Korean Job Discussion Forums

[edmiller2b]

are there any in the Seoul area?

if not, does anyone know of any restaurants
that offer a good, decent variety of wines?

thanks as always!

cheers!

[lostinseoul77777]

Most restaurants in the high end hotels will have a decent wine list. The Italian restaurant at the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel has very good selection of wines, albeit at atmospheric prices. The Cafe at the Intercontinental COEX has a pretty good selection, again high prices.

[Satori]

But having wine for sale is not quite the same as being a wine bar, no?

[lostinseoul77777]

True. Having wine for sale is different from a good wine bar. I am a wine enthusiast and it's tough to find good wine here. I heard there are handful of decent wine bars in Apujeundong but I haven't been to any so I cannot personally recommend it. What I meant by the hotels was that the restaurants will have a decent wine list, and the lounges in those hotels will usually sell decent wine. Of course, those don't compare to good wine bars with lots of wines by the glass.

I'd be happy to share my wine thoughts with you as far as what I found that were reasonable to buy here if you want. Just PM me if you're interested.

[ChimpumCallao]

i think there's one in itaewon called 'our place' thats a wine bar.
i went there a LOOOOONG time ago, maybe opening night and there was lots of good wine and free cheese.

i think 'our place' is mostly a 'for the gays' place...but they accept our kind as well.

[Troll_Bait]

There are a few described in this book:

"Seoul Food Finder," by Andrew and Jinny Salmon.

http://www.seoulselection.com/shopping_book_view.html?pid=13

My biggest problem with the book are the maps.
They need to be better-drawn, with more details.
Sometimes you're wandering around in circles, looking for a place.
However, it's not their fault that, in Korea, streets are not labelled and addresses are random.
I once e-mailed Andrew Salmon, and asked him if there would be a second book.
He said no.

There are a couple of others around Gangnam.

Vine City

tel: 02) 501-6962

Marrakesh

tel: 02) 543-9930

Good luck!

[keithinkorea]

[manlyboy]

Isn't the general mark-up for wine in a restaurant two and a half times the retail price? I'm not stingy, but if you're asking $50 for a $20 bottle of wine, I'll just have a beer thanks. For $20, I expect good quality, but for $50, I expect it to make my taste buds have an orgy!
Carrefour and Costco have decent enough stock to meet your needs.

[Swiss James]

Lovo has a pretty big wine list- it's right at the end of an alleyway opposite the Thai restaurant, next to the park in Hongdae.

Liquid also have a pretty big list- it's opposite US66, on the 3rd floor of the building next to Sk@. I think both of them give you some kind of free food when you get a bottle too

[billybrobby]

There's gotta be a couple dozen wine bars in Seoul. I find it kinda funny that would even ask IF there's one in the Seoul area. But then again, it took me 2 days to find deodorant in this city.

Anyways, there's another one in Hongdae. If you go down that alleyway by Gold's II and then swing a left when the alleyway ends, it'll be on your left. The name is something like Woo-bing-chong or some funny crap like that. I don't know about the quality, because I hate wine, but there you go.

[moptop]

A great place to have wine in Itaewon is Bar Bliss. I find the prices pretty reasonable and the owner, Teddy, to be very helpful. He's quite the character!! It's a small place but it has a good atmosphere, very quiet, so it's good to talk. They also have a yummy cheese plate there for 22,000 won. They serve other drinks, but I only go there for the wine.

It's located underneath the Reggae Club. If you start at Burger King, go towards McDonalds, but not that far. You will pass Seoul Pub, Nashville, etc., and keep going. on your left hand side you will see the Reggae Club, and I think a club called Caroline's (it's been awhile!). there are some stairs to the left that look like they are leading down to an alley, but after descending 3 flights you will reach Bar Bliss. I think there's a website for it, too. Maybe try a google search.

I often go to restaurants for my red wine fix. Ususally in Itaewon. The wine isn't great, but it's drinkable. The wine at Ho Lee Chow is pretty good. The korean restaurant under burger king has drinkable wine and is open 24 hours, i think?!?!?!? If you like Greek wine, Santorini has some nice dry reds (behind and to the left of Hamilton Hotel), and across the road from Santorini's (beside Gecko's Garden) is a Tapas restaurant, don't know the name, that has edible tacos, cajun wedge fries with sour cream dip, chicken bacon skewers, and drinkable red wine. You can also go there just to drink. I often go to Petra's for some Middle Eastern food and some of the best homous and lamb dip I have EVER tasted, and bring my own bottle of Aussie Yellow Tail Shiraz. (Hey, with the amount of wine I drink, at 12,500 won a bottle, it works!!!) They don't serve alcohol but you can bring your own.

Happy drinking!!!!

[JongnoGuru]

[flambastic]

Another good one one in Itaewon is........crap I have forgotten the name (not actually the name of the place).

Anyway turn left at Helios and it is the the first big building you see on the left behind the shops on the main street. Upstairs is a nice restaurant and downstairs is a good wine bar with a good selection. Good mood lighting and lots of pillows and comfy chairs.

[Sofa_King]

I know that there's one in the 63 building, on the 59th floor or something. Probably expensive though, but I bet the view can't be beat.

[edmiller2b]

thanks everyone for the info!!!