Gangnam cocktail bar for a relaxed second round: Ugly

After dinner near Gangnam Station, it felt a little too soon to go straight home, so we headed out for a light second round of drinks. We had already eaten our fill at the first stop, so I was looking for somewhere I could focus on the drinks and the space rather than food, and Ugly, a Gangnam Station cocktail bar, was exactly that kind of place.

Ugly is on the fifth floor of the building, and once inside, the space was divided up in more ways than I expected. Along with cocktails, there were various other alcoholic drinks to choose from and even a rooftop, so it felt like a good place to drop by when you want one or two more drinks after a meal.

Why I visited Ugly for a second round near Gangnam Station

I had not gone there intending to drink for hours from the start. We had properly eaten at the first stop and were already full, but while looking for a place for a second round near Gangnam Station, we headed to Ugly because we wanted to have a cocktail and chat a little longer. Rather than somewhere to order another big spread of food and drinks, I was more drawn to a bar where we could sit and drink slowly.

After entering the building, we took the elevator up to Ugly on the fifth floor, and it already felt quite different from the lively drinking spots around Gangnam Station. It was closer to a dimly lit bar than a bright, bustling place, so it was nice for changing the mood after the first round.

Inside Ugly: starlight lighting and wood furniture

The ceiling was the first thing that caught my eye when I opened the door. Sparkling, starlight-like ceiling objects stretched across the room, giving it a distinctly cocktail-bar feel rather than that of an ordinary pub or drinking spot, and the lighting was soft overall. If you prefer drinking somewhere with lower lighting rather than a very bright space, this should suit you well.

The seating area had wood-style tables and chairs, with vintage-looking decorative pieces here and there. It did not feel as though the place had simply been dressed up extravagantly; the lighting and furniture worked together, which made the view comfortable while sitting there. Even though we came straight after dinner near Gangnam Station, the mood was so different from our first stop that it really felt like a proper second round.

Ugly’s signature cocktail menu

What stood out on Ugly’s menu was the signature cocktail section. Instead of a menu that simply listed long names, each cocktail was shown with an illustration, which made browsing the menu itself fun. If you do not drink cocktails often, I think this kind of menu makes choosing a little easier.

There were other drinks and food on the menu besides cocktails, but we did not order any snacks this time. We had come after eating at the first stop, so we were simply too full. There were lighter items to have alongside drinks, but that day we ordered only alcohol and drank slowly rather than adding more food.

A menu for choosing from signature cocktails to bottles

Rather than dwelling on the taste of one specific cocktail, I found the menu itself quite fun. Ugly’s signature cocktails each come in their own dedicated glass, so the shape of the glass and presentation varied even within the same cocktail bar. It is the kind of place where it is fun to look through the menu and choose a cocktail that suits your taste before ordering.

It was not all cocktails; there was also an option to order bottles. Soda or chaser juice comes with a bottle order, and bottle keeping was available if you wanted to return and drink what was left. At the time of a previous visit, there was a storage fee of ₩10,000 per person, so if you plan to order a bottle, it would be best to check the terms again when you visit.

Upstairs seating and a Gangnam rooftop

Ugly was not a bar where you only see the main space and leave. Inside, there was a separate way up to the upper floor, and from the second-floor seating, you could look down at the bar below. The view differed from downstairs, so the atmosphere changed quite a bit depending on where you sat; if you want to sit a little farther away, the upper level looked nice too.

Going up higher, you can also find the Gangnam rooftop space. Being able to look around an outdoor area after having cocktails indoors was one of the memorable parts of Ugly for me. If you are looking for a Gangnam Station cocktail bar with more than just bar-table seating, this is something worth keeping in mind.

When you want one more drink after dinner near Gangnam Station

Ugly also had a space for shisha, and pretzels were served as a complimentary snack. On a day like this, when we did not order separate bar food, having something simple to pick at was just right. Since we were already full, I did not feel particularly disappointed about not adding anything to the order.

Personally, this visit felt more about enjoying the Gangnam Station cocktail-bar experience than the food. It suited a day when you have dinner first, move on for a few cocktails, or want to spend a little more time somewhere calmer. In particular, being able to move through the spaces—from the starlight lighting to the upstairs seats and rooftop—means I think of it again when I want to change the mood of a night out near Gangnam Station.