Gangnam Station bar with low-ABV cocktails: Boston Cooler at Ugly

I recently had dinner with a friend in Gangnam and was looking for somewhere to go for a second round, so I ended up at Ugly, a cocktail bar near Gangnam Station. I'd seen it here and there in reviews and on social media before — the vibe looked unique and the cocktail lineup sounded varied, so this time I finally checked it out myself 🍸 If you're looking for a good-vibe bar near Gangnam Station, or somewhere nice for a cocktail on a date, hope this review helps!

Where is Ugly? 5th floor near Gangnam Station Exit 11

📍 Ugly BAR UGLY

Ugly is located near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station. You go a little way into the alley off Gangnam-daero and it's on the 5th floor of a building, so it wasn't hard to find coming from the station.

Inside Ugly: the sparkling ceiling decor

The first thing that caught my eye as soon as I walked in was the atmosphere ✨ The name is Ugly, but inside it's the opposite — quite atmospheric and dreamy. The sparkling decorations on the ceiling in particular looked really pretty once the lights came on. It seemed like a great spot for photos too :)

Seating at Ugly: terrace seats and a private space

There was more variety in seating than I expected. Besides regular tables, there's terrace seating and a private space you can use, so it looked like a good option for dates or group gatherings with friends 🤍

Ugly's menu lists ingredients and ABV for every drink

I took a few photos of the menu too. From signature cocktails to classics like Margarita, Martini, and Negroni, there was a good range on offer. Each drink lists its ingredients and ABV, which seemed really handy for anyone who doesn't know much about cocktails.

They also have simple snack menu items to go with the cocktails ⭐️ Good light options to order if you feel like drinking alone isn't quite enough.

Three cocktails and one snack ordered at Ugly

Valencia (7.5% ABV)

Valencia cocktail 🍊 Made with apricot, orange, and lemon, it has a refreshing citrus aroma with a touch of sweetness. At 7.5% ABV it was relatively easy to drink, and the orange and lemon gave it a quite crisp first sip. If you like fruity cocktails, this one's a light and pleasant choice!

Boston Cooler (12% ABV)

Boston Cooler 🍹 A rum-based cocktail with lime juice and soda, giving it a refreshing, fizzy character. At 12% ABV it's a bit stronger than the Valencia, but the carbonation made it feel lighter and cooler than expected. The rum's distinct flavor combined with the lime's tartness made for a clean, easy drink :)

Mai Tai, the rum-based one

Mai Tai 🍊🍋 A tropical rum-based cocktail with a sweet, fruity flavor. It tastes fairly smooth, but the ABV is actually higher than expected! Sip it thinking it's just sweet and the alcohol sneaks up on you haha. If you like sweet cocktails but want something with a bit more kick, this could be your pick.

Melon & Prosciutto

Melon & Prosciutto 🍈🥩 I ordered this simple side dish since cocktails alone felt like they weren't quite enough haha. The sweet melon topped with salty prosciutto made for a really nice sweet-and-salty combo! Light enough not to feel heavy, so it paired perfectly with the cocktails.

Is Ugly worth a return trip near Gangnam Station?

Overall Ugly had a unique but comfortable atmosphere for enjoying a cocktail 🍸 With a wide variety of cocktails and simple snacks to go with them, it was a great place to chat over drinks. Especially if you're looking for somewhere with a bit of atmosphere near Gangnam Station, it's a solid pick for a second round haha.

If you're new to Gangnam cocktail bars like I was, or looking for a good-vibe bar near Gangnam Station or a Sinnonhyeon cocktail bar, give Ugly a try too ☺️ I think I'll be back to try more of the other cocktails next time!