Quiet Hongdae cocktail bar for solo drinks and dates: Bitters

Bitters, a quiet hidden cocktail bar in Hongdae

If it’s your first time, you might wonder, “Am I in the right place...?” and wander around a little, haha. Just head down to the basement of the building next to the mulgalbi restaurant!

The mood changes completely once you open the door and step inside. A display wall packed with illuminated whisky and liquor bottles instantly caught my eye from the entrance ✨

A quiet, softly lit cocktail lounge bar that is perfect for solo drinks and conversation

After coming here with a friend, I realized just how easy it is to talk because the music is not too loud. Lots of people came alone and quietly enjoyed a drink at the bar, while groups of friends like us were all chatting calmly. I would genuinely recommend it to anyone looking for a Hongdae spot for a relaxed conversation over drinks or a solo drink 🥃

From solo bar seats to tables for two and four, plus group seating farther inside, there are lots of options, so it looked great whether you come alone or with a crowd 🤍

Bitters signature cocktail menu

Bitters’ signature menu is not just a list of names on a menu: there is a dedicated booklet explaining the story and flavor of every cocktail! It really gives you that special, professional cocktail-bar feeling... 🥹🖤

Bitters’ one-of-a-kind signature drinks, which you cannot find elsewhere, are ₩22,000. Since they are signatures you can taste only at Bitters and are made directly by professional bartenders, I would definitely recommend trying one here 🤍

Along with its signature cocktails, Bitters is a lounge bar with a broad range of cocktails—including piña coladas, gin and tonics, mojitos, martinis, and gin fizzes—as well as whisky and Japanese sake, so you can enjoy whatever suits your taste 🍻

What do Pereco No. 2 and Pinklet taste like?

For the basic bar snacks, we got crackers, olives, and nuts! They go with wine, cocktails, and whisky alike 🤍

Pereco No. 2

They torched the passion fruit on top, which brought out an extra smoky note! It is a coconut-based drink with the bright tang of passion fruit, and it was truly unique and delicious. The alcohol did not come through strongly, so even someone who finds cocktails intimidating could drink it comfortably. It is the kind of flavor that everyone will enjoy, with no real room for divided opinions, so I would recommend it ✨

Pinklet

This cocktail is appealing for its creamy, sweet flavor. Maybe because it contains marshmallow and strawberry jam, it slightly feels like drinking dessert, and the alcohol flavor is not intense here either, so it was easy to sip. Both drinks were so smooth that they felt low-proof, making this seem like a lineup that even light drinkers can enjoy without any trouble 🩷

Melon jamón alongside cocktails

The melon jamón (₩22,000) came with a truly generous pile of jamón on top of the melon, so I was very satisfied for the price. With balsamic sauce and grated cheese sprinkled over it too, the sweet-and-salty combination paired beautifully with cocktails 🧀

The melon was nicely ripened and sweet, and every slice had jamón on it, so I enjoyed it thoroughly 🍈

A Hongdae spot for both solo drinks and dates

Hongdae has so many places to go that choosing one can feel difficult! Bitters was great for talking in a calm, unnoisy atmosphere, and I was happy with both the bartenders’ skill and the quality of the signature cocktails. It would also be such a nice place for a romantic date with your girlfriend or boyfriend, haha. I would recommend Bitters to anyone looking for a good place to drink alone or a quiet cocktail bar in Hongdae 💛