Gangnam area is definitely where the night life is at.  As a matter of fact, I would segment Seoul night life into four main areas: Gangnam (station, 강남역 부근), Apgujeong Rodeo/Cheongdam-dong area (압구정 로데오/청담동), Itaewon (이태원) and Hongdae (홍대). Of course there are also awesome places like Garosugil, Shinsa (신사동 가로수길), Seorae Ma’eul, Bangbae/Banpo  (반포/방배동 서래마을) Insadong (인사동), Samchung-dong (삼청동) and etc., but in this Review series I will write about clubs in Gangnam. In a series of posts I will review all the clubs near near Gangnam station (Line #2, green) including:

• NB
• Harlem
• Club Mass
• Club Eden
• Miro

Reviews of NB and Harlem after the jump. NB and Harlem are two different clubs located right next to each other.  They both play hip hop music and it’s closer to Kyobo Tower to it is from the subway station.  I used to like hip hop scene a lot so I frequented these two clubs a few years ago. I grouped NB and Harlem together because 1.they both play hip hop music; 2. they are literally located within a 5-second walk from each other; 3. they have similar pricing and 4. both clubs attract generally the same crowd (with the exception that there are more foreigners in Harlem); 5. on weekends you can pay for one club and get into another.  Now as for a more detailed review…

NB

NB stands for Noise Basement.  The dance floor is centralized and is open, with a large staircase leading to the second floor.  Second floor is a VIP section where you can pay 150,000 Won for an open table and 350,000 for a private one.  During weekends the place gets so packed that it’s not unusual for people to dance on the stairs!  They switch between Korean pop songs, some electro and American hip hop music.  It’s fun to go there once in a while although hip hop clubs are not for me. Price: Entrance cover costs 15,000 Won for weekdays and 20,000 for weekends.  Includes 1 free drink.  Drinks were reasonably cheap (for club prices I mean), with a bottle of Jose Cuervo priced around 100,000 Won (so I reckon a shot should cost around 5,000 Won).  Also re-entry to the club is not allowed during weekdays, so keep that in mind next time you go clubbing on a Monday night. Crowd: I would estimate the rough average of NB goers to be in their early 20s to midlate 20s.  It’s usually very packed during the weekend and I haven’t been there on weekdays, but I wouldn’t imagine it’s completely empty.  It’s a hip hop club; so wear something hip and trendy.  I doubt you can be allowed in with a formal attire.  Mostly Korean and during the vacation season there are more foreigners and kyopo/America-returns (as with anywhere else really). How to get there: Get out at Gangnam Stn. Exit #6 and walk straight for about 5 minutes.  Make a left into an alley between a white Giordano store and Pascucci.  Walk for a minute and Harlem is on your right and NB is on your left.

Harlem

As the name suggests, it’s a hip hop club with more foreigners than its counterpart right next door.  Harlem is smaller than NB, but it has its own multiple-level layout which is interesting.  There are poles by the bar that people dance around, and I remember there were smoke generators on the main dance floor.  Tables are located around the wall of second floor to observe people dancing below when the scene gets hot.  (although with all the smoke and crazy light systems I doubt youc an really see anything clearly).  Unlike NB, Harlem is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. Price: Entrance costs 20,000.  Again, they are open only on weekends.  Drink costs are similar to those of NB’s (read above). Crowd: People scene is similar to NB’s, except maybe because of the name, I noticed Harlem had more foreigners than NB did. How to get there: It’s right next to NB.  Seriously.  I don’t think I need to even copy and paste “How to get there” for NB.