9 Best Nightlife Experiences in Seoul, a Guide to Nightlife in Seoul's Red Light Districts

Seoul's best nightlife experiences include award-winning dance clubs, exclusive all-night cafes with panoramic views of the city, and night markets that stay open until the next morning. With hundreds of clubs and bars, most of which are located in Gangnam and Hongdae, the South Korean capital is a favorite holiday destination for dance and music lovers.

Seoul's lively shopping districts also transform into art and cultural spaces, with fashion shows, dance performances and live music held here all year round. With this guide to Seoul's nightlife, it's easy to experience the best nightlife in South Korea.

1. N Seoul Tower



Feature: Nightlife

N Seoul Tower is a modern building located on Namsan Mountain in the center of Seoul. It is 237 meters high and you can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul from the observation deck. Various traditional performances and exhibitions are held here throughout the year. Inside the Seoul Tower, you will find a digital observatory, as well as several souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes.

The rooftop terrace of N Seoul Tower is a popular date spot for couples. The love wall is covered with handwritten notes and hanging with locks symbolizing love. The admission fee is KRW10,000 for adults and KRW8,000 for children and seniors.

Location: 105, Namsan Park-gil, Yongsan 2-ga-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: Monday to Friday and Sunday 10:00 to 23:00, Saturday 10:00 to 00:00
Phone: +82-2-3455-9277

2. Dongdaemun Night Market



Highlights: Food, nightlife, shopping

Walking around Dongdaemun Night Market is fun, and the sheer variety and variety of clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags, beauty and skincare products is worth a visit. The scale of Dongdaemun Night Market is staggering—you’ll find a plethora of shopping malls and specialty stores, as well as an outdoor stage for dance performances, concerts, and fashion shows.

There’s also an open-air market where you can buy local and international brands at discounted prices. Dongdaemun Night Market is also a foodie paradise, with street vendors offering Korean snacks and drinks at affordable prices. More information

Location: Euljiro 6-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 06:45 to 03:15, Friday 06:45 to 00:00, Saturday 24 hours (closed on Sunday)
Phone: +82-32-1344-4888

3. A Café with a View on the Han River



Feature: Nightlife

Enjoy the dazzling night view of the city from unique crane-shaped cafés, which can be found on the six bridges at the southern end of Seoul. The six bridges crossing the Han River are: Gwangjin Bridge, Dongjak Bridge, Hangang Bridge, Yanghwa Bridge, Jamsil Bridge, and Mapo Bridge.

The Han River is always a popular venue for events during the day, and after dark, the Han River's view cafes provide a comfortable space for Seoul visitors to relax after a busy sightseeing schedule.

Business hours: 10:00 to 02:00 every day (depending on the store's business hours)

4.The Library



Feature: Nightlife

The Library at The Shilla Seoul is a contemporary design lounge open 24 hours a day. The lounge offers an extensive wine list with approximately 250 wines and 70 malt whiskies. You can enjoy live jazz performances on weekends. The Library has a large collection of books on art, culture and history, so you can grab a couch and enjoy a quiet reading time.

Location: The Shilla Seoul: 1F, 249 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 08:00 to 05:00 daily
Phone: +82-2-2230-3388

5.Club Octagon



Feature: Nightlife

Club Octagon is one of the most famous nightclubs in Gangnam, famous for being frequented by local celebrities, elites and fashion celebrities who often party all night. Located in the Johor Bahru Summit Hotel, this nightclub is a hidden underground space equipped with top-notch sound equipment, VIP lounge, large dance floor, private rooms and even a swimming pool. Club Octagon has many well-known international and Korean DJs, with EDM and tech house as the main music genres; the entrance fee is about KRW10,000 to KRW30,000.

Location: B1/B2, New Summit Hotel, 645 Nonnyeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Business hours: Thursday to Sunday 10:00 to 05:00 (Closed Monday to Wednesday)
Tel: +82-10-9014-4487

6. B One Lounge Club

Feature: Nightlife

B One Lounge Club is one of the most popular nightlife spots in Itaewon, with well-dressed revelers and Tourists queuing outside every weekend. This nightclub, located next to the Hamilton Hotel, has international DJs and a wide range of music, ranging from hip-hop to electronic dance music.

This basement nightclub is designed with medieval style, brick walls and wrought iron gates to create a unique atmosphere. Entrance fee starts from KRW10,000 (depending on the event). B One Lounge Club is busy all year round, so it is recommended to go early to avoid queuing for an hour to enter the club.

Location: 123-15 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: Monday 09:00 to 07:00, Wednesday and Sunday 09:00 to 16:00, Thursday 09:00 to 04:30, Friday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:00 (Closed on Tuesday)
Phone: +82-2-749-6164

7. Walkerhill Casino

Feature: Nightlife

Walkerhill Casino attracts many visitors to Seoul to try their luck and see if they can make a small fortune. Located in the Grand Walkerhill Seoul Hotel, this casino offers alcoholic beverages and a beautiful view of the Han River.

Inspired by the trendy casinos in Las Vegas, Walkerhill Casino offers games such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Sic Bo, and several tables and gaming machines. Since this casino is only open to foreign tourists, the staff are fluent in multiple languages ​​to meet the needs of visitors. You must have a foreign passport to enter the casino, and locals are restricted from gambling by law.

Location: 177, Walkerhill-ro, Gwanggang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: Open all year round
Phone: +82-2-2204-3430

8. Myeongdong Random Show Theater

Main Feature: Night Entertainment

Myeongdong Random Show Theater is famous for its comedy without lines, and the story is set in the kitchen. Random show combines traditional Korean musical elements such as "garak" (melody) and "samullori" (Korean traditional percussion quartet).

The whole show consists of 5 main characters (kitchen staff) who use pots and pans at hand to present intricate and wonderful percussion skills while preparing a luxurious wedding banquet. The ticket price for general seats is KRW50,000, while the ticket price for the VIP area is about KRW60,000.

Location: 26 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 17:00 and 20:00, Saturday 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00, Sunday 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00
Phone: +82-2-739-8288

9. Once in a Blue Moon

Features: Couples, nightlife

Once in a Blue Moon is an authentic jazz bar with an atmosphere that feels like being in Chicago or New Orleans. The bar is known for its extensive wine list, which offers more than 100 wines, 21 different Scotch whiskies (including a 30-year-old 100-year-old Scotch whisky), and about 20 whiskey brands.

Since 1998, Once in a Blue Moon has been hosting Korean jazz musicians to present high-quality jazz music. Famous international jazz musicians who have performed here include Chuck Mangione, Wynton Marsalis, and Roby Lakatos. Admission to Once in a Blue Moon is free.

Location: 85-1, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: Monday to Tuesday 18:00 to 01:00, Wednesday to Saturday 18:00 to 02:00, Sunday 18:00 to 00:00 (live performance starts at 19:00)
Phone: +82-2-549-5490