Charles H — Seoul, South Korea

At first glance, Charles H could almost write the checklist for the contemporary incarnation of the speakeasy: tucked below ground level, with a discreet entrance that opens onto a snug realm of mahogany and velvet, where bottles twinkle coyly in art deco-framed recesses behind an imposing ebony bar. It’s even named after a prominent figure from the Prohibition era: Charles H Baker, a globetrotting American cocktail expert who’s said to have inspired many of the house concoctions.
However there’s a lot less unabashed nostalgia, and a lot more local inspiration, than initial appearances might suggest. New York-based designers AvroKO have crammed the venue with references to Korean royalty, from a striking seven-metre tapestry of braided velvet and silk knots that evoke the intricate hairstyles of the former gentry, to the auspicious symbols etched subtly into tables and chairs. Even the bottle collection includes over 100 antique decanters, calling to mind the old apothecary cabinets still found in stores and homes across the region.
All this would mean little in a hard-drinking city if the cocktails weren’t up to snuff, but they are, with the list striking a healthy balance between innovation and the classics (including multiple incarnations of the Manhattan). More than just mood, in Charles H AvroKO has created a place of mystery, whose secrets may require repeat visits, or at least a few drinks, to uncover.
ADDRESS
97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Spend a night at the renovated Villa Medici, ‘one of Rome’s greatest sleepover experiences’
Villa Medici is not a hotel; but if you can snag a room at what’s in fact the French Academy in Rome, you’re in for a design treat
-
A bespoke 40m mixed-media dragon is the centrepiece of Glastonbury’s new chill-out area
New for 2025 is Dragon's Tail – a space to offer some calm within Glastonbury’s late-night area with artwork by Edgar Phillips at its heart
-
‘100 Years, 60 Designers, 1 Future’: 1882 Ltd plate auction supports ceramic craft
The ceramics brand’s founder Emily Johnson asked 60 artists, designers, musicians and architects – from John Pawson to Robbie Williams – to design plates, which will be auctioned to fund the next generation of craftspeople
-
Tour the best contemporary tea houses around the world
Celebrate the world’s most unique tea houses, from Melbourne to Stockholm, with a new book by Wallpaper’s Léa Teuscher
-
Korean Air reveals sleek rebrand in first overhaul since 1984
Korean Air’s new identity sheds excess detail to create a bold, minimalist identity fit for its global ambition
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy design
There’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
-
The coolest design-led coffee shops in Seoul
Seoul counts more coffee shops per capita than any other city in the world – cut straight to our six must-visit spots
-
Oneworld unveils first-ever branded lounge in Seoul Incheon Airport
A new Oneworld futuristic lounge opens in Seoul as the airline alliance gears up for its 25th anniversary
-
Seoul is Best City of 2024
Seoul’s unique mix of culture, art and style goes global, thanks to an unstoppable new wave of dynamic creatives. Discover the Wallpaper* Design Awards’ Best City
-
JW Marriott Jeju is a sleek island beauty
JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa launches, marking the hospitality brand's first resort in South Korea’s largest Island
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico