Bar Cham — Restaurant in Seoul

Made two separate bookings, one for 2 pax and another for 4 pax on March 27. No problem to seat both reservations separately as we wanted to try the drinks and have booked it separately. This crazy bar made us wait outside for four crazy hours cause what they meant was that no friends more than 4 persons are allowed. FIRSTLY, HOW INCONSIDERATE OF THIS PLACE TO HAVE PEOPLE WAIT FOR 4 hours last night March 27, 2024 only to tell us that we would never be allowed. YOU DONT DESERVE THIS 4.8 RATING! SECONDLY, we were fine to be seated separately because we wanted to try the drinks but because they knew we knew each other, they likewise did not allow. NOTE THAT WE HAD 2 SEPARATE BOOKINGS! Our companion finally cried in the end bec she thought she was going to be seated only to find out it was never going to happen after 4 hours! C R A Z Y!!!

Updated Reply 11:30pm March 28:

Claim of No reservation, only waiting list- If this is the owner replying then you should check your direct message to the customer bec we can post the screenshot here if it needs to come to that. Your arrogant waiter or manager has really bad bedside manners.

Claim of 5 people cannot enter - what you meant is only up to 4 friends/acquaintances can enter. Please be clear. Your google overview clearly says you can accommodate upto 4 per team. So we booked for 4 people. And made another reservation for 2 people. It never said that the second reservation cannot be friends or acquaintances? As what we said and you may check your cctv, we were okay to be seated SEPARATELY.

Claim that we acted as a group and made reservations at 3 min intervals- what is wrong with being friends and splitting the reservations? we do not deny this because where in the world did it say that you cannot have more than 4 friends in the same bar ??? It only said they can accommodate four per team. To our understanding that is four persons per reservation. And Clearly the booking is separate, and even if we made them 3 minutes apart- what is wrong with it? you can seat the other booking at the other end and it shouldnt matter right?

Claim that over the phone the 6 people cannot sit separately - as we said over and over again, the persons will enjoy their drinks separately. And NOT TOGETHER. This is PRECISELY WHY WE MADE A SEPARATE RESERVATION. DUH??

Claim of Disrespecting Rules- the rules are not clear. You claim to be a neighborhood bar but actually in a neighborhood friends are abound. Clearly in your bar, you only can bring yourself plus 3 friends and the rest of the patrons should be none of your acquaintances. Please revisit YOUR rules. We patiently waited for four hours as you even offered a blanket n hot water. Because you said as soon as it becomes available you will let the two persons sit. But clearly what you meant was- WHEN ALL YOUR FRIENDS LEAVE THEN YOU CAN ENTER.

This bar should have a tagline- MORE THAN FOUR FRIENDS ARE NOT WELCOME. ONLY STRANGERS AND ENEMIES ARE ALLOWED FOR FIVE PERSONS AND ABOVE.

Please also note i have not cursed you in this review as you claim in your reply. If you cannot communicate or do not understand english properly then it would be best to ask someone who does so that there will be no breakdown of communication. We are not here to pick a fight. We are here to tell your arrogant manager/waiter/supervisor that being in the hospitality industry, IT IS NOT OK TO MAKE UP RULES AS YOU GO ALONG AND DISCRIMINATE PEOPLE. Our actions are all within your rules and much more than so, legal and ethical. So i suggest that you step down from your high horse and swallow your high pride. You represent one of Asia’s best , supposedly, but your actions do not reflect that. We understand that it will never be perfect but what we cannot accept is that you seem to feel that we have deceived you and even portray the customer to be lying. You may ask your owner to check his phone as i have taken all the screen shots. And if this is the owner, i suggest you to take a second look at the bedside manner of...

I knew about Bar Cham when I went to Origin Bar at the Shangri-la in Singapore in 2022 who hosted two of their bartenders. I visited their bar in Seoul in Dec 2022 and had a great time there where Damon took care of us. Service was great and the drinks were phenomenal. However when tried to visit them again today and we were the first ones there before they opened, guess what! They actually turned us away because we were a party of 5 and they had this crazy policy where that they could only accept a maximum party of 4 and not more than that. Even when we asked to split the party, they said no. So what did they expect us to do? Ditch someone from the group? This is completely illogical and it really pissed me off because we walked a long way in minus 10 degree weather today just to make it at their opening time (since we couldn’t secure a reservation). It is really disappointing that they didn’t even bother to accommodate considering that we were the first ones there and the bar was empty. Surely the better way forward would have been to make exceptions, even if it was for a shorter duration. But no, the person over Instagram DM said that their staff are told to adhere strictly to policy. Wow. I mean, they are a great bar but certainly not the best bar, so this arrogant, inflexible attitude is really shocking. According to them, having a table of 4 guarantees the best experience. Well they certainly ruined my experience before I could even step in. It’s sad that the worst part of my trip to Seoul this year was actually the best part of my previous trip. I make it a point to check out all the best bars at the places I travel to and never have I heard of such a ridiculous policy. Most would try their best to accommodate and come to some form of compromise especially when we you are the first ones there and the bar is empty. Well this is how a great bar loses even its most ardent fans. I hope these arrogant chaps realise that there is always a better...

I don't know how to start this review or the main aspects to highlight about Bar Cham. But I'll start with the basics, the superb attention from all the staff! I arrived without a reservation so I had to wait. The staff was super friendly and helped me with the digital reservation you can made in a tablet that they have at the entrance. The wait to enter the establishment was very short. The small establishment with traditional Korean architecture that invites diners to enjoy a cozy atmosphere that is enhanced by the hospitality of the staff makes you feel like you've arrived with old friends. The explanation of the six-course menu is detailed and highly interesting. The starter cocktails are old fashioned, with citrus flavors that relax the palate and prepare the diner to try mirw complexity drinks flavors. The cocktails bases in tea and shiitake mushroom infusions are a sensory experience that play with cocoa aromas, followed by white tea and the aftertaste of vermouth. What can I say about the sides, without a doubt the food competes with some of the Michelin star dishes I've tried in Seoul. The sauce was the star of the cham boiled pork slice (pork belly). I loved that they use local liquors and highlight the richness of Korean culture through their cocktails. But back to the initial point, the most important thing and why I highly recommend Bar Cham is the warmth and attention of all their staff. Thank you for allowing me to taste their drinks and live an unforgettable experience in Seoul. You need...