Finding a spot in Gangnam where you can relax and catch up with a friend can often be overwhelming.  South of the Han there are SO many cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs, lounges, and hofs that making a decision can be infuriating.  If you’re looking for an after-work hangout, CraftBros Bottle & Tap House is a great Apgujeong bar with plenty of options for beer!

The Spot:

With this unassuming facade, one might walk right past this 2-storey chicken and beer place.  Nestled among clothing retailers, high-end designers, cafes, and Korean BBQ places it would be easily overlooked.  The name isn’t evident (it just says Bottle & Tap House), so trying to grab a map for the post wasn’t the easiest.  I’m not even 100% certain this is a CraftBros location (their Facebook page says they’re in Banpo).  I’ve included a map to the location on the card which was given to me last week when we visited.

The rows on rows of beer bottles are impressive (and slightly overwhelming)!  The craft beer bottle shop stocks a variety from across Asia as well as the United States, Russia, and Belgium (Dubbels and Tripels are my favourites).  We decided to go local and try the Gangnam Pale Ale.

The Beer:

The taps are pretty cute at this crisp and clean Apgujeong bar!  The Gangnam Pale Ale was perfectly hoppy, but wasn’t heavy.  I typically venture for less hoppy beers because my stomach feels unsettled after a robust brew.  This one hit the spot and didn’t linger.  I had my standard Dubbel for my second drink and was exactly as expected: rich, smooth, and sweet.

The Food:

We decided to share the double portion of fried chicken.  Excuse the image above.  I was pretty ravenous after the gym and dipped in before snapping!  I liked that there wasn’t any breading on the fried chicken.  It came with honey mustard sauce, coleslaw, and raddish.  This was a pretty standard chimaek spread, but the chicken was tasty and the beers were great.  The double portion of chicken was KRW 12,000 and our beers must have been pretty cheap because even going splitsy we only ended up paying about KRW 10,000 each.  Pretty cheap for an Apgujeong bar!

The Verdict:

While the staff didn’t speak too much English, they tried their best to make us feel welcome and at home.  They even gave us each a set of calendars after dinner!  They are designed by either the owner or one of the staff members (I’m pretty sure).  Although we weren’t stuffed we were pleasantly satiated.  For a cheap and cheerful Apgujeong bar and a great after work environment I’d definitely head back.  The verdict?  Go for the beers and the vibe, stay for the chicken.

Location:

656-11 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

The post SeoulFood: CraftBros Tap House & Bottle Shop (Apgujeong Bar) appeared first on The Toronto Seoulcialite.