Alice

Alice has been on the Asia list long enough that the flower-shop entrance could feel like a prop, but the room still earns its rank on the drinks. Owner Terry Kim and joint head bartender Mason Park build seasonal menus where each serve has one clear story, from gin and ice wine in the Hippity Hoppity to coffee and chicory in Did I Melt?, without hiding weak balance behind smoke or foam. The wood-panelled salon is intimate rather than loud, service runs in English as easily as Korean, and the back bar rewards anyone who wants a neat pour after the signatures. For a single cocktail night in Gangnam, this is the address that pairs theatre with technique.

Finding Alice is part of the visit. On Dosan-daero 55-gil in Cheongdam, follow the white rabbit signs into the flower shop, then locate the secret door and narrow stairs that drop you into a low-lit, wood-lined bar with curtained booths and Wonderland touches that stop short of theme-park kitsch. Counter seats face the working station and suit solo drinkers or pairs; booths work for small groups. The crowd mixes local regulars, hotel guests from Apgujeong, and list-chasers from overseas, and the team will talk you through the menu if the names alone do not tell you enough.

The current list rotates with the seasons, but a few names recur as anchors. Hippity Hoppity pairs gin with ice wine, kiwi, camellia, and dill in the house's brightest, most floral register. Did I Melt? takes vodka and grappa through coffee, tomato, and chicory for something darker and savoury. Make Me Bigger blends rum, amaro, banana, and tonka, while Unbirthday Tea Party builds on whiskey, oloroso sherry, black tea, and coconut. Signatures sit around ₩27,000. If you prefer spirits neat, skip the narrative serves and ask for premium soju or a pour from the deep back bar.

Alice is at 84-20 Dosan-daero 55-gil in Cheongdam, Gangnam, a short walk from Apgujeong Rodeo station on the Suin-Bundang Line. It opens at 18:00 daily, closing at 02:00 Sunday through Thursday and 03:00 on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, through CatchTable or by phone at +82 2 511 8420. Budget about ₩27,000 per cocktail. Arrive on time for a booked slot, since the underground room is compact and peak hours fill quickly.

Asia's 50 Best notes that Alice avoids sleight-of-hand showmanship in favour of flavour built from scratch. Fresh fruit, homemade syrups, bitters, and jellies form the base of each seasonal menu, and garnishes lean theatrical without overpowering the glass. Terry Kim opened the bar in April 2015 after stints at The Griffin Bar and JJ Mahoney's, and the team has since stacked competition credentials on the back wall. The result is a bar that reads playful on the menu and disciplined in the shaker, with enough straight spirits on the shelf to satisfy drinkers who want less story and more pour.

Alice placed No.14 on our 2026 Asia ranking, holding ground as one of four Seoul rooms on the list alongside Zest at No.3, Bar Cham, and M+MS Bar. It has appeared on the Asia ranking across multiple years, building a reputation with international visitors as much as with Gangnam regulars. The 2026 position reflects consistency in a market that has gained seven Korean entries across the wider list conversation, and Alice's combination of a memorable entrance, English-friendly service, and seasonally refreshed signatures keeps it among the city's essential cocktail stops.