with a solo drink, let me introduce a cocktail bar that's perfect for either!
From the atmosphere to the taste, Bitters in Hongdae nails it — the fact that I've gone back for a second visit says it all! Bitters is right near Hongik University's main gate, so it's super easy to get to!
The bookshelf button that opens the door to Bitters
Bitters is in the basement of the building with the Hongdae mulgalbi (spicy braised chicken feet) place. Walk in through the alley, take the elevator down, and a huge bookshelf appears at the entrance!
Press the button on the bookshelf and a door opens up to reveal a beautiful space! I love this kind of mysterious concept, so it felt fun and special right from the start~
Inside Bitters: lighting and seating for dates or solo drinks
Once inside, your eyes go straight to the wall lined with gorgeous bottles! The lighting is low overall, giving it a calm, romantic mood that makes it a perfect Hongdae date bar. You can choose between a bar table or a regular table — we just went with a regular table for comfort.
Quite a few people were enjoying solo drinks at the bar table seats! Next time I feel like a solo drink in Hongdae, I'm definitely coming back for a bar seat at Bitters!
The tables are also spaced generously apart, so you can chat comfortably with your friends.
How to order at Bitters: two menus and a table kiosk
Once you sit down, a staff member comes over to explain the two menus. Ordering itself is done easily through the kiosk on the table, and basically, the further you go into the menu, the higher the alcohol content of the cocktails! Whoever set that up is a genius haha.
We ordered the signature cocktail Zezé, the refreshing mojito, and gambas as a side.
The default snack that comes out is salty pretzel bites — you know how these things just keep disappearing into your mouth, right? Total addictive snack~!!
We were still munching on the pretzels when our cocktails arrived pretty quickly :)
Signature cocktail Zezé (22,000 won)
Zezé (₩22,000)
This is Zezé, one of Bitters' signature cocktails.
Zezé is made with fig, Pino Sherry, lime, orange blossom, bitters, and soda! Right after it's served, the staff spritzes orange essence on top, and the aroma is seriously... so good!! It happened so fast I didn't manage to catch it all on camera, ugh.
It had every flavor and aroma the menu description promised, so I immediately understood why it's the signature. Totally recommend it!
Mojito (21,000 won), with a non-alcoholic version
Mojito (₩21,000)
The crushed ice is piled all the way up over the rim of the glass, so you get to enjoy it cold right to the last sip! There's plenty of spearmint in it, giving off a strong herbal aroma, and since it's rum-based, both the alcohol kick and the fizz were on the stronger side. It had a sweet yet tangy charm that made it really enjoyable to drink.
Squeezing the fruit on top for a bit of extra juice made it even tastier..! The mojito also comes in an alcoholic or non-alcoholic option, so even people who can't drink can enjoy it!
Gambas (25,000 won) to share with the cocktails
Gambas (₩25,000)
The perfect match for a cocktail — gambas! It's a mix of small and large shrimp, with generous garlic, dried tomatoes, and rosemary.
It comes with 6 slices of crispy toasted baguette by default. I was worried it wouldn't be enough, so I paid an extra ₩3,000 upfront for 8 slices — but the basic 6 slices turned out to be plenty. Don't add extra baguette from the start; add it later if you actually need more!!
Dipping the baguette into the gambas broth was so good that I wished the broth were a little more generous, but the oil was packed with deep savory flavor and hit the spot as a salty, savory side dish!
I especially love dried tomatoes, and there were plenty of them — eating garlic, shrimp, and tomato all together in one bite was absolute heaven.
When is Bitters worth a visit?
From the secretive entrance to the stylish interior and cocktails that please both the eyes and the tongue! If you're looking for a Hongdae date bar or a great spot for solo drinks, definitely give Bitters a try! It's a lovely Hongdae date cocktail bar that's perfect for weather like this, cool and pleasant.
Where it is
3-30 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, B1서울특별시 마포구 홍익로 3-30 B1
