But as a casual teetotaller who has the rare drink, the pervasive drinking culture in South Korea was intimidating for me. I was hesitant about how I would navigate the nightlife in a country where fold-out bar tables and stools spill out on to the street once the clock strikes five.
My saving grace? LP bars.
LP bars or listening bars are commonplace across South Korea. Believed to have originated in post-war Japan as coffee houses, listening bars have sparked a new wave of younger generations seeking the experience of laid-back socialisation and retro listening.
There’s a real hunger in Seoul for aesthetic spaces that give you a moment to breathe in this nocturnal city. Since the 1990s, locals have been finding solace in hipster coffee shops. The kind that are lavished with warm, wooded accents and have small menus of bespoke and specialty drinks. LP bars have quickly followed suit.
The warm, homely atmosphere of the LP bar is more akin to the intimacy found at coffee houses and cafes than the liveliness brought on by nightclubs.
Many LP bars serve crafted low- or no-alcohol cocktails with the same care as spirits. Photo / Supplied
Think traditional speakeasy without the secret password. They’re often small, warmly lit spaces where classic jazz standards play on records through large speakers. Bartenders and owners curate the music to be nostalgic for an era most patrons never experienced but yearn for. Well-loved vinyl records line the shelves against vintage stereo pieces. Many customers come alone; some stay for hours; others stop by for one drink.
Slow nights and smooth sounds are the order in Seoul’s soulful LP bar scene. Photo / Unsplash
On my final night in Seoul, I avoided the busy streets of Itaewon where I was staying and headed towards Hannam-dong. Down a twisty, unsuspecting street with restaurants and cosmetic clinics, you’ll find 232seoul.
The LP bar is decked out in mid-century modern decor. Shelves are filled with vinyl records. Vintage swivel chairs and plush sofas fill the room. Smooth jazz plays softly. A small balcony door lets in the warm autumn air.
The stars of the menu are the seasonal cocktails, categorised by sweet to sour, experimental to tame, strong to low alcohol content or none at all.
In New Zealand, I’ve found that non-alcoholic drinks are usually limited to canned sodas, water, a virgin mojito if you’re lucky. But like Auckland’s Panacea, 232seoul not only brings elevated non-alcohol and low-alcohol options to the table, but it also treats them with care and technicality.
I ordered a tropical mocktail with bursts of pineapple, tangy citrus, and hints of rosemary. Each sip captured the feeling of a lingering summer and imminent autumn and was miles better than your average lemonade.
I also tried their low-alcohol option: a tiramisu cocktail served in a cone-shaped potted cup. It was creamy, nutty and sweet with cocoa dustings draped over the generous layer of mascarpone on top. While I’m no spirits expert or sommelier, I do know this tiramisu cocktail was delicious.
Whether you’re an avid mixologist or simply out to enjoy the rotating cast of DJs who pop by on occasion, you don’t have to do too much digging to find an LP bar in Seoul that suits you.
LP bars feature warm, intimate atmospheres with curated music, attracting both solo patrons and groups. Photo / Supplied
Comfortable as its name proclaims, the stylish Komfy in Hapjeong-dong is worth a visit. Or enjoy a drink and the plumpest custard pudding at the cafe by day, LP bar by night, Hills & Europa.
Although New Zealand is still far from trading local pubs for LP bars, check out nami record bar on Auckland’s Ponsonby Rd. Straddling the aesthetics of Seoul’s LP bars and Auckland’s lively bar scene, it’s an approachable entry point.
Seoul’s LP bars are a must-do. Photo / Unsplash
For a country that doesn’t sleep, like South Korea, LP bars offer an escape from the noise. While still giving you a taste of their vibrant nightlife, LP bars sit at the intersection of the country’s fierce drinking culture and hunger for low-pressure socialising spaces.
We ended up staying for a couple of hours at 232seoul, enjoying smooth jazz standards and R’n’B classics. There was no pressure to leave after an hour. There was no pressure to keep ordering. Simply existing and connecting in the warmly lit LP bar was enough.
The writer travelled at their own expense.