Jongno-3-ga cocktail bar with hanok sunset views: Saeseoul

Today I'm bringing you a review of Saeseoul, a hidden hanok-view rooftop cocktail bar tucked between the Jongno-3-ga food stall street and Ikseon-dong hanok village!

This is a hidden spot I really want to recommend, especially to anyone looking for a date bar around Seosullat-gil (서순라길) 🪽

The calm atmosphere makes it easy to talk quietly, so it's perfect for dates, blind dates, drinking alone, or celebrating an anniversary. Now let's get into the detailed review 🤍

Saeseoul's location, opening hours and parking

• 📍 Location｜28-5 Donhwamun-ro 11-gil, 3rd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🕐 Hours｜Daily 17:00 - 01:00 (last order 00:00)
• 🚙 Parking｜No dedicated lot; nearby 'Tru Parking Orakai Insadong' available
• 💵 Simple payment accepted

A 1-3 minute walk from Jongno-3-ga Station: the entrance on the 3rd floor above the arcade

Saeseoul, this Jongno-3-ga bar, is only 1-3 minutes on foot from Jongno-3-ga Station, so it's really accessible, and the way there is unique too, which made getting there fun! Turns out the 1st and 2nd floors of the building are an arcade space 🎮

And floors 3 through 5 are Saeseoul! From the entrance alone you could already smell that great-vibes energy .. 🖤

Ikseon-dong hanok-view window seats and Saeseoul's retro interior

Walking into Saeseoul, the window seats with a full-on view of the Ikseon-dong hanoks were the first thing that caught my eye! (Stunning •• 🫨) I'd recommend booking this window seat in advance before visiting.

The inside of the place had a strong retro vibe too. There was a variety of seating, from the bar table to table-and-sofa seats! You know that dim, moody retro feeling ~ 🎵

Watching the sunset over the hanok roofs from Saeseoul's rooftop seats

I went up to the floor above too, and the vibe was just as good there. There are rooftop seats too, so when the weather's cool it'd be so nice to have a drink up there while looking out at the hanok view!

You guys, the power of a hanok view is seriously insane ..... ㅠㅠ I happened to visit right as the sun was going down, so I got to fully enjoy that hanok-view sunset 🌅

What I ordered at Saeseoul, and what it cost

• Flop (₩17,000)
• Pac-Man (₩17,000)
• El Sabor nachos with sauce (₩10,000)

Flop, Saeseoul's signature cocktail (17,000 won)

This is Flop, one of Saeseoul's signature cocktails! It's gin, peach, and orange based, sweet but with a decent kick that hits you fast 🫪 With sugar around the rim, sipping it little by little, it tasted like the kind of drink that'll have you tipsy before you know it 💫

Pac-Man, the low-alcohol option (17,000 won)

Another signature cocktail, Pac-Man! This one is vodka, pineapple, and vanilla based, lower in alcohol with a strong sweet-tart flavor 🧡 Highly recommend it to anyone like me who loves booze that tastes like a soft drink 👶🏻

El Sabor nachos with sauce (10,000 won)

The nachos we ordered came with both cheese sauce and salsa, perfect for picking at as finger food!

And this is the churro parfait we got as a freebie for writing a Naver receipt photo review! 🍦 Crispy churros with sweet cream — just looking at it makes your mouth water, doesn't it ㅜㅜ

Good mood, good vibes ~~ 🤍 We soaked in the atmosphere watching the sunset until the sky went dark.

Restrooms: customers only, one floor down

Saeseoul's restroom is located one floor below! Since it's not a shared building restroom but exclusively for Saeseoul customers, it was kept very clean.

Why Saeseoul suits a date night on Seosullae-gil

Saeseoul, this Jongno-3-ga bar, let me enjoy quality signature cocktails alongside a truly Korean hanok night view, so it's a Seosullat-gil date spot I definitely want to revisit 💘 If you're looking for a good second-round bar near Jongno-3-ga, or a rooftop bar around Seosullat-gil and Ikseon-dong, be sure to save Saeseoul and pay it a visit ⭐️