d.still — Restaurant in Seoul

5 Star, Incredible, Hidden Gem.

Bartenders are masters at their craft and make many of the ingredients by hand. The bar is an oasis in a sea of clubs marketed to young people looking for free shots and loud music. You have to look closely for the entrance as there is no sign and the door is fairly unassuming.

When you walk in, you are instantly transported to a 1920s speakeasy - soft lights, chill vibe, jazz music, and smart dressed bartenders. You get a sense of warmth and feel 3 points cooler just for being there. The bartenders greet you with a smile and instantly offer some crackers and homemade cream cheese while you browse the drink (and food) menu. *This is not regular cream cheese - it is delicious and made fresh daily.

Everything is crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. Many items are hand made by the bartenders that day - even the coffee beans are roasted fresh most days. We ended up trying 5-6 different drinks and each was incredible. The tight knit group have worked together for years and take immense pride in their craft and work.

Pro tip: buy the bartenders a whiskey to drink with you. We asked which whiskey was their favorite and then bought a round for them and us to enjoy. This small kindness was repaid 10x with samples, new drinks, snacks, artisan shots, etc. It also made the night very memorable and extra fun.

We are planning our next trip to Seoul just to visit...

Hyun woo was who made our visit amazing.

My wife and I have been visiting whisky bars in Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto for the last month, and since we returned to Korea for one last day, we had to come back here. We first visited on our first trip to Seoul, and we liked it so much that we chose it for our last night in the city.

The selection of whiskies is excellent, and we got to try some rare Korean exclusive whisky bottlings and delicious high-end soju (thanks again to Hyun woo for knowing exactly what to suggest so we had an unforgettable experience).

The atmosphere was on point, the vibe was so relaxing, and the service (again Hyun woo!) was by far the best part. Loved it. Loved it. And we will visit it again every time we...

From a drinks and service perspective, d.still has what it takes to be on Asia's Top 100 Bars list someday. The cocktails are incredible and inventive, the service is impeccable, and their ability to take anything a customer says they want and turn it into a drink is magical.

The clam chowder is a highlight, too.

The only thing holding this place back, really, is the environment. Speakers are pointed directly at where customers sit and the volume is too high, so it can be difficult to hear a conversation. And there aren't really any cozy places for a couple to sit and have a conversation. It's kind of weird; there are two bar counters and lots of open space, but it's not a stand-with-your-drink...