Jongno bar for ribs and rosé pasta: Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo

Over the weekend, I met a younger friend of mine who runs a café in Jongno. She had looked so exhausted lately, so I wanted to cheer her up and give her some encouragement—we wanted a date night with a light drink and a delicious dinner somewhere with a great atmosphere. Instead of our usual predictable restaurants, I looked for somewhere a little different and found Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo, which had been getting word-of-mouth buzz as a Jonggak Station date spot. The moment I saw reviews saying that a medieval European monastery-themed pub was hidden among the downtown high-rises, I got curious and headed straight over haha.

Finding Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo from Jonggak Station

It takes about 3 to 5 minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Jonggak Station on Line 1. It is also just 5 minutes from Euljiro 1-ga Station, so public-transit access is honestly top-notch.

It is on the first basement level of Samil-daero 17-gil in Jongno, Seoul, so it was easy to find. Rather than bringing a car, I would recommend taking the subway and coming comfortably.

Reservations and things to know before visiting

It is such a popular hot spot that there can be a wait on weekend evenings. My little tip is to check Naver reservations before you go. Also, each table is required to order alcohol or a bottle. It is perfect for a Jonggak Station dinner date with a light beer or glass of wine.

An exotic space like a medieval European monastery

Once you enter, the brick arched staircase feels as though it leads to another world. The moment we went underground, soft candlelight and the rough stone-wall interior caught my eye.

There were so many props to look at—monk robes, knight’s armor decorations, and vintage candlesticks—so it was really fun to take it all in 🤍

It was dark yet cozy and romantic, making it such a nice place for two people to chat away together. My friend could not take her eyes off the distinctive, unusual atmosphere either, saying she absolutely loved it.

Besides the tables in the main hall, there are private rooms for 10 to 16 people and open rooms farther inside, so it also looked excellent for gatherings or company dinners.

You can comfortably choose from the photos and order using the tablet at each table.

Ribs, rosé pasta, and craft beer together

We ordered the signature ribs, rosé pasta, and craft beer. Even the menu name was funny: “Ribs Permitted After Confession,” haha.

The ribs, made with chilled Korean pork back ribs, had a deep aroma from being cooked on a char grill and in the oven.

The ribs were so tender that they cut very easily even with scissors. The meat slipped gently off the bone, and the barbecue sauce had soaked in beautifully. They thoughtfully gave us mini tongs and disposable finger gloves, so we could eat comfortably without getting sauce on our hands.

It came generously with crisp fries, fresh salad, and house-made pickles.

I had been craving rosé pasta for a while, and its thick, rich sauce was a perfect match for the ribs.

My friend is usually quite picky about food, but she enjoyed the ribs and pasta so much that I truly felt it had been worth bringing her here.

For beer, we tried the dark beer that many other tables were having and a fragrant ale. The rich, nutty, smooth dark beer and the refreshing ale with a spreading floral aroma seemed to make the food taste even better~

It was a completely satisfying Jonggak Station dinner-date spread.

Recommended for an unusual Jonggak date or gathering

To give you the conclusion first, it was an unbeatable choice for enjoying delicious food and beer in an unusual mood. The atmosphere was so perfect that I wondered whether there could be another Jonggak Station dinner-date spot quite like it. Since it is underground, though, you should watch your step when going up and down the stairs. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves themed spaces or is looking for a quiet, romantic Jonggak Station dinner date. Next time, I am definitely planning to reserve a room and return with other friends for a gathering.