Sora Sky Lounge & Omakase Bar

📍 38 Rooftop Drive, Level 32, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🗓 Opened: June 2025

🌐 Website | 🗺 Google Maps

Seoul's Newest Rooftop Omakase Bar Opens Above Gangnam With Panoramic City Views

Opened in early June 2025, Sora Sky Lounge & Omakase Bar has arrived on Seoul's competitive rooftop dining scene with serious intent. Perched on the 32nd floor of the newly completed Gangnam Apex tower, it offers unobstructed views of the Han River on one side and the glittering Gangnam skyline on the other. The venue is the debut project from hospitality group Hanul Collective, a Seoul-based team of four industry veterans who previously held senior roles at some of the city's most respected fine dining addresses. For regional visitors flying into Incheon this summer, Sora is already being flagged as a non-negotiable addition to the Seoul itinerary.

What Makes Sora Different From Seoul's Other Sky Bars

What separates Sora from the wave of rooftop bars that have opened across Seoul in recent years is its dual identity as both a cocktail lounge and a serious omakase counter. The 14-seat omakase bar runs two sittings nightly — 6pm and 8:30pm — and is helmed by Chef Minjun Oh, a Busan-born chef who trained under a Michelin-starred mentor in Osaka for six years before returning to Korea. His menu changes weekly based on seasonal market availability, but the philosophy remains constant: Japanese technique applied to premium Korean ingredients. Expect Jeju abalone presented with dashi foam, hand-rolled gimbap using aged rice from Icheon, and a closing dessert course built around Korean citrus varieties that most international visitors will never have encountered before.

• Signature dish: Jeju abalone with dashi foam and sea herb oil (included in omakase, ₩185,000 per person)
• Must-try drink: Hallasan Mist — Korean single malt, yuzu cordial, and salted plum bitters (₩28,000)
• Cocktail range: ₩22,000–₩38,000 per glass
• Omakase price: ₩185,000 per person (beverages separate)
• Walk-in lounge: No minimum spend before 9pm on weeknights

The Bar Programme and Interior Design

The cocktail programme is led by bar director Yuna Choi, who spent three years at a multi-award-winning bar in Hong Kong before joining Hanul Collective at the concept stage. Her list of 22 original cocktails leans heavily on fermented and aged Korean spirits — makgeolli, soju, and a rare selection of Korean single malts that are difficult to source outside the peninsula. The interior was designed by Seoul studio Areum Lab, who stripped back the typical rooftop excess in favour of raw concrete ceilings, warm oak panelling, and custom brass fixtures that catch the city light after dark. The result feels more like a private members' club than a public rooftop bar, which is precisely the atmosphere Hanul Collective was aiming for. Seating across the full venue accommodates 90 guests, split between the omakase counter, a long communal bar, and four private booth sections positioned directly against the floor-to-ceiling glass perimeter.

Bookings, Hours, and Access

Reservations for the omakase counter are already running two to three weeks out, which is a strong indicator of early demand for a venue that has been open less than a month. Walk-ins are accepted at the lounge bar on a first-come basis, though the venue recommends arriving before 8pm on weekends to secure a window seat. Sora is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 5:30pm until 1am, with last omakase orders at 8:30pm. The Gangnam Apex tower is a seven-minute walk from Gangnam Station on Line 2, making access straightforward for visitors staying anywhere along the central Seoul corridor.

The Verdict

Sora Sky Lounge & Omakase Bar is one of the most considered new openings in Seoul this year — not just another rooftop with a cocktail list bolted on, but a venue where the bar programme and kitchen carry equal weight. Chef Minjun Oh's omakase counter alone justifies the trip to Gangnam, and Yuna Choi's fermented spirits-forward cocktail list gives the lounge genuine depth for those who stay after the last sitting ends. Book the omakase now while the waiting list is still manageable, and arrive early enough to watch the city lights come on from the 32nd floor — that transition alone is worth the elevator ride.