Jonggak blind date bar: cream cheese persimmons, whisky neat at Hanuk

What kind of cocktail bar is Hanuk in Jonggak?

Hanuk (하눅) is a hanok (traditional Korean house) cocktail bar that's become one of the hottest spots around Jonggak lately, where you can enjoy unusual traditional-liquor cocktails in a tranquil hanok mood. I heard about it and rushed over with my friends!!!

Hanuk was even better than I expected and totally won me over. If you're looking for a date course in Jongno for couples, or hunting for a quiet, stylish bar, I'll leave a detailed review for you.

• Opening hours: daily 17:00 - 01:00 (until 02:00 on Fri and Sat)
• Hours may change depending on the shop's situation, so be sure to check before you go

Does Hanuk's atmosphere suit a blind date or a date?

Inside Hanuk, warm wood tones blend with soft indirect lighting, creating a super cozy and classy atmosphere. Below is Hanuk's menu!

Hanuk doesn't feel like a loud, crowded regular pub. The air is calm and private, perfect for chatting quietly, so it's an excellent place to spend a nice time with people. Looking slowly through the menu, besides the usual liquors there were lots of Hanuk's original traditional-liquor-based drinks, so choosing was a lot of fun.

Complimentary handmade yakgwa and sujeonggwa

We chose Hanuk's signature dried persimmon (gotgam) menu, which grabbed our eyes from the looks alone. After a short wait, our order came out set on a neat tray, and it looked so pretty that we couldn't help gasping.

The handmade yakgwa (traditional honey cookie) served by default was glossy and the textbook example of crispy outside, moist inside. It wasn't oily at all, just clean, sweet and chewy, so I kept reaching for more. The sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch), a traditional drink that goes nicely alongside, was really good too!

How does Hanuk's signature dried persimmon set taste?

Hanuk's signature dried persimmon set had soft, chewy persimmon packed to the brim with nutty cream cheese and walnuts. It was the menu I was most looking forward to, and the sweet flavor of the persimmon itself mixing with the rich cheese, with softness spreading through the whole mouth, was a total jackpot combination.

The lighting is lovely, but it also came out so neatly that I cautiously recommend Hanuk as a blind date bar too~

With the crunch of walnut in the middle, the nuttiness doubled, and I thought nothing could be better as a light snack with drinks than this persimmon set.

Pairing with pine nut sujeonggwa

Hanuk's sujeonggwa, a fantastic match for the sweet desserts, had a subtle, bright cinnamon aroma and a not-too-heavy sweetness, so it was really clean!! Pine nuts floated cutely on top of the glass, so every sip was full of traditional mood, and it refreshed my mouth, making the combination a perfect fit.

Is the taste as good as the looks?

Hanuk lacked nothing, neither in mood nor in taste. At famous whisky bars on Instagram and popular hot spots, the taste and quality are often disappointing compared to the looks, but Hanuk was different.

A bite of persimmon, a sip of whisky neat

Pop a bite of sweet persimmon, then take a sip of cool, sharp whisky neat! Drink it smoothly and the weekend's built-up fatigue melts away. Thanks to the coziness of Hanuk's space, conversation flowed much better than usual, and we stayed without noticing time pass!!

Why I recommend Hanuk as a Jonggak cocktail bar

If you're looking for an unusual Jonggak cocktail bar around Jongno with killer atmosphere, or want to try a stylish hanok bar as a date course that won't fail, please do stop by Hanuk once. In this tranquil, romantic space, you'll be able to properly recharge your soul♥