AcousticHolic (어쿠스틱 홀릭) - Directions and more info

Entrance to AcousticHolic (어쿠스틱 홀릭)

I've written a lot about AcousticHolic -- my favorite place in Seoul, maybe in all of Korea -- before, but I've only recently realized that I haven't shared any practical information about the one-of-a-kind guitar-themed bar.

If you're looking for a chill night with friends but also want to listen to some great music, not just talk and drink, this bar is the perfect place to go to.

A friend and I happened upon it by accident back in February of this year, but I became addicted (an Acoustic-holic myself, if you will) and have visited about eight times in the past five months. The bar has grown in popularity with Fulbrighters (and with foreigners in general, I think) lately, and I'm always eager to share it with others. So go give it a shot!

English address: 328-18 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Woorim Building B1)
Korean address: 서울특별시 마포구 서교동 328-18 우림빌딩 지하

Directions: From Hongdae Station (홍대역, Green line/Line 2) exit 8, turn right after you exit and walk two short blocks until you reach the wide Hongdae pedestrian street. Turn left and walk one block; you will pass by a few barbecue restaurants. Take the first right onto Wausan-ro 29-gil (와우산로29길). Walk for a few blocks, and AcousticHolic will be on your left, between a store called Sound Store and a small cafe called Free Heart. The walk should take less than 10 minutes, and if you're around Hongdae Station exit 7 (if you took the Airport Line or the Light Blue line/Gyeongui/경의), then you're even closer. (If you've taken the Green line, be warned: you can't get to exits 5, 6, or 7 without making an additional transfer.)

Photo by Neal Singleton

Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday (closed on Mondays), and performances begin at 8pm. They usually last until midnight, and sometimes additional performances last until closing time at 1-2am.

Wednesday is Fingerstyle Night, when Guitar Jedi performs. I haven't been to a weeknight gig in several months, but they are usually much more laid back than Friday and Saturday evenings, when it can get quite crowded.

Fee: The entrance fee is ₩5,000. Drinks run from ₩5-9,000 beers to several kinds of mixed drinks and cocktails. There are also 안주 (anju, bar snacks) for those who come hungry.

Folks at AcousticHolic are a really tight-knit community; it seems like all of the musicians are friends with each other. Sometimes, a performance by some of the guys seems less like a performance and more like bros just jamming for the heck of it for fifteen minutes. It's sublime.

The space isn't enormous, but it is certainly cozy, with its mood lighting and tea candles set on low tables. I personally like how the spotlight and all the focus in the room is on whoever is performing on the guitar-shaped stage. It's too bad when people play a gig at a bar but nobody listens; not so at AcousticHolic, where it really is about the music. And it is amazing, amazing music. Next time you're in Hongdae for the evening, go check out AcousticHolic, and tell the Guitar Jedi that Andrew (the Asian-American who lives in Changwon) said hi.

정선호 performing at Acoustic Holic. Photo by Neal Singleton