The Best Listening Bars (LP Bars) in Seoul, South Korea
Seoul has embraced the listening bar in a way very few cities have. These are spaces designed for slow, intentional evenings built around music. The sound system is usually the centre of the room, and everything else is arranged to support a calm, immersive atmosphere.
Listening bars (or LP bars as they call them) are usually small, softly lit and built around an analogue set-up. You will often see large vintage speakers, valve amplifiers and a well-loved vinyl collection behind the counter. The atmosphere is calm and sociable rather than wild. People talk quietly, sit for long stretches, and enjoy the curation that changes the mood throughout the night.
Kompact Record Bar
Curation is the true essence of the culture. LP bar owners and DJs often build their playlists from years of collecting.
Expect jazz, soul, funk, ambient, Japanese city pop, old Korean records and deep cuts you have likely never heard before. The aim is not to hype the crowd. It is to create a sense of atmosphere in the room.
Most bars serve well-made cocktails, highballs, craft spirits or natural wine. Some have a few snacks, but the focus stays entirely on the music.
The scene fits Seoul perfectly. The city has a strong design culture, an interest in analogue craftsmanship and a growing love for slow, ritual-like experiences. LP bars offer people a break from the city's fast pace while still allowing them to feel stylish and social.
Below is a list of LP bars that we went to on our trip to Seoul, alongside others that came up in our research.
Kompact Record Bar (콤팩트 레코드바)
Seongsu and Sinsa
In the creative neighbourhood of Seongsu-dong, Kompakt delivers a refined yet relaxed music experience. Here, you’ll find yourself in a softly lit space where vintage speakers, turntables and a deep vinyl collection take centre stage. The sound system is treated with care, and every track is chosen to shape the atmosphere.
We came here after an afternoon’s worth of shopping Seongsu’s incredible high street to wind down and relax with a well made cocktail.
There are three branches of Kompact, one in Seongsu and two in Sinsa
Komfy (컴피)
Hapjeong and Samgakji
Komfy began as a small bar in Hapjeong built around a simple idea: comfort. Their motto, “comfort on every plate”, runs through everything, from the warm, dimly lit room to a menu that reads like elevated home cooking rather than fussy restaurant food. It feels more like a friend’s living room than a typical Seoul bar, with staff who are happy to talk through dishes and drinks rather than rush you along.
Expect modern comfort food with a Korean accent, thoughtful cocktails and a pace that encourages you to linger. It is the sort of place you end up staying longer than planned, which is exactly the point.
Google Maps Link (Hapjeong) | Google Maps Link (Samgakji)
Naver Maps Link (Hapjeong) | Naver Maps Link (Samgakji)
Tymm (티와이엠엠)
Yongsang-gu
Tymm is a lovely little wine bar that fits the spirit of Seoul’s listening culture even if it takes a different path. Instead of vinyl, the music comes from an old cassette deck wired into modern speakers, with a shelf of tapes you can thumb through and play. It adds a bit of nostalgia and gives the room a relaxed, lived-in feel.
The wine list is excellent, built around interesting bottles rather than crowd-pleasers, and the menu leans Italian and European with dishes that are far better than you would expect from a small bar.
It sits in a great part of the city with plenty of other spots along the same street, so it works perfectly for a slow evening of bar hopping or a simple night of good wine, good food and the soft hiss of a cassette turning.
Hyundai Card Music Library (현대카드 뮤직 라이브러리)
Hannam-Dong
The Hyundai Card Music Library is not a bar, yet it belongs in any guide to Seoul’s LP scene. It is an architecturally striking space in Hannam-Dong where anyone can browse an enormous collection of records for free. The atmosphere is calm and bright, and the listening stations make it easy to spend an hour discovering something new. It is a brilliant stop before or during a wander through Hannam-Dong, which a young shopkeeper in Itaewon described to us as one of the coolest areas in the city.
Other LP Bars to explore in Seoul
The four spots above were some of our favourites, but Seoul’s love for vinyl runs far deeper. The city is full of small, carefully curated listening rooms, and we barely scratched the surface. Here are a few other places that came up again and again during our research and are firmly on our list for the next trip.
Dung Dung 둥둥 (Hongdae) - A tiny jazz bar with dim lighting and a loyal local crowd. Check their Instagram for info.
Gopchang Jeongol 곱창전골 (Hongdae) - Calm and photo-friendly on weekdays, but on weekend nights it turns into one of the most energetic rooms in the city with people of all ages singing and dancing. Expect it to be busy on weekends, but it comes with many, many recommendations!
Cream LP bar (Hongdae) - A clean, modern listening bar with well-made drinks and a stylish but unpretentious atmosphere.
Suzie Q 수지큐 (Sangsu) - A basement LP bar filled with tens of thousands of records, exceptional sound and a famously warm owner who takes handwritten song requests.
Seoul Vinyl 서울 바이닐 (Itaewon) - Small vinyl bar which has a shop open in the day as well. Easy to drop in before exploring the area. Reviews suggest the owner may not be very friendly to tourists though. Report back to us if you go here.
Ginga 징가 (Itaewon) - Right next to Seoul Vinyl a small comfy bar
Vinyl Seongsu 바이닐 성수 (Seongsu) - A self-service concept with your own record player and sofa. Popular with Gen Z locals and leaning heavily into mainstream Western albums. Less warm and cosy vibes and more of a Vinyl cafe.
House of Vinyl (Mangwon) - A cosy neighbourhood listening spot with a relaxed atmosphere and a small, well-chosen record selection.
Woodstock 우드스탁 홍대 (Hongdae) - A rock-focused vinyl bar with a nostalgic pub feel and shelves of classic records.
Supersonic (Yeonnam) - A lively yet relaxed Yeonnam bar with a varied vinyl collection and a steady flow of locals.
Beatles - A sixties rock-themed bar filled with memorabilia and a predictable but fun playlist. There are two on Google Maps, one in Gangnam called Beatles LP Bar 비틀즈 and one in Seodaemun-gy called Beatles 비틀즈
Hyundai Card Music Library
Komfy Bar
Komfy Bar
