Jazz Bars

For my first Q&A video, someone emailed me asking about bars where older folks can find mellow out and find live jazz, R&B, soul, or smooth trot. I reached out to some people and got several recommendations for jazz bars, but came up empty on the rest. However, all of the recommended jazz bars were aimed at a younger crowd. So I dug around the Korean internet and ultimately found two that appear to be good candidates for those seeking a more mellow experience.

Below, you'll find two lists of jazz bars, those I’ve visited and those I haven’t. Over time, I will update these lists with more bars as they come to my attention, and with more information about the bars I visit.

Visited

Garrison

Garrison

Garrison is located in the Apgujeong Rodeo neighborhood. Although the area is popular with young adults, the bar has the kind of atmosphere many older people would find appealing. The lighting, decor, and the music, at least on the night I visited, made for a mellow vibe.

I visited with three friends on a Saturday night in April 2024. We learned that the music starts at 9:00 PM, so we headed off for dinner first and returned at 8:45. There was only one other customer when we arrived, and only a handful of people trickled in over the next hour. A sax and piano duo were playing that night. They were fabulous. Mellow, smooth, not too loud.

They have food, but we didn't look at the menu. We focused instead on the wine list. The prices were lower than I’d expected and quite reasonable for the area. We left the choice to a friend. He picked a sauvignon blanc. We nursed the wine through the first set and part of the second. The waiter made it very clear when handing us the menus and when taking our order that a ₩10,000 charge per person would be added to the final bill for the performers. That put our total at ₩108,000.

We all enjoyed the experience. The atmosphere, music, and wine blended well together to make for a pleasant end to the night. If you're looking for a smooth and mellow live jazz bar, Garrison is a good place to start.

Unvisited

Mike from Korea References