How to enjoy nightlife in Seoul as a digital nomad
February 17, 2025
How to enjoy nightlife in Seoul as a digital nomad
Itaewon, the main foreigner-friendly party area, busy at 4:00am
The capital city of South Korea is Seoul, a huge metropolis known for its blend of traditional culture, technology, and modern fashion.
If you have read my article about cafes for remote work in Seoul, you will know that they are wonderfully hospitable for digital nomads. While I would happily spend daytime sitting at a Holly’s Coffee typing away at my laptop, night time brings opportunities to explore the city!
Seoul’s nightlife is a quintessential element to the city’s character. Locals work hard most of the time so when the occasion permits, many enjoy letting off some steam! A night-out may start at a samgyeupsal BBQ restaurant (recommendations here) and proceed to a noraebang karoake room.
For late-night owls, which many Korean people tend to be, the party scene is a worthy experience. You may be shocked to know that clubs often have long queues even at 4:30am in the morning!
If you’d like more information about travel or life in Seoul, message me on Instagram. Alternatively, we can book a meeting.
Guide to Nightlife in Seoul
Closing the laptop
A foreword before we launch into my recommendations for nightlife and social events. As productive as you would like to be, I know from personal experience that it’s beneficial to slot in times for recreation.
In fact, recreation can itself be a form of productivity as it allows your mental muscles to stretch out, loosen up, and ready themselves for the next work-out.
If you are an entrepreneur or you are running your business remotely, going out at night can yield connections with other like-minded people. I’ve met digital nomads from diverse backgrounds in different cities around the world. Their stories can challenge your existing perceptions and encourage you to think in innovative, better ways. When I was in Fukuoka (Japan), I met an entrepreneur who established a business in Estonia and runs it remotely. Prior to meeting him, I did not know about the business-friendly environment, nor the technology-forwardness, of Estonia.
By experiencing a city’s nightlife, you’re putting yourself out there and into opportunities to grow your network; and remember, your network is your net worth!
On a rainy night whilst working from Cafe 1984 (Google Map link) near Hongik University, I made the surprising discovery of pre-poured Australian wine served in a takeaway glass. I took it as a sign to ease out of my long work session and into a social mood.
Meeting people and making friends at GSM Tables Exchange
On the basement level of a building (Google Map link) in a busy part of Nonhyeon-dong (Gangnam District), there is a language exchange event that happens every week. Local Korean people, expats who work in Seoul, and recently arrived foreigners come to “GSM Tables” to socialise and learn.
GSM Tables is run by “Global Seoul Mates” (check-out their Facebook Group here). If you are new to Seoul and want to pick-up some basic Korean phrases, its meet-ups are helpful!
What happens is you pay a small fee at the entrance which covers the drink and event cost. Then, you can join a table (or if you have pre-registered for the event, you would be allocated a table). You’ll chit-chat, play games, and get to know others at your table. Over four hours, each table “rotates”, granting you the opportunity to meet more people and learn more language phrases.
I found the vibe at GSM Tables to be open and friendly. Conversation came easily and not in the prescribed, scripted manner that one might expect. The host did a lovely job at spurring conversations and starting the occasional drinking game!
I found that these meet-ups by “Global Seoul Mates” balanced cultural exchange, language learning, and socialising quite well. It’s rare to have Korean, Chinese, German, Spanish, American and Japanese people (just to name a few nationalities) all in one room!
I met a few lovely friends at GSM Tables. After the meet-up, we went to enjoy late night BBQ. On another occasion, we went partying in Hongdae!
Itaewon is the international party centre
This area of Yongsan District began its reputation as an abode for international people in the 1970s, prompted by the US military setting up a base in South Korea. Nowadays, Itaewon is home to communities of diverse ethnicities. You will notice this as soon as you walk out of Itaewon Subway Station, there are restaurants serving Turkish, Indian, Lebanese and Brazilian food!
Many digital nomads and solo travellers from overseas will appreciate Itaewon’s foreigner-friendliness. Filled with bars, restaurants and clubs, the main street (called Itaewon-ro 27 ga-gil) is where you can easily start a conversation. Lots of people are in the same boat, being that they’re also new to Seoul and looking for a buddy to enjoy a beer with.
I’ve made wonderful memories and shared happy stories with people who just so happened to sit next to me at a bar, or stand next to me in a queue.
If you are planning to go to a nightclub, be sure to bring your passport! The venues in South Korea are quite strict and don’t accept items such as Driver’s Licences or Photo Identification Cards. There are also many bars that will ask to see your passport, so it’s better to be safe than waste time (and money) catching a taxi back to your hotel or Airbnb.
Recommended clubs and bars in Itaewon
If you are conscious of price and want to save money where possible, there is a CU convenience store near “The Rose & Crown Ale House” (see the left side of the photo, Google Map link). The variety of drinks is decent, there’s beer, wine and of course, soju.
You can stand outside and sip your drink while soaking in the liveliness of Itaewon’s party strip. I find that these moments are great for fun conversations with strangers!
Thursday Party
When I was in Busan I walked past a “Thursday Party” venue and thought that this was an intriguing name. It seems that Thursday Party attracts a crowd on Fridays and Saturdays as well, and not just in Busan.
In Seoul, there is a Thursday Party in Itaewon (map link), Gangnam (map link), and Hongdae (map link). Compared to bars which are either only popular with local Koreans or only popular with internationals, Thursday Party felt like a bar for everyone. People came to have a good time!
If you are checking out Itaewon by yourself and want to meet people, Thursday Party is a great place to start at. Note that the venue in the picture below is the Itaewon location.
Jack's Bar
One of the most popular American-style venues in Itaewon, Jack’s Bar (Google Map link) has a unique atmosphere and a spacious floor. There are lots of interactive activities to play with friends, including a giant Jenga game, dance machines, and electronic darts. Classic pub food is served, including pizza.
Prost Pub & Grill
In the evening, Prost Pub & Grill serves European style food in a stylish, multi-level space. In the later evening, it transforms into an entertaining club with performers on stage and a crowd dancing to an international mix of tunes. The bottom level has an easygoing vibe and the top floor feels more exquisite.
Prost (Map link) is one of the most popular clubs in Itaewon and would be a fun place to start if you are planning on “club-hopping”.
Fountain
Prior to March 2024, I visited Fountain in December 2016. This nightclub (map link here) knows how to throw a party – and keep it partyin’.
Each part of Fountain has a different personality. The main dance floor on the ground level is energetic and popular with local Koreans and international visitors. Vibrant projections light up the walls while the speakers reverberate thumping Korean and international hits.
Go upstairs and there is a more laidback bar with a pool table, dart board and arcade games. It’s a relaxed space where interestingly there is a podium from which you can survey the dancing below. Finally, you can cross to the other side of Fountain club (the area that’s flushed in purple lighting in my photo) for more exclusivity and VIP treatment.
Itaewon Pub
I liked how easygoing and approachable this pub was. The bartender was happy to have a chat. I learned that he is a former rugby player, comes from New Zealand, and speaks fluent Korean!
I recommend Itaewon Pub (map link) as a place to start if you are bar-hopping with a small group of friends.
Hongdae: young, hip and popular
The Hongik University area is legendary for its hundreds of cafes, restaurants, shops, and bars which attract thousands of tourists, locals and university students everyday.
Hongdae is a neighbourhood known for its young population, creativity and open-mindedness. It’s a great area to experience lively, unpretentious nightlife.
While Itaewon has its nightlife concentrated in one main street, the party area in Hongdae is more spread out (but all within walking distance). Restaurants and dance bars are plentifully present, and it can be exciting to walk around and discover different venues. For example, there are Latin American bars like “La Bamba” (map link), hip hop clubs like “NB2” (map link), and chilled out, conversational spaces like “Corner Pub” (map link).
The nightlife scene in Hongdae is more casual than Itaewon (which attracts more office workers and business people), so don’t worry about dressing up too much. The energy is palpable as soon as you’re coming out of Hongik Univ. Station (Green line)! On a weekend night, you’ll see university students and younger folks everywhere.
Earlier in the night, when you’re just about ready for dinner, the main street (where H&M is, map link) is a great place to stroll around. Hongdae’s culture of busking can be seen here, where talented bands sing and dance crews perform.
For dinner, Hongik-ro has lots of restaurants to enjoy Korean BBQ and soju. “Ungteori Saenggogi” (Google Map link) is one of the most popular, serving all-you-can-eat meat. Sizzling pork belly with three or more friends whilst clinking glasses of chilled soju is a quintessential Korean nightlife experience!
The picture above shows a building with many individual karaoke compartments. These are fun and cozy spaces to cram into with a few friends. The compartments are designed for you to sing your heart out!
Street food in Jongno and the charm of Seosulla Street
Now here’s an area that flies under the radar of common “must-visit” tourist locations. Outside Jongno 3(sam)-ga Subway Station (Google map link), there is a street which comes alive with food stalls at night. It’s affectionately called “Jongno 3-ga Pocha Street”.
Short for Pojangmacha, Pocha refers to “tented wagons”. These humble fixtures are similar to Japanese Yatai stalls, where the owner stands in the middle and cooks for an intimate circle of diners. It’s honest and tasty cuisine.
It’s well worth visiting Jongo 3-ga Pocha Street for an experience through a local’s eyes. Compared to Itaewon and Hongdae, there definitely aren’t as many foreigners. My friends and I ordered a Eomuk Tang (Korean fishcake hot pot) with some soju. Sharing this meal in a buzzing night time ambience with hundreds of other diners on the same street was unforgettable.
The picture below shows “The Queen’s Guard“, an English-style bar on Seosulla Street. Its elegance is also emanated by restaurants and cafes along the whole street. Why’s that? Seosulla Street has a royal history!
It’s an 800-metre long alley running along the stone wall of Jongmyo Shrine (map link), which houses the memorial artefacts of royals from the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1910). Jongmyo Shrine is next to Changgyeonggung Palace, and near Gyeongbokgung Palace.
These days, the restaurants, cafes and bars along Seosulla Street are housed in renovated hanoks, which are traditional Joseon Period village-style houses. There is a distinctive traditional architecture style that gives Seosulla Street its charisma and sense of romance. Walk around slowly and breathe in the history of an area that has existed for over a hundred years!
To explore Seosulla Street, or “Seosulla-gil Stonewall Walkway”, you can start from “IDA Seoul” (map link) and walk from there. It’s actually less than 15-minutes to Jongno 3-ga Pocha Street!
Embrace the "work hard play hard" culture
Drinking alcohol is a cultural element of Korean dining. It’s normal to see a bottle of soju accompanying meals between friends and family members.
Reflecting on my own (very occasional) experiences spent staying out until until late night (and sometimes the next morning), I would encourage other digital nomads to try it too. Korean people are hardworking and they balance this with an equal tenacity for fun.
I’m grateful for the local friends I met who brought me to places that I would not have known existed. Korean people are proud of their culture and many will reciprocate kindness and curiosity. I enjoyed learning about traditional customs, including how to properly enjoy pork belly wrapped in a perilla leaf, and the respectful way of clinking glasses!
Here’s a photo at a classic noraebang – a private karaoke room where you can sing your lungs out. It’s a popular Korean pastime to visit with friends.
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