Jongno cocktail bar with a bacon Old Fashioned: Gak Seoul
In short
Gak Seoul is a cocktail and whiskey bar on the basement level near Jonggak Station Exit 4 in Jongno, Seoul. After asking the bartender for recommendations, we tried two signatures: the rum-based Childhood Tomato (₩22,000) and GAK's Old Fashioned (₩24,000), topped with bacon. Gak Seoul mixes Korean classic style with modern touches, so it works just as well for a solo drink as for a date.
Good to know
- Address
- B1, 1 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Getting there
- 462m from Jonggak Station (Line 1) Exit 4
- Hours
- Open daily, last order 1:30 AM
- Amenities
- Groups welcome / Wi-Fi / separate men's and women's restrooms / pet-friendly
- Childhood Tomato
- ₩22,000
- GAK's Old Fashioned
- ₩24,000
- Complimentary snack
- Shrimp chips
- Price reference
- ₩22,000 ≈ $16 · ₩24,000 ≈ $17.5 (2026-09-19)
as written by the visitor on Sep 18, 2026
A Jongno cocktail bar, a Jonggak whiskey bar recommendation: Gak Seoul
Gak Seoul location and hours
Gak Seoul is a cocktail bar on the basement floor at 1 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It's 462m from Jonggak Station (Line 1) Exit 4, open every day, with last order at 1:30 AM the next day.
- 📍 Address: 1 Samil-daero 15-gil B1, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (462m from Jonggak Station Line 1 Exit 4)
- 🕐 Hours: Open daily (last order 1:30 AM the next day)
- 🔴 Amenities: Group seating / Wi-Fi / separate men's and women's restrooms / pet-friendly
Special signature cocktails in a great atmosphere near Jonggak. Gak Seoul, a Jongno cocktail bar where Korean classic style and modern sensibility coexist.
Walking to Gak Seoul from Jonggak Station Exit 4
I had a long-awaited meetup near Jongno and went looking for a nice-looking cocktail bar, so I headed excitedly to Gak Seoul, which has been getting hot lately among dessert and drink enthusiasts.
You can find Gak Seoul easily by walking out of Jonggak Station Exit 4 and heading slowly toward Jonggak Youth Street.
Right from the stairs down to the basement, a subtle, luxurious signature scent greeted me, and my mood lifted the moment I walked in!
The atmosphere at Gak Seoul: good for solo drinks and dates alike?
Inside, Gak Seoul was overall modern, with a stylish Korean classic touch that suited the Jongno neighborhood really well. Under cozy lighting, a long bar counter stretched out, and it looked totally comfortable for someone to sit alone and enjoy a relaxed solo drink!
The spacing between tables was comfortable too, so it felt like a perfect setting for a deep chat with a friend or a Jongno date course!
Menu recommendations at Gak Seoul, from whiskey to original signatures
Gak Seoul, the Jonggak cocktail bar, had a rich lineup of whiskeys and familiar classic cocktails, plus original signature cocktails packed with Gak Seoul's own creative ideas — a really full, satisfying selection.
The bartender kindly and carefully asked about my usual taste preferences and drinking style, so even people who don't know much about cocktails can get a recommendation that fits their taste without any pressure. I picked two of the signature cocktails that best show off Gak Seoul's own color!
They gave us these shrimp chips as the basic snack, and they were salty and savory, so I kept reaching for them!
Childhood Tomato (₩22,000)
Gak Seoul's Childhood Tomato is ₩22,000, a rum-based cocktail with a fresh combination of tangy tomato, fragrant basil, and pepper.
I already love the combination of tomato and basil, and the moment I took a sip, my mouth was filled with tanginess and that luxurious basil flavor spread through it — totally my taste, so I wanted to come back to Gak Seoul just for this.
The balance between sweetness and acidity was perfectly matched, so it never got tiring — a charming cocktail that stayed clean and refreshing right down to the last sip!
GAK's Old Fashioned (₩24,000)
GAK's Old Fashioned is ₩24,000, a distinctive take on the classic with a deep-flavored whiskey base, lard oil, maple syrup, and bacon.
The moment the glass came out, a deep, smoky aroma drifted through the air, stimulating all the senses, and golden bacon sat right on top of the cocktail — the visual alone was full of unmatched character!
Behind the heavy alcohol kick, a subtle sweet-salty flavor lingered and blended perfectly with the whiskey's own character — the best cocktail for slowly savoring over time.
Who should visit Gak Seoul
Gak Seoul left a deep impression with every moment — the cozy, luxurious scent and atmosphere of the space, and signature cocktails with an originality and finish you can't find anywhere else. If you want to slowly chat over good drinks and unwind near Jonggak Station or Euljiro, I'd say it's well worth a visit!
- ✔️ Anyone looking for the ultimate atmospheric whiskey bar & cocktail bar near Jongno Jonggak
- ✔️ Anyone wanting to try original signature cocktails made with familiar ingredients in a new way
- ✔️ Anyone who wants a cozy, upscale space for a date or a solo drink
Where it is
1 Samil-daero 15-gil B1, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 종로구 삼일대로15길 1 지하1층
