Gangmun solo drinking bar in Gangneung: whiskey and tequila at Yahwa

I got a few days off recently and took a trip to Gangneung :) Whenever I go to Gangneung, I end up eating good food, looking at the sea, and wandering around here and there, but this time I wanted to try something a little different — some time alone :) I stayed at St. John's Hotel, had dinner there, and then headed to "Yahwa Honsulbar Gangneung Gangmun Beach branch" near my accommodation!

Where is Yahwa? A second-round spot right by Gangmun Beach

Yahwa Honsulbar Gangneung Gangmun Beach branch sits right in front of Gangmun Beach on Changhae-ro 350beon-gil. If you're staying near Gangmun Beach like I was, it's a great place to swing by casually after dinner for round two! More than anything, I was looking for a bar I could visit alone, and since the name itself literally means "solo drinks bar," it made me feel at ease right away haha.

What the bar feels like when you drink alone

Drinking alone can sometimes feel like you'll just be sitting there by yourself, but that day I wanted to enjoy a drink without any pressure! The vibe was calm and relaxed, great for a quiet late-night drink — and just as good solo 👍🏻

When you're traveling, you're constantly moving around with people, but at some point you need a quiet moment alone, right?! I'd recommend visiting for a drink while you reflect on your day :)

QR ordering and the three drinks of the night

At Yahwa Honsulbar Gangneung Gangmun Beach branch, you order by scanning a QR code and entering your table number. What I ordered was a Faust cocktail, Balvenie whiskey, Jose Cuervo tequila, and Bouchard sea salt chocolate! I mixed it up quite a bit, but that day I felt like drinking a wider variety than usual lol.

There's really such a wide variety of drinks here, so don't just stick to one — try a cocktail, then a whiskey, then a tequila like I did, and take your time enjoying it 🫶🏻

The free snack: chicken-leg-shaped crackers

The default snack that comes out is these addictive chicken-leg-shaped crackers! I really loved them haha.

Balvenie whiskey, and the glass it came in

Obviously I had to start with the whiskey, the one with the deepest flavor, right?! Haha. One small letdown was that it didn't come in a proper whiskey glass...? Since it's whiskey, it would've been nice to have it in a Glencairn glass rather than a regular shot glass, but I guess those glasses cost more, so that's probably a bit of a burden for the bar.

Jose Cuervo tequila, shot two

Next up, Jose Cuervo tequila! Since it's right in front of Gangmun Beach, I took a walk before coming in — if you have a meal near Gangmun Beach and then come here for round two, it'd be perfect :) Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I prefer a chill, atmospheric bar for a relaxed chat over drinks rather than somewhere loud and busy!

Last drink: the Faust cocktail

Lastly, Faust. I like my cocktails strong too lol. I went alone this time, but I think it'd be a great spot for couples to enjoy an atmospheric cocktail on a date!!! Of course it'd also be great for a relaxed hangout with friends 👌🏻

Bouchard sea salt chocolate on the side

I also ordered Bouchard sea salt chocolate to have alongside the whiskey — sweet and salty 👍🏻 I usually buy it at Costco, but my husband and I could never finish it before the expiration date together, so it'd been a while since I had some! Pairing a simple snack with your drinks definitely makes for a much easier time, right?!

Who should come to Yahwa, and on what kind of night

The atmosphere is so nice, I think it'd suit a casual highball after work, or a quiet night when you want to sort out your thoughts late at night :) If you enjoy drinking solo, a bar like this is definitely comfortable.

If you come with friends or a partner, these kinds of games would be fun too!! This is a great place for a day when you want to spend an atmospheric time in Gangneung with someone you love, a date night with a drink, or, like me, some relaxed alone time during a trip 👍🏻 If I come back to Gangneung again, I'd like to stop by once more and try different cocktails or whiskeys next time :)

If you're looking for a quiet spot to drink alone around Gangmun or Gyeongpo, it might also be worth checking out a Gyeongpo solo drinks bar for comparison.

Yahwa Honsulbar Gangneung Gangmun Beach branch: address and hours

• Address: 19 Changhae-ro 350beon-gil, 1st floor, Gangneung, Gangwon, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 20:00 – 03:00