South Korea's Listening Bar Trail

Cream (LP Bar)

Listening bar · Hongdae · Rock, General · $$

Second-floor LP bar with what a reviewer calls a truckload of records, mostly oldies, and walls of vintage singers. Song requests are welcome.

Tip: Closed Mondays. Reviewers say the owners are welcoming to solo travellers.

South Korea, Seoul, 2F Hongik-ro 5-gil, 45 KR 서울특별시 마포구

Bar Kian

Listening bar · Hapjeong · General · $$$

Craft-cocktail LP listening bar where reviewers praise the sound quality and vinyl collection. The bartender-owner and his team are known for careful mixology.

Tip: Good for solo visitors, per reviewers. Opens at 7 PM.

South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, Eoulmadang-ro 5-gil, 25-6 1 층

LP Music Bar

Listening bar · Hongdae · General · $$

Small Seogyo-dong LP bar with an amazing vintage collection that the bar uses to DJ. Request songs on the paper they give you.

Tip: Staff may not speak English, but they read what you write.

402-18 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Hours not listed. Call ahead before you go.

OZ LP Bar

Listening bar · Hongdae · Rock, General · $$

Hidden Hongdae alley bar with a massive record collection, self-serve beer and cozy vibes. Write down what you want to hear and the owner plays it.

Tip: Reviewers say pop and rock requests work best. Open late.

332-19 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

House of Vinyl Mangwon

Vinyl cafe · Mangwon · General · $$

Mangwon cafe styled like a vintage living room, with LPs playing in rotation, a wall of records and about 18 seats spread around the room.

Tip: Reviewers say you give your name to wait for a table, and that service is not geared to foreigners.

South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, Huiujeong-ro 16-gil, 23 1층

Hell Cafe Music

Vinyl cafe · Euljiro · Jazz, General · $$

Daytime listening cafe near Euljiro playing records through Tannoy Westminster speakers, with quality coffee. Reviewers stay an hour or more and praise the owners' passion.

Tip: The menu is in Korean, but the barman is friendly and will explain. Closes at 8 PM.

227-1 Jugyo-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Fizz Social Club

Vinyl cafe · Euljiro · Jazz · $$

Jazz cafe in a vintage Euljiro building, filled with LPs, cassettes, vintage photos and jazz artwork, with hand-drip coffee and a turntable playing.

Tip: Closed Mondays. Reviewers recommend it for a quiet read as much as the music.

51-4 Eulji-ro 35-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Music Complex Seoul

Vinyl cafe · Insadong · General · $$

Fifth-floor Insadong lounge built around a wall of records, where you can play vinyl, eat and soak up the room. Reviewers call it aesthetic and busy.

Tip: It is on the fifth floor. Open daily from noon.

49 Insadong-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Objktt Record Coffee & Bar

Vinyl cafe · Myeongdong · General · $$

Fourth-floor Myeongdong coffee and cocktail bar playing great music from late morning, with friendly staff.

Tip: Open daily from 11:30 AM; look for the fourth floor.

South Korea, Seoul, Jung District, Myeongdong 8ga-gil, 58 4층

Soulville Listening Bar

Listening bar · Seochon · Soul/Funk, General · $$$

Listening bar tucked into a quiet Seochon-area street, with a state-of-the-art sound system, whisky and a welcoming staff. Reviewers say it is the place in Seoul to hear music in ultra high definition.

Tip: Opens at 7 PM.

94 Naeja-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Mangmi Blues Vinyl & Cocktail Bar

Listening bar · Busanjin · Jazz, General · $$

Third-floor Busanjin vinyl and cocktail bar. Reviewers say the owners have exquisite taste in music and the whiskey and cocktail list does not miss.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Opens at 7 PM.

South Korea, Busan, Busanjin District, Jungang-daero 680beonga-gil, 80-20 3층

Hu-il dam

Listening bar · Busanjin · General · $$

Busanjin bar playing vinyl with a wide whisky list. Reviewers say it takes song requests and will stream a track if it isn't on vinyl.

Tip: Opens at 6 PM and runs late.

10-7 Seojeon-ro 46beon-gil, Busanjin District, Busan, South Korea

Serabi Music Room & Bar

Listening bar · Suyeong · General · $$

Suyeong listening room where a large LP collection meets big speakers. Reviewers praise the sound and the relaxed, romantic room.

Tip: One visitor says a request was not played, so go for the system more than the jukebox.

31 Namcheondong-ro 108beon-gil, Namcheon-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea

Hours not listed. Call ahead before you go.

Vinyl Pub Muse On

Listening bar · Haeundae · General · $$

Haeundae vinyl pub with thousands of records and a cozy room. You can pick songs from the collection, and reviewers praise the drinks and the staff.

Tip: Open from 6 PM to 2 AM. Order drinks by QR code.

South Korea, Busan, Haeundae, Jungdong 1-ro, 39 예담빌딩 2층

Vinyl Cafe (Hallim)

Vinyl cafe · Hallim · General · $$

Jeju seaside cafe where you listen to vinyl with an ocean view. Reviewers describe an 18,000 won ticket that includes a drink and three records, plus a postcard.

Tip: On the west coast of the island. A good rainy-day stop.

643 Ongpo-ri, Hallim-eup, 특별자치도 Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea

Analog Sounds

Vinyl cafe · also sells vinyl · Hado · General · $$

Record shop and cafe in a small analog-themed village in Weison, with listening stations and a friendly owner. Reviewers say it is rare to find a record shop on Jeju.

Tip: On the east side of the island, a pleasant stroll around the village.

South Korea, Jeju-do, Cheju, 특별자치도, Gujwa-eup, Hado-ri, 907번지 아날로그뮤직