Where diplomats used to walk, now it's just us and wine nobody rushes.
Why DAESAGWAN, why now
Esquire Korea's July 2026 feature identifies Daesagwan-ro 5-gil in Hannam-dong, the uphill street from Soonchunhyang Hospital to Cheil Kwang-jik, as the freshest micro-hotspot inside Hannam, anchored by the new Downtowner Hannam burger shop with Knotted, BMD/Departound and other new openings clustering nearby.
1. Osteria Orzo
- 47 Hannam-daero 20-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul
- 4.4 · 732 reviews · 레스토랑
Osteria Orzo opens the course because lunch here sets a baseline for the rest of the day. The strip gets quieter in daylight, so start when the tables are full but not rushed. This is the kind of place that makes you slow down before the night begins, and the course is built backwards from where you'll finish.
Crew's note
You wouldn't walk past this twice. That's why I brought you.
What visitors say
What a surprise, and a treat. Best meal we have had in Seoul, after eight days on a food trip in South Korea. Octopus was tender, and just p…
This fusion Italian restaurant has been on my list for quite some time, and I was excited to try the beef carpaccio. It was definitely the b…
2. BAR SOKO
- Seoul, Yongsan District, 한남대로 20길47 지하
- 4.5 · 156 reviews · 칵테일바
BAR SOKO closes the course because this is where the neighborhood shifts. By the time you arrive, the strip has emptied and the unmarked doors are the only ones that matter. The course ends here because a good night doesn't need a third stop.
Crew's note
You wouldn't find this door. That's why I'm here.
What visitors say
Stunning bar with amazing drinks, great ambience and the best looking bartenders in all of Korea!!😊
top 50 asia’s bar 2024 - visited bar soko without reservation and was served warmly by tony and his staff. spoke to him over the course of o…
The walk between
The walk between them is short, uphill along the strip Esquire Korea just mapped. You'll pass the new burger shop and a few storefronts that weren't here a year ago, all clustered on the same stretch.
- Start lunch early enough that you're not rushing into the evening slot. The course works best when there's air between the two stops.
- If you're coming on a weekend, the cocktail bar gets its crowd later. Arriving just after dark gives you the room before it fills.
FAQ
- Do I need reservations for both stops?
- The restaurant is small with tables close together, so a reservation helps if you're coming with more than two people. The bar takes walk-ins, and the staff are known for welcoming guests who arrive without booking.
- What's the price range for this course?
- The restaurant offers portion sizes designed for sharing multiple dishes, so budget for a full meal if you're sampling the menu. The cocktail bar sits on the higher end, but the atmosphere and the award-winning drinks account for that.
Ask Jake
Seoul
