Itaewon: 5 Rooftop Bars So You Can Live out Your ‘Itaewon Class’ Fantasy
May 22, 2020 | by Will Mitchell
No visit to Seoul is complete without a trip to the international district of Itaewon. The bustling streets are filled with local attractions, restaurants, bars and clubs, and more recently the area acted as the setting for popular 2020 Korean drama Itaewon Class. Retrace the steps of Park Sae-ro-yi and Jo Yi-seo with these 5 rooftop bars offering panoramic views of the surrounding area.
1. The Finest Lounge
Situated on the third and fourth floors, lounge bar The Finest looks out upon Mt Namsan and the iconic N Seoul Tower, making it the ideal spot to sip cocktails and enjoy the nightscape. Fans of Itaewon Class should recognise it from a scene in episode 4, when Yi-Seo and Sae-ro-yi share a drunken kiss. Since the show aired, The Finest have introduced an Itaewon Class-inspired set menu, featuring Svedka vodka, a meal and a chaser for 150,000 won.
*Make sure you call up early and make a reservation if you want to grab a seat near where the characters sat in the show.
Address: 3-4F, 226-6 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Opening hours:
Monday: 18:00-01:00
Tuesday-Thursday: 11:00-01:00
Friday-Saturday: 11:00-03:00
Sunday: 11:00-23:00
(Closed daily from 17:00 - 18:00)
Phone: +82 02-794-6001 | Instagram
2. Oriole
Situated high up in Haebongchan (HBC), Oriole is a rooftop cafe-cum-bar-cum-restaurant owned by famous Korean singer Jungyup. The bar is sprinkled through Itaewon Class under various names and is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
The superb rooftop view makes this bar extremely popular at night, but they don’t take reservations so it’s advised to arrive early (before 7pm) if you want to secure a good seat, especially on the weekends. The first floor is home to an Italian restaurant and on the second there’s a regular bar, but if you go up to the third floor you’ll find the rooftop, where cocktails will set you back around 16,000 won ($13 USD).
Address: 43, Sinheung-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Opening hours:
Brunch cafe: 11:30-18:00
Bar & dining: 18:00-01:00
Phone: +82 02-6406-5252 | Instagram, Facebook
3. O'de Stair
This rooftop lounge more of an intimate affair. Raked seating means you’re guaranteed a great view no matter where you sit and the cosy environment—backed by the dazzling lights of Namsan— lends itself well to casual drinks or date nights.
Aside from their regular nights, O’de Stair is known for hosting parties whenever there’s a special occasion. Visiting Seoul for New Year’s? You won’t find a better spot to watch the fireworks from than here.
Address: 455-1 Itaewon-dong, Seoul
Opening hours:
Monday-Thursday: 17:00-01:00
Friday-Saturday: 17:00-02:00
Sunday: 16:00-24:00
Phone: +82 02-794-6001 | Instagram, Facebook
4. Casa Corona
If you’re on the hunt for Latin American food, look no further. The (unfortunately named) Casa Corona is a rooftop & lounge bar that gives off a laidback, beer garden vibe. The convivial atmosphere, live music and DJs plus an extensive drinks menu make this bar the ideal spot to start your night out.
Most meals are priced at around 10,000-16,000 won, but if you want to go all out then you should try their best-selling Lomo Saltado (20,000): a baguette filled with Peru style salted beef tenderloin with veg, chili, coriander and a fried egg, plus fries on the side. Fans of Corona should test out one of their cocktails based on the beer, such as the Corona Mojito (15,000) or Sunshine Coast (13,000).
Address: 127-15 Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Opening hours:
Monday-Thursday: 6pm-2am
Friday: 6pm-3:30am
Saturday: 5pm-3:30am
Sunday: 5pm-3am
Phone: +82 070-4105-2234 | Instagram, Facebook
5. The Royal Food and Drink
The Royal Food and Drink is a restaurant slash bar famous for its gram-worthy window seat with sweeping views of Haebangchon. Inside, you’ll find raw, industrial furnishings that create an effortlessly cool yet still cosy vibe. However, as the name suggests, the food and drink are where this bar really shines.
The menu is on the healthy side, which is perfect for a boujee brunch after a night of heavy boozing, or if you’re more of a ‘hair of the dog’ type then you can get back on it with their selection of cocktails, wine and beer.
Dishes cost around 10,000–16,000 won and include breakfast options, sandwiches, salads and more. If you’re stuck for choice, try a smoothie (or pineapple margarita) paired with the guacamole breakfast (9000), or check out their chicken basil pesto sandwich (7000) served on soft focaccia.
Address: 406-58, Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 10am-10pm
Phone: +82 070-7774-4168 | Instagram, Facebook
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