It’s common to find cocktails in Seoul. It’s less common to find well crafted concoctions and original recipes that stray beyond shots or bombs. It doesn’t look very sophisticated from the graffiti at entrance or the basement door, but when you walk inside Robin’s Square you are confronted with the sharply dressed bartenders and rows of shelves stocked with almost anything you can think of. It’s the kind of dimly lit and comfortable bar that I could easily peg as a Friday night favorite. If I lived just a bit closer, I could see spending quite a few nights of conversation while working my way through the list of signature cocktails.
The leather booths tucked away into corners were relatively free when we entered around eight, but by the time we left, the bar was filled. Even at capacity, Robin’s isn’t one of those places that turns annoyingly loud after dark – instead, the funk kept playing at a reasonable volume and you could still hear each other over the din. I think that’s most likely my favorite thing about the place. Below is a list of the cocktails we sampled. The full list of drinks is too big to post, and besides, I wouldn’t want to take away the fun of perusing such a varied menu.
Porma Dolce – I still have no idea what was in this, but it tasted like a lightly flavored orange flan in alcoholic drink form. It was my favorite of the night.
Grapefruit Mojito – Not bitter like you’d expect, this version is very refreshing, incredibly heavy on mint
Honey Hemingway – One of their signature cocktails – mellow with a lot of lime
Caipirinha – Classic relaxation drink, a bit like a mojito, Cachaça is the main component
Old Fashioned – One of the better versions we’ve tried in the city, complete with a fresh cherry instead of its sad Maraschino cousin
Frozen Margarita – Standard margarita, well blended
Strawberry Mojito – Made with the local strawberries that have been so sweet and delicious this season
Collection of brie, sweet, smoky and pub cheeses, grapes, apples, crackers, salami, honeydew melon and prosciutto – not the most amazing meat or cheese, but varied enough to make a great nibble between sips
I Can Haz Kimchi? 