Seoul nightlife — 15+ top sky bars & best rooftop bars in Seoul

November 29, 2022

Seoul deserves to be called the city that never sleeps of Korea when the nightlife in this city becomes more vibrant and bustling than ever. It would be a pity if visitors missed the experience of nightlife in the land of Kim Chi from the position of rooftop bars or sky bars. Here we would like to introduce 15+ of the best rooftop bars in Seoul that you should visit once in your life. So, are you finding Seoul’s top sky bars and best rooftop bars for hanging out at night? Let’s check out our top rated 13+ best rooftop bars in Seoul (best rooftop bars Seoul) to experience the nightlife atmosphere in the bustling capital city of Korea as follows!

night-street-seoul-south-korea seoul travel blog seoul blog — Vibrant of Hongdae street at night.

Seoul – the capital of Korea is favored by many with the nickname as one of of the most livable cities in the world and is a key destination that attracts million of tourists when coming to Korea. In addition to famous attractions, historic sites with beautiful scenery, delicious and attractive food, crowded and bustling amusement parks, visitors will enjoy its great rooftop bars. If you are too bored with indoor bars and cafes in a closed space, experiencing open spaces is an absolutely different experience. For a great view and enjoy your favorite drinks at one of the most beautiful bars in Seoul, you can refer to Living Nomad’s list below.

Gaja Changgo (#best rooftop bars in seoul)

Address: 50 Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hours: 5PM – 12AM Daily (closed on Mondays)

Gaja Changgo located in Itaewon area, is one of the original rooftop bars in Seoul. It’s not a place with a unique and fancy design, but it feels close to the surrounding settings with plastic furniture and minimal decorations. Tables are arranged close together and with stools lined up along the corridor, Gaja Changgo boasts a relaxed atmosphere and light style. This bar is the place you should choose to visit, relax, meet friends and maybe socialize with people you just met for the first time after a day of work.

Gaja Changgo with homemade drinks and affordable, especially for Itaewon prices and some snacks with very friendly and enthusiastic staff is the place that attracts many elite guests of Seoul. You will really love this place not only for the prices and drinks but you will also find it interesting to watch people walking in the streets below.

Even the name itself shows the true characteristics of this bar. Because, Gaja Changgo in Korean is a rooftop bar. This place is one of the oldest bars in Itaewon, Seoul. This bar is located right on Sam Ryan’s. Because of its long history, the design in the bar carries the traditional features of an old bar in Korea. Every decorative detail in the bar is simple and not too fancy. This again makes Gaja Changgo different and attractive to tourists.

You will experience the atmosphere of old days with large tables and plastic chairs. The layout of the bar has the restaurant located directly in front while the self-service bar is located at the back. The staff here are extremely friendly and generous.

Although it is an old-fashioned bar, the drink menu here is extremely diverse. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of flavors from beer, wine, spirits to blends. After choosing the appropriate drink, you will pay at the counter. Next, get yourself a glass of wine, ice, and a few slices of lemon to your liking.

Rooftop Kloud (#best rooftop bars in seoul)

Address: 10 Teheran-ro 25-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 6PM–1AM/FridaySaturday: 6PM–2AM

Comfortable and trendy are two true adjectives to describe this bar. The Rooftop Kloud is located on the 21st floor of the Ambassador Hotel.

The design of the bar is relatively similar to a small glass house. The entire space is decorated with bright LED lights and comfortable sofas. The restaurant can only accommodate up to 61 guests. Coming here, you will surely have an association with the scene where James Bond was enjoying a summer night vacation in the 007 mission.

Contrary to its small scale, this bar still attracts a large number of tourists to enjoy the special atmosphere. It is no exaggeration to say that the bar has never been crowded with customers 365 days a year.

The bar’s music is vibrant electronic music. The songs here are a mixture of Kpop music and house music. Surely, this is an extremely attractive highlight, enhance the trendy and lively for the bar.

Outside the bar, we have more interesting seating options. The seating areas for couples are located right next to the magnificent scenery of the Gangnam district. This is a romantic address for you to surprise your other half.

Tenth floor of the Express Bus Terminal (#best rooftop bars in seoul)

Address: 194, Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
Opening hours: Elevators operate until midnight

With bathrooms that look like they haven’t been renovated since the ’90s, this relatively unattractive building holds a big secret. As you take the elevator to the 10th floor of Express Bus Terminus, there is a pleasant surprise waiting for you, although there are two Korean barbecue restaurants and a Catholic church, the structure is like a garden with space surrounding the building.

Young people who love new trends must definitely come to experience once at 10th Floor. Actually, this bar is not really a rooftop bar. However, this is a crowded place of trendy Seoul young people.

At 10th Floor, we have two Korean BBQ restaurants with diverse and delectable menus. The setting of the restaurant is in harmony with the green landscape of the whole building. Between the seating areas are green lawns. Choose your favorite location now. You will enjoy the taste of BBQ and enjoy the shimmering atmosphere of the city at night.

On weekdays, you will see businesswomen coming here to enjoy chilly beers. If you like a more youthful space, choosing a weekend will be more suitable. Young people will gather and have exciting parties at 10th Floor.

Grab a coffee or a beer that you can buy from the 2 Korean barbecue restaurants in this building and head up there for a peaceful view of the city away from the chaos and hustle below. You can go down to the mall right after that. It’s convenient, isn’t it? On weeknights you’ll see a lot of middle-aged people hanging out and drinking beer and on weekends it’s busier with the younger ones.

While it can’t be called a rooftop bar in the strictest sense of the term, you still get alcoholic drinks, have a breathtaking view of the city, and the pleasure of having food and drinks at a such random remote place. And of course, the exotic and ethereal beauty of this place will make a deep impression on you. An experience worth trying!

Playground Rooftop Cafe & Bar (#best rooftop bars seoul)

Address: 14 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 7PM–2AM/Friday, Saturday: 7PM–4AM

This is one of the biggest bars in Seoul when operating in two floors of the building. The shop is located right in the heart of Hongdae neighborhood. This spot is the favorite bar of many Seoul residents as well as international students in the city. The most commonly spoken languages here are English, Chinese and Korean. Coming to this place, you have the opportunity to meet new friends from all over the world.

Playground is a popular international rooftop cafe and bar in the heart of Hongdae area, opposite the main gate of Hongik University. It caters to a crowd of fun and open-minded exchange students, opportunities to socialize, exchange languages, international parties and all sorts of regular events. The staff here are extremely friendly and fluent in English and Korean. Therefore, this has become an ideal place for solo travelers to meet new friends.

Overlooking the popular Noriteo playground area, Playground is a spacious two-story bar with direct access to the best nightlife Seoul has to offer on weekdays and weekends. Whether enjoying a cocktail on the rooftop or meeting new people at its parties, you’ll find that Playground has everything you need and more in a cafe/bar/lounge.

Not only that, the waiters at the bar are also able to speak fluent English and Korean. They are extremely friendly and enthusiastic to bring the best experience to customers.

Playground Rooftop Cafe and Bar will surely satisfy young guests who love excitement. International parties with diverse languages will give you endless fun. What’s more, on weekdays, you have the opportunity to join the party with the all-you-can-drink event.

Western tourists are extremely impressed with what the bar offers. Coming to this place, they can satisfy their homesickness through familiar English accents. Friends, the fun will be nothing more wonderful.

To set foot in this bar, remember to go to the location 14, Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It will be easier to find if you go to the main gate of Hongik University, the shop will be located nearby. Let go of all the stress and have fun!

Southside Parlor (#best rooftop bars seoul)

Address: 218 Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 6PM–12AM/6PM–2AM/Saturday: 5PM–2AM/Sunday: 5PM–12AM/Monday: Closed

In a foreign country, surely, you will not be surprised when you meet people from the same hometown, right? Then come to the Southside Parlor!

Among the co-founders of the restaurant, we have a person of mixed Vietnamese blood – Robbie Nguyen. Besides, Johnny Yu and Mr. Abowd. They are the indigenous Texas people who bring new flavors to the cocktails at this bar. The ingredients to make a glass of Southside Parlor’s drink are all from fresh juices along with soda, homemade syrup and sometimes energy drinks. The synthesis and harmony between South American and Asian flavors make each cocktail bring a memorable feeling to visitors.

For a typical example, they have a cocktail that combines Korean and Western flavors. Baristas bring traditional ingredients like persimmon and green tea to mix with tequila and chipotle peppers. Just heard it and found it very unique and interesting.

Besides the impression of the explosive cocktail flavors, customers also enjoy the setting in the bar. These are leather chairs, dart boards, hookahs, and old arcade machines. Every detail reminds us of the memories of the 80s.

This is not a trendy Gangnam mixed lounge, Southside is a place where anyone can walk in and learn about cocktails. The drinks here are made with ingenuity, care and skill and the food is delicious with a menu that changes every few months. The signature cocktail menu rotates so some drinks are “limited time” only. The cocktails made by the bartenders are the most impressive, not to mention the bar’s one-of-a-kind drinks like the Omija Mule and the Juarez Old Fashioned. To keep their drinks accessible to many customer segments despite the high prices for imported alcoholic beverages. Southside chooses good quality spirits and focuses on other ingredients: they fresh-press all their juices and make their own syrups, sodas and even energy drinks.

If you want to spend time in Seoul, looking for a place with great music, great food and a truly relaxing environment, then Southside Parlor is the right place. Grab a spot at the bar or head up to the cozy terrace to enjoy your drink. Visitors will have to struggle to find this place, it’s on the third floor of a store, make sure you check the address carefully before coming here.

Hotel Cappuccino’s rooftop bar

Address: 155 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Phone: +82 2-2038-9500

Another rooftop bar in Gangnam area for you to choose from is Cappuccino Rooftop Bar. This is the bar of the Cappuccino hotel in Gangnam, located on the south side of the Han River.

If you are a lover of the calmness of the Han River, for sure, this is an ideal place to see. Because, the bar is located on the 17th floor of the hotel, an ideal height for a full frame. Moreover, visitors can zoom in to see the old streets of Nonhyeon. Surely, you will not be surprised at the contrast between the low ancient roofs with the bright skyscrapers.

Don’t forget to immerse yourself in the unique scenery but forget to enjoy the taste of its drinks. The bar’s menu is most famous for its great cocktails.

VVertigo

Address: South Korea, Seoul, Yeoui-dong, IFC서울.콘래드호텔 9층
Hours: 5PM–2AM

If you are looking for a rooftop bar in Yeouido, VVertigo is the one for you!

This bar is located on the 9th floor of the famous Conrad Seoul hotel. Seoulites and tourists from all over the world love this bar. Here, you will have the opportunity to relax your mind after a long tiring day.

The location of this bar is convenient for visitors to travel. It is located right in the middle of the buildings of Yeouido mall. Therefore, visitors can enjoy shopping before coming to relieve stress at VVertigo.

As soon as you step into the bar, you will have a different feeling immediately. The vibrant, youthful atmosphere will make people just want to quickly enter the lively space. In addition, the vibrant music played by professional DJs adds freshness to the bar.

Roof-top Bar Floating @ L7 Myeongdong

Address: 160-5 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 5–9PM

This bar located on the 21st floor of the L7 Myeongdong hotel, is one of the lesser known but most beautiful places when it comes to Seoul’s rooftop bars. L7 Rooftop Floating, with its dominant yellow tone, is ultra-modern designed including both indoor and outdoor spaces decorated with smooth marble, unique lighting fixtures and floor-to-ceiling windows.

The entire design of the bar is extremely modern. You will be overwhelmed by the indoor and outdoor spaces with smooth marble tiles and transparent glass windows. A great experience with the bustling Seoul city scene will appear right in front of your eyes when coming here.

Like other bars, L7 Rooftop Floating serves mainly alcoholic beverages with a wine and craft beer list, as well as seven signature cocktails and a wide range of foods including Korean fried chicken. The staff here are also extremely friendly and relaxed, guests will walk into the bar and immediately receive the cutest smile. They are also ready to serve even if you order a small dish.

Here, visitors can admire the famous Namsan Tower from afar, which is especially impressive at night. A special feature of this bar, this is the only place in the city with a foot bath. You can easily get here because of the great location, convenient in the old town with the subway and bus standing right outside the hotel. During the sweltering summer months, your feet will be pampered in the gentle waters. An extremely worthwhile experience for young people who love to discover new things.

For the menu of L7 Rooftop Floating, we have a variety of drinks ranging from craft beer to brilliant cocktails. You also won’t be able to miss the side dishes here. The most worth-trying dish is Korean-style fried chicken.

LUA Lounge Bar (#best rooftop bars seoul)

Address: 47, Usadan-ro, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Opening Hours: 6PM ~ 2AM/Sat, Sun: 6PM ~ 4AM

Did you know that this rooftop bar is the heart of actor Yoo Yeon Suk. If you love Korean cinema and the movie “Reply 1994”, this actor will definitely not be forgotten. This is the destination for you to admire the talented handsome guy.

“Lua” in Spanish means “moon”. Hidden behind this name, the owner wants all visitors when coming here to experience the magical shimmering space of the sky. Every detail in the restaurant is carefully selected by him, so it has a very unique style. When night comes, the roof of the restaurant is extended to welcome the gentle moonlight. Moonlight, city lights will blend into a vivid picture. All create an attractive rendezvous for everyone to visit.

In particular, your date night will not be more romantic when coming to Lua Rooftop Lounge. The unique atmosphere of the restaurant makes all emotions sublimate. You will be surprised that this is one of the most popular dating spots of young people in Seoul.

Are you excited about this special date? Do you want to immerse yourself in a space filled with light? If yes, save number 47, Usadan-ro, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Plan your appointment in advance, let Lua Rooftop Lounge take care of the rest!

Harvest Namsan

Address: 7, Sowol-ro 44ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 11am–12pm

Right in the name of the bar, we already know the location where the shop is located. The shop is located in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul and has a view towards the majestic Namsan Mountain.

Have you ever thought that you have a chance to see the Namsan mountains from a high view from a bar? Coming to Harvest Namsan will definitely make your trip to Korea more interesting. You can come to this bar at any time of the day, but the best time is at sunset. Because, during this time, the last rays of the day shine through the mountains and clouds, creating a magical scene.

The restaurant’s food makes enjoying the scenery interesting. The ingredients of each dish are prepared on the day, extremely fresh. The wine of the bar is rich and savory, making it gently float in your throat. The experiences of taste, sight and touch will make unforgettable impressions at Harvest Namsan.

Griffin Bar

Address: 279 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 6PM–1AM/Monday, Tuesday, Sunday: Closed

One of the top quality bars in Seoul that any visitor is satisfied is Griffin Bar. Surely, you will experience the most luxurious service and taste.

This rooftop bar is located on the 11th floor of the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square hotel. The Griffin Bar is beautiful in winter but even better in summer with its outdoor terrace. This is one of the hottest bars in the city, if you go on a cool day it will be the most enjoyable experience with jazz music every night from 10pm to 12pm. They serve typical Korean cocktails and some creative cocktails. The onsite bartender can make a special cocktail just for you. Also you can smoke good quality cigars.

Amidst the lively upscale scene, you can have a wide view of the bustling city of Seoul. The cocktails here will take you on a journey of sight, touch and taste. Along these two journeys, you will have dedicated waiters with first-class services.

This bar looks very classy at first glance and is very suitable for events and parties. That’s also why this place isn’t usually crowded and feels like a hidden window in another very busy Seoul party. Not only is it a fun bar, but The Griffin Bar also has a beautiful view of the city. Come and enjoy the difference and originality at the rooftop bar of a world-class 5-star hotel.

Above all excellent is the word we want to use to describe this bar. Surely, the wish to experience the most luxurious things at a bar will be fulfilled. This is also a great place to invite your partners. They will feel your dedication.

T-Bar

Address: 33, Daesagwan-ro 5-gil, Yongsan-gu
Hours: 6PM–1:30AM/Sunday: Closed

In the early days, this place was essentially a resting place for workers. Therefore, it is called T-Bar or stands for “tailorable for women”. Until recently, with the aim of sharing the wonderful view of Seoul from above for everyone, the restaurant has expanded its serving model. From that time, the T-Bar was formed and became one of the must-go addresses of tourists in five continents.

Now, you can freely enjoy the view of Seoul city from the perspective of T-Bar. Relax your body on the soft sofas. More than that, cocktails, tapas and food. Surely, this place will leave unforgettable memories for everyone.

Owl’s Rooftop

Address: 43 Dongmak-ro 9-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 6PM–1AM/Monday,Tuesday: Closed

Coming to Owl’s Rooftop, you will have a great experience with music and food. Of course, this is also a place with extremely unique wine flavors.

In Seoul, Owl’s Rooftop bar is the best place for visitors. You will hear melodious music and unforgettable food taste. The cozy atmosphere of the bar makes visitors feel relaxed and relieved.

Wine glasses in tall glasses will be an extremely standard combination for each dish. This spot is an extremely popular place with wines that are updated regularly. Ask the bartender for a chance to enjoy the new flavors of the bar.

Avant Garde Rooftop

Address: Noksapyeong-daero 46-gil, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 4PM–12AM/Monday; Sunday: Closed

Avant Garde Gallery & Cafe is the first project to achieve a pioneering foundation with Avant Garde’s coffee beans roasted only with state-of-the-art equipment and the finest beans. Avant Garde Rooftop is the second project pioneered after that. Rooftop bar Avant Garde is located in an upscale lounge bar in the Kyunglidan, Itaewon area of Seoul.

Avant Garde Bar features approximately 120 different cocktails, traditional Eastern European spirits, malt whiskeys and a wide range of wines from around the world, accompanied by a wide spectrum of North American spirits and beverages derived from strong Italian coffee. Their wonderfully prepared snacks and dishes are based on the best recipes of Russian cuisine, designed in the simple and elegant style of the present.

Inside Avant Garde, you will find amazing artworks by famous artists such as Jam Kim (Korea), Brito (Mexico), Kim Myung Jin (Korea) and others. Reserve a seat on the terrace, where you can admire the many unique sculptures, paintings and furniture that are naturally placed throughout the facility, with Seoul Tower standing proudly in the background. Complete the rooftop experience with one of the bar’s novelties, and you’ve got yourself the perfect summer evening.

Traveling in this beautiful city of Seoul is indispensable for interesting, attractive and equally unique experiences, right? In addition to enjoying great food and drinks, checking-in pretty pictures like regular bars and cafes, you can also admire the enchanting scenery of the city at night at these sky and rooftop bars and immerse yourself in the music and new atmosphere. Choose your favorite space that we suggest above to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

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