Best-of list · Rooftop Guides
The best rooftop and elevated bars in Seoul, from the L7 Floating terrace to Park Hyatt sky lounges and the speakeasies worth a detour off the roof.
The short answer
5 ranked rooms follow. How we picked is at the end of this guide.
Seoul's elevated drinking splits between genuine open-air terraces and hotel sky lounges, with a handful of basement bars too good to leave off any city list. The five below run from a true rooftop to the speakeasies worth the detour, across Myeongdong and Gangnam.
Floating crowns the 21st floor of the L7 Myeongdong by Lotte, the largest open-air rooftop bar in the city with views to Namsan and N Seoul Tower. The marble bar and floor-to-ceiling glass keep it stylish without tipping into a club. Order a signature cocktail at sunset and hold the terrace. Best on a clear evening before the after-work crowd fills the sofas.
The Griffin Bar takes the 24th floor of the Park Hyatt Seoul, a sky lounge wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass over the Gangnam skyline rather than an open terrace. The room runs hushed and clubby, built for a measured drink. Order a classic cocktail or a Japanese whisky from the back bar. Best for a quiet evening above the COEX district, away from the crowds.
Full listing & hours →Charles H is the honest outlier here, a basement speakeasy beneath the Four Seasons rather than a rooftop, but no Seoul list is complete without it. Inspired by the travels of writer Charles H Baker, it has placed among Asia's 50 Best Bars. Order from the spirit-forward menu and let the bartender steer. Best for a serious nightcap when the pour matters more than the view.
Full listing & hours →The Timber House sits in the Park Hyatt's basement, a hanok-inspired room of reclaimed wood and antique doors, again no rooftop but too good to omit. It pairs a deep whisky and sake list with a sushi counter and late-night jazz. Order a Japanese whisky flight and a few pieces from the bar. Best for a slow, spirit-led night under the same roof as the Griffin.
Full listing & hours →Alice Cheongdam hides behind a flower-shop front in Gangnam, a theatrical speakeasy that has placed on Asia's 50 Best Bars, not a rooftop despite an older listing name. The drinks lean botanical, built around a Wonderland conceit and served with a sense of occasion. Order a signature from the narrative menu and book ahead. Best for a date that wants storytelling over a skyline.
Full listing & hours →