The Best Rooftop Bars In Busan

Busan’s night view is spectacular. Come dusk, South Korea’s second city glitters with street lights, neon signs and towering skyscrapers. On warm summer nights, there’s nothing better than enjoying this view, glass in hand. Here are Busan’s best rooftop bars.

1. Haeundae Ogtap Rooftop

Bar, Restaurant, Korean

Head to the Dalmaji Hill side of Haeundae Beach for Haeundae Ogtap Rooftop, also known as Ok Rooftop. This bar (and restaurant) has views out over Haeundae Beach, the ocean and the tall skyscrapers of Marine City at the other end of the beach. It’s located on top of Mipo Oceanside Hotel (not Darak Hotel; the building was reopened in August 2018). It has a relaxed, beachside vibe with wooden tables, deckchairs and tropical plants, and it can get quite busy at night.

2. Beach Bikini Rooftop Gwangan

Bar, Restaurant, Korean

Beach Bikini is the best place to go for views of Gwangalli’s iconic bridge. It’s right in the middle of the beach and always lively. It offers a variety of food (including some great pizza), cocktails and beer; if you order more than a few beers, they come served in a miniature version of Gwangan Bridge. The rooftop has regular music events, normally DJ parties with a focus on jungle and tropical house. Note that it’s sometimes closed for private events, such as weddings.

3. McQueen's Bar

Bar, Hotel Restaurant, Korean, North American, European

Located on the outskirts of the city, east of Haeundae and Songjeong beaches, McQueen’s Bar is perched atop the five-star Hilton Hotel. It’s an upscale drinking establishment; expect to pay in the region of 25,000 won (US $22) for a cocktail. The jazz-age-esque decor is stylish and theatrical, and the bar has excellent views out over the ocean (the hotel sits right on the edge of the water) and the area’s dramatic, rocky coastline. In the summer months, an adjacent pool bar is also open. Both bars offer a range of food.

5. HQ Gwangan

Bar, American

For a much more casual option, head to HQ Gwangan. This laid-back, lively dive bar is a favourite haunt among foreigners and internationally-minded Koreans and has a fabulous view of Gwangan Bridge. It’s not quite on a rooftop, but its fourth-floor location gives it a bird’s-eye view of the beach below. In summer, its big windows open to let the night air in. It shows a range of sports games, serves Western food and has weekly quiz nights and regular live music. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for events.

6. Sinki Cafe

Bar, Cafe, Korean, Japanese

Located on Yeongdo Island, Sinki Cafe is off the beaten track for visitors to Busan. If you’ve got time to make the trip, however, its hip rooftop has fabulous views out over Busan Harbour and Gwangan Bridge. The building is made from shipping containers, which have been artfully stacked atop one another and renovated to become a bright, airy structure. As well as the rooftop café on the fifth floor, the building also has a pub on the fourth floor, some offices and a stationery shop. It’s trendy and Insta-friendly – look out for the artsy neon signs.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.