Jonggak weekend date pub comparing pale and wit ale: Sudowonui

Today I'm introducing a bar with a really unusual atmosphere that I discovered in Jonggak.

The name alone, Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고, "the monastery's secret cellar"), makes you curious. It's a dining pub where the interior feels like a medieval European monastery, with good food and plenty of beers and wines. I'd recommend it as a date spot near Jonggak Station, for get-togethers with friends, and for anyone looking for an unusual place for a company dinner.

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo hours, parking and reservations

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (Monk's Secret Cellar), the Jonggak flagship, is at 47-1 Samil-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, in the basement. Hours are Mon–Sat 17:00–24:00 (last order 23:00) and Sunday 17:00–23:00 (last order 22:00).

• Parking: not available at the venue
• Reservations: Naver Reservation and CatchTable
• Group bookings require a deposit

What is the atmosphere like at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo?

You go through a brick arched entrance and down a staircase to the basement. Walking down the stairs, it honestly felt like stepping into the secret cellar of a medieval European monastery.

Soft lighting, candles and stylish music come together for a really unusual mood. I visited on a weekend evening, and besides couples on dates, there were plenty of groups hanging out too.

Seating and private rooms for groups

With about 70 seats, it was bigger than I expected, and the variety of seating looked handy for different purposes.

• Bar table
• Hall tables
• Private room for 10–16 people
• Open room for 8–10 people

It works for everything from small get-togethers to big group dinners.

The restrooms are separated by gender, which is convenient, and there are various charging cables for your phone, which felt like a thoughtful touch.

What we ordered at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo

We ordered these four things that day.

• Monastery Garden Arugula Jambon Pizza
• Grace of the Sea Seafood Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)
• Saint's Garden Ale
• Monk's White Cup

The menu is said to be developed by a chef who previously worked at a Hilton hotel in New Zealand. You can try pizza, pasta, gnocchi, barbecue platters and more.

Pale ale or wit ale: which craft beer is better?

Let me start with the craft beers. Saint's Garden Ale is a pale ale, clean with a subtle hop aroma, while Monk's White Cup is a wit ale with a smooth, refreshing flavor.

Both paired really well with the food, and each has a distinct personality, so it was fun to compare them. Personally, the Saint's Garden Ale (pale ale) suited my taste better. It was clean yet richly aromatic, and went nicely with the food. The Monk's White Cup had a soft flavor similar to Hoegaarden, the one you can buy in stores.

As someone who usually loves craft beer, I felt like I'd found a new craft beer bar I like in Jonggak, so it was a satisfying visit.

Monastery Garden Arugula Jambon Pizza

The arugula jambon pizza had a wood-fired crust that was chewy yet light. The freshness of the arugula and the saltiness of the jambon (Korean-style ham) blended well, and it tasted very wholesome. It went well with both beer and wine.

Grace of the Sea Seafood Tteokbokki

The seafood tteokbokki came warm in a cast-iron pot. Mussels made the broth refreshing, and the sweet-spicy sauce reminded me of instant tteokbokki as I ate slowly. Both the pizza and the tteokbokki were great as drinking snacks.

What drinks does Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo serve?

The drinks range from monastery beers, draft and bottled beers, and wine to soju and other spirits. There were so many that I filmed them on video.

Good to know before you go: corkage, time limits and seating

Ordering one alcoholic drink per table is required, and if there's a wait, your seating time is limited to 2 hours 20 minutes.

• Corkage: for 750ml wine, free for an extra bottle if you order one bottle of the house wine (no glass changes); whiskey ₩30,000; other alcohol ₩10,000, or ₩20,000 per 1L
• Reservations: Naver Reservation and CatchTable; group bookings require a deposit
• Time limit: 2 hours 20 minutes when there is a wait
• Seating: assigned randomly depending on bookings; solo bookings are possible

If you write a Naver receipt review, you can join a roulette event! There are lots of prizes and no blanks, so definitely give it a spin.

Where is Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo near Jonggak Station?

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is a 3-minute walk from Jonggak Station.

Jonggak Station date: where to go after dinner?

After eating, we strolled along Cheonggyecheon. Lots of people were out enjoying the evening, and there was even a busking performance, which made the mood even better. We tried the claw machines too, had a great time, and then headed home. The spot is also close to Insadong, Ikseon-dong and Euljiro, so it works well as part of a full-day date course.

Final verdict on this Jonggak weekend date pub

If you're looking for a bar or wine bar with a different vibe in Jonggak, you'll likely be happy here. In its medieval-European atmosphere, it suits dates near Jonggak Station as well as birthday parties, friend get-togethers and company dinners.