Villa Records

Descending the stairs to Villa Records feels like entering a retro-futurist time capsule, one soundtracked not by vinyl but by the hum of liquid nitrogen and laughter. Conceived by Yeongjun Felix Jo, winner of multiple global bartending awards, this Gangnam hideaway is where Seoul’s most inventive drinks meet Space Age design.

Jo’s philosophy is simple: take something familiar, make it extraordinary. His Molecular Piña Colada swaps kitsch for complexity, combining Korean pear with fat-washed rum and citrus precision. The Molecular New York Sour, milk-washed and crowned with bokbunja espuma (Korean wild raspberry wine foam), lands like jazz in liquid form. And the Classic XO-Mac, with XO soju with beer and Earl Grey, blends the East-West spirit of the bar itself.

Designed by co-owner Seongbin Lim, the room is a cinematic ode to the 1960s Space Age. Think chrome, curves and the soft glow of invention. Even the late-night crowd feels curated: artists, bartenders, dreamers.

Tatler Tip

Arrive between 7pm and 9pm before the crowd hits. Ask for the molecular trolley service and let the team craft a cocktail with local ingredients of the day. It’s theatre, chemistry and hospitality in perfect measure.