Korea's 10 Must-Visit Bar & Pub Restaurants in Deoksugung Palace

Locals and travelers both love this red-brick landmark where sunlight skims vintage tables and plates arrive with elegant, clean flavors. Expect fresh, daily-prepped brunch dishes, aperitivo-friendly bites, and a wine list that eases you from afternoon museum dates to evening toasts.

Built inside a 100-year modern cultural heritage hall, Oddhaus blends garden terrace charm with private rooms and a vinyl-worthy playlist.

• Order this: Garden brunch plates with a glass of aromatic white; stay for late-hour small plates and a silky red.

A calm, tidy room where soft-spoken service meets Korean beef comfort—steaming platters, clean broths, and shareable plates that pair beautifully with soju or refined Korean liquors. Loved by office regulars and sightseeing couples alike, it’s a reliable stop mid-walk around Deoksugung.

Specializes in Korean dishes featuring premium Hanwoo; the mood is understated, ideal for client lunches and family toasts.

• Order this: Assorted Hanwoo boiled pork and pumpkin pancake; follow with a warm broth and a light sool.

If Oddhaus is your daytime terrace, Hanamdong is your evening hush: crisp linens, gentle service, and Korean courses designed to flatter premium sool. Locals and visitors come for meticulously simmered broths and grilled heifer beef—flavors that feel classic, not heavy.

Inspired by ‘Sehando’, the space honors Jeong-dong’s history and pairs heifer cuts with elegant traditional liquors.

• Order this: Hanwoo short-rib boiled pork, sea bream rice pot, and a flight of artisanal sool.

This is the sizzle stop: real charcoal perfumes aged sirloin and glossy pork galbi, the kind of aroma that makes conversation pause. A great pre-theater or post-museum table, it attracts both regulars and curious visitors who want honest grilling and a neat line-up of domestic spirits.

Specialty house for aged 1++ Hanwoo and marinated Yangdon-style pork ribs with a tidy selection of Korean distilled liquors.

• Order this: Aged Hanwoo sirloin and marinated pork ribs; pair with a crisp, clean soju or a light grain spirit.

Neon glows and the hush of clinking ice: this multi-floor izakaya is a haven for highballs, sashimi, and hot dishes that carry a savory steam to your seat. Loved by locals and travelers, it’s a go-to for late hours, easy group spaces, and that second bottle you didn’t plan to order.

Run by skilled Japanese chefs; private rooms make it easy to celebrate, talk, and linger without rush.

• Order this: Assorted sashimi, a warm fried favorite, and a classic highball—add a seasonal special if available.

A bright, full-glass address facing City Hall and Deoksugung where crisp pours meet Western-style pub plates—ragù pasta, arancini, and snacks that smell like comfort. Both lunch and date-night friendly, it’s the kind of place where a “quick beer” turns into another round.

Stylish interior with views toward Deoksugung and Gwanghwamun; lunch and dinner menus differ, and time limits may apply at peak.

• Order this: Ragù pasta with a malty pint; share arancini and add a light lager for the second glass.

With Sungnyemun and City Hall just beyond the glass, cold noodles and crisp-fried favorites arrive with that distinct izakaya aroma—light dashi, fried sesame, a touch of citrus. It’s casual, friendly, and perfect for a breezy round of highballs before or after a palace stroll.

Simple, sunny rooms where service shines; window seats are prized for sunset.

• Order this: Refreshing cold udon or soba, plus a sharing plate and a citrusy highball.

Inside a 1940s film-studio building, the room glows amber as platters of shellfish, sashimi, and braises land with ocean-fresh aroma. Locals and visitors gather for seasonal cockles, mackerel, yellowtail—comforting anju that make beer and soju taste brighter.

Bronze winner at Italy’s A’ Design Award; a storytelling pub set in a historic space off Gwanghwamun Street.

• Order this: Seasonal sashimi and a hot seafood braise; add a crisp lager or a chilled soju carafe.

Up in the blue hour, glass towers glow and Inwangsan lines the horizon while cocktails and promotional menus rotate with the seasons. It’s a short, sweet service window—arrive on time, sink into the view, and let small plates and drinks set the mood.

Best for golden-hour groups and date-night toasts; check current promos on CATCHTABLE before you go.

• Order this: A signature cocktail and seasonal bites; target sunset for the most dramatic skyline.

Briny, cold, and sweet—the first oyster snaps and a whisper of the sea lingers as a peaty dram warms the finish. Locals and guests come for pristine oysters in every season, grilled platters that perfume the room, and a deep back bar curated for serious sipping.

Bar-dining with a mixologist’s touch; some items can sell out early based on daily sourcing, so book and arrive on time.

• Order this: Grilled oysters and a classic martini or a light-speyside highball; add a second oyster style for contrast.