Jongno bar for tulip fried chicken: Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo

If you have plans near Jonggak Station, I recommend saving this one.

A medieval monastery concept near Jonggak Station

One of the most memorable Jonggak Station date spots I've visited lately is Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고).

It's on B1, 47-1 Samil-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and just a short walk from Jonggak Station, so getting there is really easy.

The moment you open the door and walk in, the interior makes you feel as if you've stepped into a real medieval European monastery, so first-time visitors will probably find themselves looking around. You can tell they paid attention to every detail of the concept, from the lighting and props to each piece of furniture.

The bar-table seats at the very back especially capture that medieval-monastery feeling. With about 70 seats, it can accommodate groups, and it also has private rooms for 8–18 people and an open room for 8–10, so it looked great for company dinners or larger visits too.

The soft lighting photographs beautifully, and the atmosphere was just right for two people to have a quiet conversation. I immediately understood why it comes up so often when you search for a Jonggak Station date restaurant.

A varied menu named around the monastery theme

A chef formerly from Hilton Hotel prepares the food here, and even the menu names are individually and playfully matched to the monastery concept.

• Pasta dishes including Tomato Gnocchi of the Red Prayer, Monk's Carbonara Cream Pasta, and Rosé Pasta of Silence
• Seafood Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) of the Sea's Grace and Arugula Chicken Salad of the Garden Prayer
• Monk's Feast BBQ Platter and Confession-Approved Pork Ribs

There was lots of variety, including dishes that pair nicely with drinks, making it perfect for sharing with a group.

Draft beer and monastery tulip fried chicken

That day, I kept it simple and ordered 2 draft beers and the Monastery Tulip Fried Chicken.

It came fried in a thigh-meat shape, so it was easy to pick up and eat with my hands. The coating was thin and nicely crisp, giving it that crunchy-outside, juicy-inside texture.

The moment I took a bite, it was one of those seriously appetite-opening dishes. It wasn't salty and had a clean seasoning that kept me reaching for more; even without sauce, the savory flavor was definitely there.

The draft beer came out nicely chilled, and having it with the chicken immediately brought the mood to life from the first glass.

This is an alcohol-focused venue rather than an ordinary restaurant, so each table must order alcohol. They have everything from soju and draft beer to bottled beer and wine, making it easy to choose according to your taste. Corkage is available too, so you could bring a favorite bottle.

For anyone craving something sweet after the meal, there are dessert options such as Dawn Ube Parfait, Evening Prayer Matcha Parfait, and Quiet Cheesecake, which looked like lovely finishing touches. I'm definitely planning to order these desserts next time.

Visit tips for quiet conversation and gatherings

The space itself is quiet and cozy, so I think it especially suits anyone who wants a calm conversation rather than a loud bar. The tables are fairly well spaced too, which I liked because you can relax without worrying about the people next to you.

Parking is not available, and seats are assigned at random when you reserve, so keep that in mind. Reservations are easy through Naver or Catchtable, and solo reservations are possible too, so even solo visitors can drop by without feeling burdened.

It's conveniently accessible from Jonggak Station, making it easy to make plans there. It works equally well for a casual drink nearby or a proper date course. If you're looking for an atmospheric spot around Jongno, I highly recommend Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo. I'm planning to come back and try other dishes next time.