For a medium-sized city, Daejeon has an active nightlife. The most popular areas are the Yuseong district, the Dunsan-dong area (the "new" downtown), the city's old downtown region, and Gung-dong, near Chungnam University.
A good place to get imported beers or a cocktail is WA Bar, located across the street from the Galleria department store in the old downtown area of the Eunhaeng-dong district. A casual place, it's popular with people to grab a drink with friends after work.
Just down the street is the most popular bar for expat English teachers from Canada, J Rock. The owner is American and all of the staff speak English. A small, smoky place, it's a great place to get tips from people who've been in Daejeon for a while. There is a small dance floor and a pool table. Watermelon Sugar is another bar popular with expats, within walking distance from J Rock. There is a second location in Gung-dong.
In Dunsan-dong, you'll find the only Western-style dance club in the city, Bubi Bubi. Cover charge is W10,000 on weekends, but that includes all-you-can-drink draft beer. Popular with the college crowd, it's one of the few dance clubs in Daejeon where you don't have to buy expensive anju (bar snacks) with your drinks.
For a late-night beer, cocktail, or coffee, you can try the dimly lit Aram, 104 Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon-si (tel. 042/485-6699), located on the second floor of the Myeongseong Building, a couple of blocks from the Bennigan's. Open daily from 5:30pm to 4am, this cafe bar has unusual decorations (including a fake pond with plastic swans). You can order food until 8pm, but the beverages flow until the wee hours. Bottles of wine range from W30,000 to W50,000; most teas are W5,000.
If you want to have a fun soju (Korean rice or potato vodka) cocktail, head to the Mokugi Soju Café in Dunsan-dong. The owners are foreigner-friendly and you can get some interesting soju drinks. Just look for a wooden balcony on the second floor (the name is only in Korean).
If you're not into the drinking scene, you might want to try the Shisha House, a cafe and hookah lounge in Gung-dong, down the street from the local police booth.
You can also catch the latest Hollywood fare at one of the many multiplex movie theaters in town -- they're hard to miss, but ask at your hotel if you have trouble finding one.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
