[‘Honbap: eating alone’ / ‘Honsul: drinking alcohol alone’]
Eating or drinking solo, dubbed in Korean as honbap and honsul respectively, is becoming more common in Korea. To keep up with the trend, an increasing number of restaurants and bars in Seoul are designed in a way to allow solo customers to enjoy their personal time to the fullest. If you are planning to travel solo, read on for our top six recommended places to give yourself a treat!

 

From the garden to your table, Yangbo


For a nutritious but delicious meal, visit Yangbo. Yangbo serves food made with fresh vegetables personally grown in the restaurant’s garden. Its signature menus are pork cutlet with omelet soufflé and Hamburg steak. Kkagdugi (diced radish kimchi) served on the side enhances the flavors of these savory menus with its spicy yet refreshing taste.

 

 

 

 


You will be pleased even before you take a bite as the food here is presented adorably with an artistic touch, thanks to the owner’s talent as a food stylist. The desserts are also unique, like the grilled butter banana, cosmos tea, and lotus tea. After a satisfying meal, take some time to look around the attractions nearby, such as Seodamun Museum of Natural History, or walk along the Ansan Jarak-gil Trail.

☞ Address: 1F, 18, Yeonhui-ro 28-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Sinchon Station (Seoul Subway Line 2). Take a taxi for approx. 10 min.
☞ Operating hours: 09:00-21:00 (Closed Mondays)
☞ Reservations: +82-2-336-8596 (Assistance in English available)
☞ Signature menus: Handmade pork cutlet 10,000 won (additional 4,000 won with omelet soufflé) / Oven-baked Hamburg steak 14,000 won / Salad of the day M 8,000 won, L 14,000 won / Grilled butter banana 5,000 won

 

Soft and savory avocado burger, Downtowner


Downtowner is a popular burger place that was featured in Korea’s food television show “Wednesday Food Talk.” Its signature burger is the avocado burger. The colorful juicy burgers look even more scrumptious in their black and white striped wrapping paper, served stuffed in a rectangular box.

Avocado burger & cheeseburger

Toasty buns, fresh vegetables, and the plump, juicy patty create a perfectly balanced harmony of flavors together with the smooth taste of avocado slices. It’s recommended to visit when you’re not in a rush as you may have to wait in line due to the restaurant’s popularity,

☞ Address
- Cheongdam branch: 1F, 14, Dosan-daero 53-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Hannam Branch: 28-4, Itaewon-ro 42-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions
- Cheongdam branch: Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Seoul Subway Bundang Line), Exit 5. Walk approx. 7 min.
- Hannam branch: Itaewon Station (Seoul Subway Line 6), Exit 3. Walk approx. 9 min.
☞ Operating hours: 11:30-21:30 (Last order 20:30)
☞ Reservations: No reservation policy
☞ Signature menus: Avocado burger 9,300 won / Bacon cheeseburger 7,500 won / Cheeseburger 6,800won / Garlic butter fries 6,300 won

 

Koreans’ comfort food, Parc

 

 


Parc specializes in authentic home-cooked Korean meals. The restaurant has already been visited by numerous international visitors. Not only was Parc chosen as the best restaurant by the Vans International Pro Team during their Korea tour, but it also catered delicious lunch boxes to Facebook Korea’s global conference.

Namul bibimbap meal set

Parc is the perfect place to honbap as the menus are offered in individual servings. Menus served may seem simple and plain, but the taste proves otherwise. Lunch menu changes every two days, rotating the main ingredients among vegetables, meat, and seafood.

☞ Address: 26-5, Itaewon-ro 55ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Hangangjin Station (Seoul Subway Line 6). Walk approx. 6 min.
☞ Operating hours: Lunch 11:30-15:30 / Dinner 17:30-22:00 (Friday-Saturday 17:00-23:00)
☞ Reservations: +82-2-792-2022 (English, Japanese)
☞ Signature menus: Lunch 8,000~15,000 won / Dinner 8,700~25,000 won

 

Live music café, Jebi Dabang


Jebi Dabang is a playground for all adults who love music. Jebi Dabang, which means “Swallow Coffee Shop,” is jokingly referred to as “Drunken Swallow” at night as this stylish café turns into a live music club after 6 p.m. The live music performance takes place on the basement floor every week from Thursday to Sunday; no additional entrance fee is required to enjoy the performance.
 

 

 


The most popular menu at Jebi Dabang is the old-fashioned grilled rice cakes. A plate of grilled rice cakes is served together with honey and soy dipping sauce, giving more flavors to the mildly sweet and chewy rice cakes. Traditional drinks to go along with the rice cakes, such as misutgaru (roasted mixed grain powder drink) and yuzu tea, as well as alcoholic beverages.

☞ Address: 24, Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Sangsu Station (Seoul Subway Line 6), Exit 3. Walk approx. 3 min.
☞ Operating hours: 10:00-02:00 Daily (Live stage performance Thursday-Sunday)
☞ Reservations: No reservation policy
☞ Signature menus: Grilled rice cakes 5,000 won / Craft beer 4,000 won / Sugar-coated tomatoes 6,000 won / Misutgaru 8,000 won / Yuzu tea 5,000 won / Americano 4,500 won

 

Choose from over 30 kinds of craft beer, Mikkeller Bar

Beer lovers are in for a treat! At Mikkeller Bar, visitors can taste up to 30 different kinds of craft beer from Denmark. A one-time visit may not be enough as the bar’s tap lineup changes regularly. Along with the tapped beer for visitors to try out, house beers with different levels of hops, alcohol content, taste, and scent are also available.

 

 

 


Aside from the wide selection of beers to choose from, Mikkeller Bar also has glasses in different sizes, offering an excellent tasting opportunity for solo drinkers. What makes Mikkeller Bar even more special for honsul visitors are its hallway-like rooms. These special well-lit rooms are separated by partitions, allowing visitors to take advantage of a peaceful time alone.

☞ Address: 33, Dosan-daero 17-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Sinsa Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 8. Walk approx. 11 min.
☞ Operating hours: Weekdays 17:00-24:00 / Saturdays 14:00-24:00 / Sundays 14:00-22:00
☞ Reservations: Reservations accepted only in Winter (December-February); same-day reservation accepted before 21:00 / +82-70-4231-4723 (Assistance in English available)
☞ Signature menus: Spontan Cassis 8,000 won / Chipolata so melting grilled cheese sandwich 12,000 won / Truffle French fries 8,500 won


 

A cozy yet stylish bar, More than Whiskey


If you are seeking to spend an evening at a luxurious, classic bar, but intimidated to enter alone, then More than Whiskey is just the place for you. The bar may feel like a cozy café at a glance but the dim mood lights and the surrounding atmosphere are enough to pass as a classic yet stylish bar. If you’re not familiar with whiskeys, just ask the friendly bartender for a recommendation.
 

 

 


One of the best menus at More than Whiskey is the Godfather cocktail. Order one of these and you will be entertained with a mini fire show. Instead of sitting at a corner and spending your time alone, take a seat at the counter for an opportunity to make new friends!

☞ Address: 25, Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Noksapyeong Station (Seoul Subway Line 6), Exit 2. Walk approx. 11 min.
☞ Operating hours: 19:00-03:00 Daily
☞ Reservations: No reservation policy
☞ Signature menus: Godfather 14,000 won / Moscow mule 13,000 won / Negroni 14,000 won


*We advise you to check details before visiting.
 『 COPYRIGHTS ©KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  www.visitkorea.or.kr 』


韓国旅行情報のすべて : トリップポーズ   http://www.trippose.com
South Korea travel tips and articles : TRIP-PROPOSE      http://en.trippose.com
韩国旅游提示和文章 : TRIP-PROPOSE       http://cn.trippose.com
韓國旅遊提示和文章 : TRIP-PROPOSE       http://tw.trippose.com  /  http://hk.trippose.com