Alice Cheongdam
압구정동, Seoul
Bar in Seoul, South Korea
Book with PearlThe Read
Immersive Narrative Cocktails
Why go
Alice Cheongdam is the Seoul bar to prioritize for a polished Gangnam date night, especially if cocktail credibility matters more than a food-led evening. Its awards record makes it a safer special-occasion pick than a casual neighborhood stop, but plan ahead and go earlier if conversation is the point.
About Alice Cheongdam
Alice Cheongdam is a Seoul bar with late-night hours, a smart-casual dress code, and an awards record. It is open Sunday to Thursday from 18:00 to 02:00, and Friday to Saturday from 18:00 to 03:00.
The case for planning around Alice Cheongdam is clearest for guests who want a recognized bar in Seoul. Treat this as a bar-first choice, as it does not establish a food-led identity. If dinner is the anchor, use our full Seoul restaurants guide first, then place this after the meal. For a hotel-led celebration plan, pair the night with our full Seoul hotels guide.
Why it works for a planned night in Seoul
The main reason to choose Alice Cheongdam is its bar recognition. This includes Top 500 Bars Best Bars #156 in 2025, Asia's Best Bars #11 in 2016, a Tatler 2025 listing in Best Bars Asia-Pacific, and a Tales Spirited Awards Best International Bar Team – APAC Regional Top 10 Honoree recognition for 2026. That does not automatically make it the right move for every night out. For a broader bar search, use our full Seoul bars guide. For a planned evening where the bar is the anchor, Alice Cheongdam is a clear candidate.
Keep the plan direct: dress smart casual, build the evening around the bar's opening hours, and avoid relying on assumptions about food, seating, or service format. If the plan is more route-based, compare Alice Cheongdam with other Seoul bar options such as Casa del Vino, Cucciolo Terraza, Keepers, Le Chamber, or Zest, then choose based on the kind of night you want.
Plan around timing, not spontaneity
The practical move is to use the published hours as the anchor. Alice Cheongdam opens at 18:00 daily, closes at 02:00 from Sunday through Thursday, and closes at 03:00 on Friday and Saturday. Choose the timing based on whether you want an earlier start or a later-night plan.
There is no reason to force Alice Cheongdam into every Seoul itinerary. Travelers building a broader drinking trip can start with our full Seoul bars guide, while guests who need a non-bar anchor can use the Seoul restaurant or hotel guides first and add Alice Cheongdam afterward.
Quick reference: choose Alice Cheongdam for a smart-casual, award-recognized Seoul bar with late hours; skip it when the night depends on food details, outdoor seating, or a specific service format.
Planning details
- Hours
- Su-Th 18:00-02:00; Fr-Sa 18:00-03:00
- Location
- Seoul, Gangnam District, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 47 지하 1층
- Website
- instagram.com/alice_cheongdam
- Phone
- +82 10-2788-8420
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Alice Cheongdam presents a tightly controlled, theatrical take on cocktail hospitality. Tucked below a side street in Cheongdam-dong, the bar uses its Alice in Wonderland conceit to shape both space and service: lighting, circulation and décor perform as part of the concept rather than mere ornament. That design-forward approach and a relentless focus on craft keep the room feeling sophisticated and quietly charming. Its repeated placement on Asia's 50 Best Bars list underscores a program that marries narrative-driven design with serious cocktail technique, making the space feel curated and deliberate rather than gimmicky.
Best For
This is a bar for focused cocktail experiences: date nights, small special-occasion gatherings and late-night explorations by serious drinkers. The subterranean setting and carefully considered hospitality create a sense of privacy and intent that rewards attention to the drinks program. Because the venue consistently ranks on Asia's 50 Best Bars, it also appeals to visitors who seek benchmark cocktail destinations in Seoul. Groups looking for casual, loud nightlife or families seeking a dining-first environment will find it less suited to their needs.
Ordering Tips
Expect the concept to extend into the drinks themselves: cocktails are described as part of the plot, so look for menu entries that lean into narrative and theatricality. The bar's hospitality is deliberately crafted, so allow the service to guide you—ask for context about the concept-driven drinks and how they relate to the space. Given the subterranean, design-focused environment, plan your visit as an evening experience and arrive ready to engage with a thoughtfully composed cocktail program rather than quick, off-menu pours.
Venue details
Ambiance
Quaint and fantastical Alice in Wonderland-inspired decor with dark wood accents, chandeliers, tufted seating, and a retro speakeasy vibe that feels like an English country manor.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Speakeasy
- Late Night
- Open Until 4am
Signature Pours
- Reflection
- Old Stone
- Bacon Old Fashioned
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- Seoul, Gangnam District, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 47 지하 1층
Planning details
Hours
Su-Th 18:00-02:00; Fr-Sa 18:00-03:00
Location
Seoul, Gangnam District, Dosan-daero 55-gil, 47 지하 1층 · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Le Chamber, Notable alternative
- Zest, Notable alternative
- Cucciolo Terraza, Notable alternative
- Casa del Vino, Notable alternative
- Keepers, Notable alternative
Bar context
How Alice Cheongdam compares in Seoul
Choose Alice Cheongdam when the priority is a polished Gangnam date-night bar with serious recognition behind it. Le Chamber is the cleaner cross-shop if the night calls for a more classic high-end cocktail setting, while Zest is the better fit for drinkers who want the bar itself to feel more contemporary and concept-driven.
For value and ease, Keepers and Cucciolo Terraza are better fallback options when securing a seat at a heavily recognized bar feels like too much work. Casa del Vino makes more sense if wine is the center of the evening rather than cocktails. For a two-person celebration in Cheongdam, Alice Cheongdam is the stronger pick; for a looser night with less booking pressure, cross-shop the others first.
Explore Seoul
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Alice Cheongdam guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Alice Cheongdam
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Alice Cheongdam | Seoul | 2026 Asia's 50 Best Bars · #13Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best International Bar Team – APAC * - Best International Bar Team – APAC * (Regional Top 10 Honoree)2025 Asia's 50 Best Bars · #13Top 500 Bars 2025 · #156Tatler Best Bars Asia-Pacific 20252024 Asia's 50 Best Bars · #462023 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #282022 Asia's Best Bars · #402021 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #41 |
| Le Chamber | Seoul | 2026 Asia's 50 Best Bars 51-100 · #88Top 500 Bars 2026 · #3122025 Asia's 50 Best Bars · #50Top 500 Bars 2025 · #196Tatler Best Bars Asia-Pacific 20252024 Asia's 50 Best Bars · #482023 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #252022 Asia's Best Bars · #392021 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #44 |
| Zest | Seoul | No published awards |
| Cucciolo Terraza | Seoul | No published awards |
| Casa del Vino | Seoul | No published awards |
| Keepers | Seoul | 2018 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #472017 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #47 |
How Alice Cheongdam Seoul compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation at Alice Cheongdam?
Reservation details are not available. Because Alice Cheongdam is a recognized Seoul bar with late hours, especially Friday and Saturday until 03:00, it is sensible to confirm directly before going.
Is Alice Cheongdam good for a date?
For a deliberate bar night in Seoul, Alice Cheongdam has a smart-casual dress code, late opening hours, and bar recognition. Confirm directly if you need specific seating or service details.
What's the best time to go to Alice Cheongdam?
Alice Cheongdam opens at 18:00 daily. It closes at 02:00 Sunday to Thursday and 03:00 Friday to Saturday, so choose the timing based on whether you want an earlier start or a later-night bar plan.
What's the crowd like at Alice Cheongdam?
Specific crowd details are not available. Alice Cheongdam has notable bar recognition, including Top 500 Bars Best Bars #156 in 2025, Asia's Best Bars #11 in 2016, a Tatler 2025 Best Bars Asia-Pacific listing, and Tales Spirited Awards APAC regional recognition for 2026.
Does Alice Cheongdam have outdoor seating?
Is Alice Cheongdam good for groups?
Group suitability is not available. For a group night, confirm directly with Alice Cheongdam before committing; for comparison, you can also look at other Seoul bar options such as Keepers, Le Chamber, or Zest.
