Eat and Drink Your Way through the City

Drinking Korean Style in Seoul

Traditional Korean liquors have been ever increasing in popularity in the past few years. Visitors to Seoul are well-placed to taste and even make traditional liquors while visiting the city. Take a class at Seoul's only dedicated traditional brewery, or sample traditional sprits and incredible food at two of Seoul's brilliant gastropubs. Eat and drink your way through the city with the best of traditional liquors and Korean food!

Seoul's Only Dedicated Traditional Brewery

Samhae Brewery is nestled in Bukchon Hanok Village, and it is the city's only dedicated brewery of traditional Korean liquors. The brewery is operated by Master Kim Taeksang, who was designated as Seoul City's Intangible Asset No. 8 for his expertise and skills in traditional Korean liquor brewing. Visitors to the brewery can reserve* an experience program that will include sampling and making traditional liquor. The program includes the tasting of liquors such as samhae soju, yakju (herbal liquor), and makgeolli (rice wine) and instruction on how to brew samhae soju.

There are one-day courses for tourists who are only in Seoul for a short while, but longer courses lasting 2 months are also available. There is a 50 minute class that includes sampling as well as a lecture on traditional brewing. The lecture includes information on the traditions of Korean drinking culture and drinking etiquette. Class participants who would like to learn about the distillation process should reserve the 2 hour course. There is also a class on how to make yihwaju, a special traditional liquor that was popular with women during the Joseon Dynasty. It was seen as unfeminine to drink alcohol during the Joseon era, so aristocratic women took to enjoying yihwaju, which is a yogurt-like alcohol. It is eaten with a spoon and thus women could enjoy liquor without being seen as unfeminine. Reservations are required for all of the classes.

Explore Bukchon Hanok VIllage

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine are three of Seoul's major tourist attractions. Bukchon Hanok Village is located amid all three attractions and the village is the best place in Seoul to see pristine hanok (traditional Korean homes). Visitors to the area explore the narrow streets and see the beautiful Korean architecture. Most of the hanok in Bukchon are privately owned homes or businesses, but there are 23 hanok that are open to the public. Owned by the city of Seoul, each of the public hanok have signage by their doors indicating that they are open to the public as tourist attractions. Visitors can tour the hanok and observe the interior architecture of the buildings. Additionally, the hanok are currently used as craft workshops, galleries, and meeting spaces, so visitors can also take part in some traditional crafting while at Bukchon.

The Largest Selection of Traditional Korean Liquors in Korea

White Bear Makgeolli Bar & Brewery offers the largest selection of traditional Korean liquors in the country; boasting over 180 different varieties. The bar's creative pairing of modern interior design with traditional alcohol is refreshing and the atmosphere makes for a great dining and drinking environment. The slightly tart yihwabaekju (white plum wine) and Jeonju yihangju (a pear flavored spirit that hails from the Jeonju region) are the most popular drinks among foreign visitors. Yihwabaekju is a rather strong, bubbly drink that is both sweet and tart. It is reminiscent of champagne. The Australian celebrity chef, John Torode, is best known as the host of the British BBC TV show "MasterChef" once visited the White Bear. It's been said that he enjoyed the yihwabaekju so much that he drank 3 bottles during his visit.

The culinary offerings tend toward fusion rather than traditional Korean fare. The dishes are prepared using in-season ingredients and the menu offers anju (snacks) as well as entrees that pair well with traditional liquors. The menu lists the previous month's most popular drinks, as ranked by the number of units sold. Patrons can easily see which varieties were most popular at White Bear. Visitors can also ask their server for drink recommendations, as choosing from over 180 options can be a bit overwhelming. With so many varieties on offer, there is sure to be a drink for every preference.

Explore Apgujeong Rodeo Street

Apgujeong Rodeo Street is famed for its premium shopping and restaurants. All of Korea's top designer brands can be found here, alongside the best international designer brands in the world. In addition to designer brands, shoppers can visit a plethora of indie clothing stores that offer items suitable for a wide range of tastes. There are also several restaurants in the Apgujeong Rodeo area that was listed in the recent Michelin Seoul Guide!

A 21st Century Traditional Craft Brewery with Gastronomic Delights

The Korean Mak House, Mr. Ahn's Craft Makgeolli is a craft brewery that offers a wide assortment of traditional liquors as well as modern gourmet cuisine. Diners will be able to choose from a diverse alcohol menu that includes varieties of takju (unrefined rice wine, makgeolli is a popular variety of takju), varieties of cheongju (refined rice wine) and soju. The brewery and gastropub is known for only using freshly harvested rice and no artificial ingredients in their liquor. Befitting of an establishment that pairs the traditional and the modern, the interior design is quirky and eclectic. The menu presents each alcoholic offering with a graph that indicates the lightness of the drink, the sweetness, and the alcohol content, which makes choosing a drink simple, even for those who are completely unfamiliar with traditional liquors. 

The culinary menu offers Korean fare; from meals to anju (snacks that are paired with alcohol). Menu items are cooked using seasonal ingredients from across Korea. For visitors who prefer to have a light snack rather than a meal, the menu offers different low-priced nibbles that start at 1,000 won and range up to 5,000 won. The plating of all the menu items is gorgeous and here is sure to be pleasing to both the eye and the palate.

Explore Noksapyeong's Gyeongnidan Road

Gyeongnidan Road is located just a 10 minute walk away from the nightlife hotspot of Itaewon. Gyeongnidan is known for its abundance of great restaurants, most of which serve foreign or fusion cuisine. Fans of craft beer should note that Gyeongnidan Road is particularly famous as the home of Korea's craft beer scene. Visitors to this area can sample beer and food from around the world, and there are many tiny restaurants and cafes that are waiting to be discovered.