Euljiro rooftop bar at sunset with chicken lollipops: Another Level

Why I chose a rooftop over a street pocha in Euljiro

A friend who lives in the US was coming back to Korea for the first time in a while, and I'd been agonizing for days over where we should meet. The answer: Another Level (어나더레벨), a rooftop bar near Euljiro 3-ga Station.

Seoul's weather has turned pleasantly cool, perfect for eating and drinking outdoors (called yajang, or pocha-style outdoor drinking), so I really wanted to show her a hot spot in Jongno or Euljiro.

But as you all know, the famous street yajang spots these days are packed, the waits are endless, and it's so chaotic that talking is hard (*´-`)

I went looking for an Euljiro rooftop with a more open, breezy view and some atmosphere, found Another Level, and paid a visit.

Getting to Another Level and parking fees

From the subway station, it's just a short walk down the alley. My friend, who has no sense of direction, found it in one go, so the location is pretty good.

If you're coming by car, you'll need to use a nearby paid parking lot.

It's ₩1,000 for the first 10 minutes, ₩1,000 for each additional 10 minutes, up to a maximum of ₩20,000, so keep that in mind!

What time should you go to get a rooftop seat?

The terrace seats at Another Level had room around 6 pm, but after 7 pm it filled up and a waiting line formed. We wanted to enjoy both the sunset mood and the dazzling night view, so we rushed a little and came around 6 pm.

I'm glad we hurried: at 6 the terrace had space, but once 7 pm rolled around it filled up in no time and a wait started?!

If you want to feel the night air in downtown Euljiro and enjoy that rooftop romance at a relaxed pace, I definitely recommend arriving early, around 6 pm!

The rooftop night view among Euljiro's buildings

The rooftop at Another Level opens to the sky between buildings, and at night the city lights spread out. The moment we climbed the stairs and stepped onto the roof, all of us, me included, let out an "oh…" haha

It sits in the middle of a forest of tall buildings in central Seoul, yet you can see the sky well, and at night the glittering lights spread out. It felt open and cool, not stuffy at all.

A cool breeze blew, and as it got darker the lights came on one by one. It was truly an "another level" rooftop view, just like the name says.

It's a different feel from the noisy street pocha, with a lethal dose of romance, and I thought a hundred times that I was glad we came.

Rainy or cold days: indoor seats, group seating and restrooms

Another Level has an indoor space on the floor below the rooftop, so weather worries are smaller. If it suddenly rains, or it's too cold or hot, there's no need to fret because the indoor space is right there.

The interior is decorated in an antique, unique and atmospheric style, so even apart from the outdoor terrace, if it gets a bit chilly you can go down a floor and carry on your meal.

The seats aren't crammed together either, so it was great for a cozy, not-too-loud chat with friends. It's also good as a spacious group area, and I often saw company dinners and group gatherings.

And the thing that quietly bothers you most at an outdoor-style pub or hot spot is the restroom, right… Another Level has separate men's and women's restrooms inside the shop, and they were clean and pleasant, so I was comfortable the whole time.

Drinks at Another Level and wine corkage terms

The drinks include soju, draft beer, highballs, wine and whisky. Looking at the menu after sitting down, I was impressed again because the lineup was much more varied than I expected.

From basic soju and cold draft beer to sweet highballs, wine and whisky, there's something for every taste. Whether your friend likes strong spirits or light, sweet drinks, everyone can be satisfied.

If you'd like to bring your own special wine instead of the shop's drinks, a corkage service is also available.

• ₩20,000 per bottle of wine
• Up to 2 bottles allowed for corkage
• Base price covers 4 people; ₩5,000 more for each extra person

If you're planning to bring a bottle for a special day, take note!

Chicken lollipops and gambas: how did they taste?

The first things we ordered at Another Level were the signature recommendations, chicken lollipops and gambas (garlic shrimp). Both went easily with drinks.

While choosing anju (food to go with drinks), we ordered the signature recommended chicken lollipops and gambas first.

It turns out they don't use ready-made products; the ingredients for every dish are made by hand in the shop. Maybe that's why, as soon as the food hit the table, the savory smell and the look of it were something different.

Chicken lollipops

The chicken lollipops are oven-roasted chicken drumettes deeply infused with a special smoky sauce.

Every bite was tender, so I kept reaching for them. They're not harsh but clean-tasting, perfect with cold beer or a highball.

The fries served alongside were freshly fried and crispy, and I couldn't stop eating them haha

Gambas

The gambas has plump shrimp soaked in rich shrimp oil and the sharp aroma of garlic.

Putting the shrimp and garlic on the golden bread that came with it filled my mouth with savory depth.

With the cool rooftop breeze, tasty food and a few light drinks, we lost track of time and the conversation just kept going.

Extra order: the pocha dough pepperoni pan pizza

The pocha dough pepperoni pan pizza at Another Level is one I would have regretted skipping. We got a bit wistful as we chatted, so we ordered it as an extra.

They say the cheese is 100% natural mozzarella only.

When I lifted a freshly baked slice, the cheese stretched out richly, and with the salty pepperoni and fluffy dough together it was a taste I'd have regretted missing.

Looking at the menu again, there's a wide range of tasty dishes, from spicy earthen-pot pasta and cream cheese persimmon rolls to earthen-pot seafood stew and hanwoo beef tartare, so it's great for a group of friends to order a variety and try one of each.

Another Level hours and visit perks

Another Level is open every day from 5 pm to 12 midnight, year-round except on the day of major holidays. The staff and the owner were kind from the moment we walked in until we left, so there was no discomfort at all. I'll also share a handy perk tip for when you come out in Euljiro.

• If you set up Naver Place notifications before visiting, you can get a sweet and tangy gold kiwi as a complimentary anju
• After paying, take part in the Naver receipt review and you can receive a free anju, drink, or aioli baby potatoes

Don't forget to join in when you visit. The hours are long too, so it's perfect for a night out in Jongno and Euljiro, right?

I felt oddly proud, as if I'd shown my long-unseen friend a proper Seoul night view and the hip Euljiro rooftop vibe. Before it gets colder, if you're looking for an atmospheric rooftop yajang date spot near Jongno or Euljiro 3-ga, drop by Another Level in Euljiro.