Itaewon solo bar for low-ABV cocktails: Yahwa Honsul Bar

Yahwa Honsul Bar near Itaewon Station

Another post about the solo bar Yahwa (awkward~). Another bar, another Yahwa. How did I, the person who instantly raises the average age whenever I show up at a solo bar, end up going to these places...? (This ajumma is 34~~^^) I thought about it, and maybe it is because there are cocktails at all kinds of strengths and less of a hangover the next day...? Or because I want to people-watch the 20- and 30-somethings...? Probably that.

So far, I have visited Yahwa’s Dangsan, Mullae, and Sillim branches. It may vary by day and person, but the Itaewon branch definitely seemed to have the highest population density! Itaewon itself is packed with people, not just Yahwa, so there is everyone from people in their 20s to people my age~ Everyone in their 30s, fighting ㅜ haha let’s not feel intimidated~! (I am talking to myself.) Yahwa Itaewon Branch, let’s go go.

Yahwa Honsul Bar Seoul Itaewon Branch is on the third floor at 6 Itaewon-ro 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea, a five-minute walk from Exit 1 of Itaewon Station. It is open 20:00–04:00 Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 19:00–05:00 on Friday and Saturday. On Fridays and Saturdays, let’s start earlier and stay out later.

Waiting for my friend right by Exit 1 in front of Yahwa Itaewon Branch...~ I have become completely hooked on Itaewon, somewhere I did not used to visit much,,, It is soooo fun—people-watching, young-people-watching haha.

Why I arrived at opening on my third visit

Surprisingly, this was my third visit. I had not been able to get in before because it was full, so this time I made a plan and arrived right at opening,,,, Seats at the Itaewon branch fill up seriously fast.

At the Itaewon branch, you can clearly see not only the liquor bottles but also the space where drinks are made. Clean and reassuring,,,~

There was darts too~!

Games to suit your level of awkwardness

There are guestbook cards, a crocodile game, and, what was it, something like Halli Galli too. The girls beside us were shouting their heads off while playing Halli Galli, so that is how I learned they had it lol. My ears hurt, but it was so cute ㅜ hahaha.

If talking to other people feels awkward, you can just write diligently in the guestbook before you leave. If it feels less awkward, you can do the balance cards. If it does not feel awkward at all, you can just start talking to people.

Having tried my way through solo bars, I can say that saying hello the moment you sit down is the best thing.

You do not have to go around saying, “Hello, hello~!!” everywhere haha. Even a shy little “Hello ^^” is enough, you know~! We are drinking at the same table, so we should at least say hello ㅜ

An in-house restroom and not-so-small conveniences

Amazing~! The restroom is inside. I love it.

Huh, wow, amazing. There is mouthwash, floss, and hair ties. For some reason, there are even contact lens cases and solution. They call them small gifts, but these are not small at all ㅜ haha.

There is water and phone chargers too.

Hahahahahaha ideal-type matching hahaha. Will they do it for this ajumma too~ ㅜ haha (This feels a little like a Young Forty person who does not act her age and still thinks she is young ㅜ; haha.) I am kidding (really).

The owner gave us hangover relief medicine right off the bat—so cute. Each seat at Yahwa Itaewon Branch has somewhere to hang your bag, which is extremely convenient (a bag hook is very important).

Cocktail menu ordered by QR code

Because there were three of us, they even gave us two bowls of chicken drumsticks ㅜ haha. You order from the menu by QR code.

• Yahwa ₩18,000 / Dohwa ₩15,000 / Flower Sleep ₩14,000 / A Starry Night ₩14,000 / Moonlight Peony ₩13,000
• Godfather ₩15,000 / Faust ₩14,000 / Peach Crush ₩13,000 / Kahlúa Milk ₩12,000
• Malibu Orange ₩12,000 / Black Russian ₩12,000 / Jun Bug ₩13,000 / Long Tea ₩14,000
• Cosmopolitan ₩14,000 / Catharsis ₩13,000 / Jack Coke ₩12,000
• There are also many highballs and whiskeys available.

Sweet low-ABV cocktails after a hangover

Because I still had not sobered up from drinking heavily the night before, I ordered sweet, low-ABV drinks instead of the Godfather I usually have. This is a Jun Bug, and it is the color of a June caterpillar... It tastes like melon and coconut,,, It is a Korean cocktail developed at TGI Fridays,,, (TMI launch~!)

This is Peach Crush. It has a refreshing flavor somewhere between peach and omija (Korean five-flavor berry).

This is Malibu Orange. Also hahaha, my friend with a terrible hangover ordered this because she wanted to down it in one shot. Hahahahahahahaha 34-year-old ajummas curing hangovers with alcohol ㅜ haha.

The owner suddenly asked to take a photo of all of us clinking glasses hahaha. So cute ㅠ I think he probably posted it on Instagram. So cute, so so cute. The owner looks cute too (absolutely no funny business).

I gradually sobered up, drank A Starry Night, and left lol. Once again, I was the oldest guest that day. Thank you to the young folks who had fun with this ajumma hehe.