Where They’re Always Glad You Came

As the song goes, “Sometimes you want to go – where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see; our troubles are all the same.” Besides just a pint, foreign-owned bars can immediately provide a much-needed sense of community to the newcomer and be a fountain of information on the local scene. Whether you’re a permanent fixture there or just a visitor passing through, there are few better ways to learn the lay of the land quickly than availing yourself to the local barkeep. That’s why we’ve provided a nationwide list of 10 Best Foreign-Owned Bars in Korea where you can walk in and let everybody know your name. If your favorite watering hole is missing, be sure to let us know, as you can count on our annual 10 Best Foreign-Owned and Operated Bar column.

Seoul

3 Alley Pub

Location: Itaewon

Owners: Albert Ryan, Bernie Mullin
Specialty: Extensive western menu that offers great food at pub prices.
Weekly Events: Tues: Wing Night (300 won per wing),
Wed: Steak Tartar 11,500, Thurs: Quiz Night.
History: 3 Alley Pub was opened in 2001 by an Australian/German
chef and Itaewon icon Gunter Kamp. In 2003 Albert Ryan joined the team to bring some Canadian flavor. In 2007 after 6 years on the front lines Gunter moved on and Bernie Mullin joined Albert to continue the 3 Alley Pub tradition.
Hours: 12 pm until 1 am, Weekends ‘till 2 am
Website: 3alleypub.com
Phone: 02-749-3336

Beer O’clock

Location: Shinchon
Owners: Trevor and Mi-young MacDonald along with Clark Webster

Specialty: Outdoor Terrace, Donairs, burgers, extensive tunes list.
Weekly Events: Thursday Ladies Night (W10,000 all you can
drink).  Saturday: W1000 draft from 3 pm, Sunday Western brunches and sports on 3 big plasmas.
History: Started in Mokdong in 2007 and recently moved to a great
new location in Shinchon. The move to Shinchon provided a 2nd floor location with huge windows and a great terrace. Friendly Canadian and Korean staff to make for a great dining (and drinking) experience, eh?
Hours: Sun 11:30 am – 12 am, Mon – Fri. 6 pm – late, Sat. 3 pm  late Website: www.beeroclock.ca

Phone: 02-333-9733

Rocky Mountain Tavern

Location: Itaewon, Seoul
Owners: Craig Roessel, Jamie Cottin, Tyler Deuling, Corry Day,
Anh So Young
Specialty: Big Screen Sports, DJs, Live Bands, Comedy Nights,
Darts, Golden Tee & Silver Strike
Weekly Events: Tuesday Wing Night (W300 per wing),
Wednesday Wii Night, Sat/Sun Truck Stop Brunch
History: The Rocky Mountain Tavern was an idea born out of
necessity in July of 2004. We needed a little taste of home to balance the foreign adventure that is “life in Korea”. Although The RMT was built with Canadians in mind, it has become a place of comfort for any and all who share our need for a place to relax, talk about life and share a brew. Great menu includes great wings, sandwiches and their delicious spinach and feta pizzas at the ridiculous price of W9,000.
Hours: Mon.  Thurs. 6 pm to 2 am, Fri 6 pm to late,
Sat. 11 am to real late, Sun. 11 am to 2 am
Website: www.rockymountaintavern.com

Watts on Tap

Location: Sinchon, Seoul
Owner: Sean Watts
Specialty: Great Rooftop Terrace
Weekly Events: Wed. ½ priced cocktails, Saturdays buy 3 shots, get 1 free
History: Sean Watts opened this bar back in 2004 and it has been a haven for hundreds of ex-pats, travelers, and locals alike. Regulars fill the bar every night of the week, and when the weather is nice their rooftop is pumping. Events, language exchanges and live music are frequent. Contact Matt the Manager if interested in bar tending or playing a gig.

Hours: 6pm  - you go home

Website: facebook group: Watts on Tap

Phone: 02-3142-8439

Wolfhound

Location: Itaewon, Seoul

Owners: Wayne Gold, So-yeon Lee, Da-hae Kim

Specialty: Wide Selection of Draft Beer and a real Irish Pub atmosphere

Weekly Specials: Tuesday: 2 for 1 Fish & Chips. Sundays: Table Quiz

History: Back in 2006 three Itaewon regulars with a combined 15 years in the bar industry decided to join forces to try and create a place where they would feel comfortable drinking and partying and the Wolfhound was born. Decorations will make you think you’re in Ireland, although the friendly English-speaking staff doesn’t really have an Irish accent generally. Fish and Chips are some of the best in Korea, and the Shepherd’s Pie impresses as well.

Hours: Weekdays 3 pm – 2 am Weekends 11 am  2 am

Website: wolfhoundpub.com

Phone: 02-749-7971

Busan

Metro Bar

Location: Busan Kyungsung University Area
Owners: Johnny Jung
Specialty: Bar Games – 5 dart machines, pool table, foosball,
and Evo machine.
Weekly Events: Weekend events
(Bands, drinks specials, dart tournaments etc)
History: Johnny Jung is a darts fanatic who decided to open a
sports bar so he could enjoy his favorite bar games. Ridiculously low drink prices, bar games galore and one of the biggest hangout bars in Busan have kept weekends rocking to the wee hours of the morning.
Hours: 6 ‘till whenever
Phone: 010-9323-5955

Sunset Lounge

Location: Busan Haeundae Mi-Po
Owner: Michael Schneider
Specialty: Western Food, sporting, rooftop parties and BBQ’s
Weekly Events: Taco Tuesdays, Wine and Salad Wednesday,  Rooftop BBQ Weekends

History: Opened just this year, owner Mike has lived in Busan for 7 years and saw a need for a friendly bar where you can get authentic Western food, enjoy sporting events, sit outdoors on a great rooftop, with a music level where you can still talk to the person next to you. Located just up the beach from one of Korea’s biggest tourist spots, this is the perfect first stop to get information on Busan from the locals.
Hours: Tues-Friday- 7-2, Sat. 3-3, Sun. 3-11
Website: Facebook Sunset Haeundae
Phone: 051-742-2925

Daegu

The Holy Grill

Location: Downtown Daegu

Owners: Aaron Laforest, Derrick Cvitkovich (Moose and Deke)

Specialty: Handmade burgers, Tex-Mex & frozen cocktails.

Weekly Events: Fiesta Fridays (Mexican Food 30% Off), Sunday Breakfast and a Bloody Mary for W10,000
History: One day back in September 2007, two Canadian fellows got tired of corn on their pizza and sweet pickles on their burgers, and decided to open up a restaurant/lounge where ex-pats could get what they missed, and Koreans could get what they were missing out on. Soon they’re looking to expand into one more floor of serving area and adding a sports bar concept.

Hours: Tue to Fri – 4pm  1 am, (Sat.  11 – 1, Sun 11  10)
Website: theholygrillkorea.com
Phone: 053-423-4048

Gwangju

Speakeasy

Owner: Derek Hannon
Specialty: Live music, darts, pool, and a drink menu unmatched in Jeolla Province
Weekly Events: Thursdays: Quiz Night/Acoustic Music.
Saturdays: DJ or Live Music
History: Speakeasy opened on New Year’s Day 2006 as the first and as yet only foreign owned bar in Gwangju. It has grown from a “one man and his guitar” hang out to a Mecca for foreigners in the southern part of the country. People regularly travel from all over Jeollanamdo and beyond to party it up on Friday and Saturday nights to an eclectic mix of music – new, old and live. The English speaking staff is friendly and always ready to chat while serving the best/strongest drinks anywhere. Now owned by Derek Hannon, a pure blood Irishman, you get the full atmosphere of an Irish pub as the barman hands you your Guinness with a “Top of the mornin’ to ya!” at 2 am.
Hours: 7pm  ‘till Derek says so, Thursday-Sunday
Website: mdspeakeasy.com
Phone: 010-4713-3825

Gumi

Waegook Cook

Owners: Derrick Smith and Gyeong-suk Park (Sugi)
Specialty: Western dishes including giant burgers, steaks and live entertainment.
History: Derrick and his wife Sugi opened up Waegook cook in 2005 near downtown Gumi, 10 minutes from the train station. Great Western food and a true small-town atmosphere have proved to be a tremendous success. This is one bar where you can show up alone at 8 pm and have 20 new best friends by 10. Drop by and take in frequent live music performances or have a go at the open microphone. If sport is your thing, all major sporting events are shown live the big screen.
Hours: 18:00 till very late  or early
Website: waegookcook.com
Phone: 054-444-3775

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