Euljiro, Seoul (2026): Hipjiro Bars, Nogari Alley and the Old Printing Lanes

By day, Euljiro (을지로) is a maze of printing presses, paper wholesalers, lighting shops and tool stores, much as it has been for decades. By night, the shutters come down and the area becomes one of Seoul’s favorite places to drink: plastic tables in Nogari Alley, and stylish bars hidden on the upper floors of old workshop buildings. Young Koreans nicknamed it Hipjiro (힙지로), “hip Euljiro”.

Last checked: October 2026. Bars here open, move and close often, and parts of the area are being redeveloped. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

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Why is Euljiro called Hipjiro?

From the 2010s, young bar owners and designers started renting cheap upper floors in Euljiro’s aging workshop buildings. They kept the worn stairwells and old signs and opened bars, cafés and small galleries with no obvious entrance. The contrast, workshops below and cocktails above, gave the area its “Hipjiro” nickname. Today it’s a mix of old and new: the beer halls of Nogari Alley are still there, next to wine bars and listening bars.

What is Nogari Alley?

Nogari Alley (을지로 노가리골목) is a cluster of beer halls near Euljiro 3-ga Station that has served cold draft beer with nogari, dried young pollack grilled until smoky, since the 1980s. It was designated a Seoul Future Heritage site in 2015. On warm evenings, plastic tables spill across the lane and it’s full of office workers after work.

• How to order: point to a table, ask for beer (“maekju”) and nogari. Dipping sauce of gochujang and mayonnaise comes with it.
• When: it’s quiet early in the evening and gets crowded fast after 7 p.m., especially on Thursday and Friday.
• Weather: outdoor seating depends on the season; in winter, people sit inside.

How do I find the hidden bars?

Many of Euljiro’s newer bars have no street-level sign at all. Look for:

• small hand-painted signs or a single light at a stairwell entrance,
• bars listed on Naver Map with photos; search “을지로 바” (Euljiro bar) or “을지로 와인바” (wine bar) and follow the map to the building entrance,
• queues on the stairs on weekend nights, a sure sign you’ve found one.

Expect cocktails and wine at central Seoul prices, much more than the beer in Nogari Alley. Some bars have a cover charge or one-drink minimum; menus are usually posted at the door.

What can I see in Euljiro during the day?

• Printing alleys: walk the lanes between Euljiro 3-ga and Euljiro 4-ga to see presses at work. Stay out of the way of forklifts and delivery carts; these are working streets.
• Lighting and tool shops: long rows of lamp, LED and hardware shops along Euljiro itself.
• Cafés in old buildings: several cafés have kept vintage interiors, good for a break.
• Nearby sights: Cheonggyecheon Stream is a few minutes north, Jongmyo Shrine and Gwangjang Market are a short walk to the northeast, and Myeongdong is one subway stop west.

How do I get to Euljiro?

• Subway: Euljiro 3-ga Station (을지로3가역), Lines 2 and 3. Nogari Alley is about 3 minutes from the station.
• From Myeongdong: 15–20 minutes on foot along Euljiro, or one stop on Line 2 from Euljiro 1-ga.
• Taxi: show the card below.

Map — Euljiro Nogari Alley: Google Maps · Naver Map (Naver Map is still the most reliable app for walking, bus and subway directions in Korea)

Tips for a night in Euljiro

• Carry some cash for the older beer halls, although most places take cards.
• Weekdays are better if you want a seat; Friday and Saturday nights are packed.
• Respect the workshops. Don’t block doorways or photograph workers without asking.
• Getting home: the subway runs until around midnight; after that, taxis are easy to find on the main road.
• Things change: redevelopment has replaced some old blocks, so don’t be surprised if a place in an older guide has gone.

Is Euljiro easy to walk around?

The main roads have wide sidewalks, but the printing alleys are narrow, busy with carts and forklifts during the day, and the hidden bars are mostly up steep stairs without elevators. With a stroller or wheelchair, visit Nogari Alley at street level and the cafés on the main roads, and check bar access on Naver Map first.

How should I plan an evening in Euljiro?

1. 5–6 p.m.: walk the printing alleys as the workshops close, and take photos of the old signs.
2. 6–7 p.m.: dinner nearby, or at Gwangjang Market, a 10–15 minute walk away.
3. 7–9 p.m.: beer and nogari at Nogari Alley while it’s buzzing.
4. Later: a cocktail or wine bar upstairs, then the last train or a taxi home.

FAQ

Is Euljiro worth visiting?
Yes, especially in the evening if you like bars with character. By day it’s interesting for photographers and anyone curious about old industrial Seoul.

Is Nogari Alley expensive?
No. It’s one of the cheapest places to drink in central Seoul. The newer upstairs bars cost more.

Is Euljiro safe at night?
Yes. It’s busy with office workers in the evening. Watch your step on steep stairwells and uneven alleys.

Sources: Creatrip – Euljiro Nogari Alley · iVisitKorea – Euljiro, Seoul’s rising hip place · Mercure local guide – Euljiro hidden gems
Photos: Aaaatu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Aaaatu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mobius6 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · DtSeoul / Wikimedia Commons, CC0