BAR The Old
1st Floor, 2, Toegye-ro 27-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Tucked away in a small alley just off the main street of Chungmu-ro, there is a jazz bar called The Old, which has been standing for over 20 years.
The red sign softly glows, always waiting for visitors just as it has, unchanged, over the years. As you open the old door beneath it and step inside, cozy lighting and furniture, naturally aged by time, greet you with a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
The long bar stretching across the space, along with tables arranged to accommodate a variety of people, perfectly captures the vibrancy of Chungmuro. The Old has quietly stood as a small sanctuary in people's hearts, offering more than just a place for a drink. Over its 20 years of operation, the bar has absorbed the lively energy of Chungmu-ro in the early 2000s, naturally becoming a gathering place for people from all walks of life. During this time, countless stories have been shared, contributing to the rich history of The Old.
Throughout the bar, items filled with memories of past customers naturally adorn the space. A carpenter, believing a handmade wooden plate would perfectly fit the place, gifted it to The Old. A musician, lost in conversation about music and life, would often leave without noticing the night pass by. A couple met here, fell in love, and later had their wedding photos taken at The Old. For countless people who have visited, The Old is not just a bar, but a space filled with their stories—a place where memories and youth are forever recorded. Today, new stories will be added as more people make their way to The Old, and as they leave with a sense of longing, they will surely return again.
The reason The Old has been loved by many over the years is not only due to its wide variety of cocktails, high-quality draft beers, and carefully selected whiskeys that match the mood of the day, but also because of the carefully curated vinyl music that fills the space, enriching the experience and creating special memories. The vintage vibe of the music flowing from the analog turntable and vinyl records fills the space, subtly enhancing the atmosphere without interrupting individual conversations. It gently fills the gaps in dialogue, creating a rich and immersive environment. Moreover, The Old plays people's diverse song recommendations without bias, fostering a more colorful and harmonious ambiance.
A space where each sip of whiskey, each word of conversation, and each song shared brings everyone’s stories together. Just as the proud story of Kim Nam-yong, the owner, who has grown alongside his regulars, The Old is a place where people gather, share memories, and create new stories together.
