Small Bar Hours · 27 stories

Small Bar Hours

I write about unhurried evenings at bars around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Gwangjang Market choco pie shop: wedding favor 3- & 6-packs, Ssuk's

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul (쑥스초코파이 서울) is a choco pie shop on Jongno 32-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Gwangjang Market, selling chilled fresh-cream choco pies made with Korean regional ingredients. While exploring Gwangjang Market, the writer picked up a 3-pack and a 6-pack set, and staff handed over pre-cut choco pies to taste while the order was being packed. Individually wrapped and available in 6 flavors, Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul sets suit everything from gifts for parents to daycare and wedding favors.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonmujang-gil burger joint: shrimp avocado & cheese fries, bd Burger

bd Burger Seongsu (bd버거 성수점) is a handmade burger restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Yeonmujang-gil by Seongsu Station in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The writer shared two signature bd Grilled Shrimp Avocado burgers, one best-selling Double Cheese Burger and fries topped with cheese sauce. Verdict: alternating the fresh shrimp burger with the rich beef burger is the best way to enjoy bd Burger Seongsu.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sinchon lash lift studio: root-lifted Premium CU curl at Zenmove

Zenmove (ZEN:MOOV) is a private lash and brow studio on Seogang-ro 11-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Hongdae and Sinchon. Tired of reaching for an eyelash curler every time and of curls that soon drooped, the writer booked a Premium CU curl lash lift at Zenmove, and the lashes lifted cleanly from root to tip for noticeably brighter, more defined eyes. With a lash serum, a lash comb and even a snack handed over after the treatment, the Zenmove visit was a satisfying one.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk ramen shop for Jin ramen with Red Rock draft beer: Ramen Truck

Ramen Truck Konkuk University Branch is a Japanese tonkotsu ramen restaurant near Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. At Ramen Truck Konkuk University Branch, the writer ordered Jin ramen, handmade karaage (Japanese fried chicken), yaki gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) and Red Rock draft beer, pairing the ramen with side dishes. Ramen Truck is a good Konkuk ramen shop for anyone who wants rich Jin ramen broth and house-made karaage with a beer.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong sushi date dinner: 10-piece special set with uni, Susi Seon

Susi Seon Bangi Branch (스시선 방이점) is a sushi and Japanese restaurant in the Bangi-dong Food Alley in Songpa, Seoul. On a dinner date, the writer and her boyfriend ordered the special sushi set for two, 10 pieces each running from flounder, salmon and tuna to giant shrimp, eel, soy-marinated shrimp and sea urchin roe (uni), and picked one mini udon and one mini soba as sides to share. Susi Seon's special sushi set is a good choice when you want to try a wide range of sushi on one plate.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu attic restaurant where you ring a bell to order: Seongsu Darak

Seongsu Darak is an attic-themed Western restaurant on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building on Ttukseom-ro 9-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, known for a low entrance you duck your head to enter and for ordering by shaking a bell. The writer ordered the Darak omurice (omelet over fried rice), the Darak rosé pasta and the signature pork neck steak, and the Darak omurice, with its omelet split open at the table by a staff member, was the most memorable. Seongsu Darak is worth recommending as a Seongsu date spot or a meal with friends for brunch and pasta in an unusual space.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu mango bingsu café with milk, not condensed milk: Childish

Childish (차일디쉬) is a dessert café on the second floor of 114 Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The blogger ordered five items: mango bingsu (shaved ice), Dubai taiyaki and salt bread taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries), a chocolate latte and an iced americano. Childish says it makes the mango bingsu with 100% milk instead of condensed milk, and the bowl came filled with mango; the taiyaki were baked right after ordering and arrived warm and crisp. Childish is a good choice in Seongsu for a generous mango bingsu with freshly baked taiyaki.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam hair salon nano steam clinic for dyed, permed hair: Beorn

Beorn Hair Cheongdam is a hair salon on Seolleung-ro in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Gangnam-gu Office Station. The writer's hair had turned dry and frizzy from frequent dyeing and perms, so she had Beorn Hair Cheongdam's 5-step premium inner treatment: keratin protein, nano steam, CMC replenishment, cuticle care and a water-repellent coating, with a massage chair during the clinic. If you want a damaged-hair clinic where each step is explained as you go, Beorn Hair Cheongdam's 5-step inner treatment is worth considering.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu bakery café: dark chocolate drink, mini strawberry cake, LOOOP

LOOOP Bakery (LOOOP 루프 베이커리 카페) is a large, multi-floor bakery studio café on Yeonmujang 5-gil in Seongsu, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, that says it bakes both regular and vegan goods in-house. The writer ordered a classic dark chocolate drink, an iced Americano made with dark-roast beans and a mini strawberry fresh cream cake, then explored every level from the 1st-floor café to the 3rd-floor private room and rooftop. LOOOP Bakery suits anyone in Seongsu who wants to pick desserts and drinks to their taste and take photos while they're at it.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulBars

Hanyang Univ. pub, open-air 2nd floor, yakgwa ice cream: Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Wangsimni Hanyang University Branch (아리계곡 왕십리 한양대점) is a two-floor Korean pub in the Wangsimni and Hanyang University college area of Seongdong, Seoul. The blogger went with an acquaintance and ordered bubbling cheese potato pancake and clay-pot cheese buldak (spicy fire chicken) with drinks, then finished with sweet potato yakgwa (honey cookie) ice cream, while the 2nd floor, with its doors flung open, felt like drinking outdoors on a street-side patio. Ari Gyegok suits a Hanyang University night out where you want drinking food and dessert all in one place.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Baby octopus for spice-shy eaters in Sangbong, mayo & roe: Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a restaurant near Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul, specialising in baby octopus and jjuksam (baby octopus stir-fried with pork belly). The writer ordered jjuksam, which Joajukne Jjukkumi staff stir-fried from start to finish. The writer ate the plump baby octopus and tender, never-chewy pork belly with flying fish roe and mayo sauce, then finished with fried rice and free ice cream. Verdict: with the mayo sauce, even people who can't handle spicy food can enjoy Joajukne Jjukkumi's baby octopus near Sangbong Station.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Laptop café by Gwanghwamun Station: flat white & tart, Center Coffee

Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a specialty coffee shop on basement level 1 of 136 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, named a Blue Ribbon pick for 8 years in a row. In a wood-toned space with floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of outlets, the writer had an iced americano, a flat white and an Earl Grey lemon tart, and could also smell and buy coffee beans. Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a good Gwanghwamun café for coffee and dessert, a break or laptop work.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored