3 Best Bars in Seomyeon, Busan

Owned and operated by a British expat, Beer Shop offers a revolving tap of craft beers brewed both inside Korea and elsewhere. The cooler is packed with a quality sampling of cans from around the world, and the back patio is pleasant for much of the year. They also whip up a mean pastrami burger, alongside other drool-worthy bar bites like sweet potato fries, chicken tenders, and dubu kimchi---tofu served with stir-fried kimchi and beef brisket.

Set up like an old English pub, this dark, chilled-out bar offers nice beers on tap, solid cocktails, and a great selection of jazz and blues on vinyl. The owner clearly understands the power of atmosphere, and the music alone makes Savoy a true gem in a sea of bars where K-pop (though a fun choice) is usually blasted at deafening volumes.

Forming a U-shape in the streets behind the Lotte Hotel, Seomyeon Pojangmacha Street is dedicated to the disappearing art of old-school Korean tent drinking. Most always staffed by tough, no-nonsense older women, these covered carts offer a simple bench or stool at a tiny counter, where you can nosh on side dishes whipped up on the spot and wash it all down with cold beer, makgeolli (rice wine), or bottles of soju. The food at a pojangmacha is usually good, so much so that it's often the star of the show. And the camaraderie you form with other patrons while eating and drinking together in such cozy environs is something you'll take with you long after your hangover is gone.