BARBAM

“Amazing service and well designed menu. My friend got Hadong Festival and it tasted amazing - a slight hint of matcha and the soju didn’t feel too overwhelming. I got a mocktail instead so can’t comment on the rest of the menu, but overall the ambience was amazing. Would go back to try more items on the menu!”

“Among the bars I’ve visited recently, this one stood out for having one of the cleanest and most refined seating setups. The bartender’s skill was genuinely impressive, to the point where it was quite surprising. The matcha cocktail in particular left a strong impression. It thoughtfully incorporated Korean elements, resulting in a creative and well-balanced drink that felt both unique and memorable.”

“We came to Barbam for date night drinks before dinner last night. It was early evening, so it wasn’t busy and we could choose either a table or the counter. I loved the beautiful decor and we decided to sit at one of the tables. In hindsight, the counter may have been better, since it’s further away from the entrance and the upstairs restaurant. They were playing music in this bar, but the music from upstairs was so loud, as if it were a karaoke room, and really downgraded the speakeasy vibe and experience. The service was fine but the drinks did take time even though it wasn’t busy at all and they weren’t served together, so we had to wait. Also to my surprise, my “drink” actually wasn’t a drink—it was alcohol-infused ice cream. It was called Sesame Parfait ($26+) but was listed under drinks and not food, so I wasn’t expecting it to not be a drink. It was beautifully presented, but had I known it was ice cream, I would’ve selected a different drink. If the music from upstairs weren’t as disturbing and there were a drink that I liked, this would be a nice spot for date night, especially when it’s colder.”

“Korean inspired bar priced at $20 a cocktail. JMT and Serendipity (Mocktail) were fantasic, the bourbon in the JMT lacked depth of flavor imo. Service and atmosphere was fantastic. The Korean fried chicken was abysmal and tasted like paper mache. 3.9/5 ✨”

“Located below Judam (formerly Rib No 7), Barbam is a cozy and smaller bar serving up Korean cocktails. you walk down the stairs to this small and cozy area. There’s both bar seating and a table seating, but we chose to sit at the bar. Cocktails are a bit on the pricy side (around $24 per each one) but the presentation is quality throughout. We got a Hulu punch and a JMT. The JMT came with a little show of lighting steel wool that added a smoky flavor to the drink. The alcohol was on the stronger side, but it tasted good and the lime juice went well with the bourbon. The Hulu punch was also on the strong side, but the alcohol taste wasn’t as strong. The strawberry went well with the drink as well. We also got fried chicken on the side, which was lightly battered and soft and juicy. It came with a wasabi mayo that paired well with the dish, as well as a chili sauce.”