Izakaya Namu | Japanese dining with private rooms near City Hall

Near Seoul City Hall, you will find everything from popular lunch spots for office workers to stylish bars, and among them, the perfect place to enjoy Japanese dishes and drinks in a private setting is Izakaya Namu, City Hall Branch.

Since it is located near City Hall, it is a great stop after wrapping up your downtown itinerary during your Seoul trip, and it also works well for meetups with friends, company dinners, or a date.

Above all, the biggest perk of Izakaya Namu, City Hall Branch is that you can use a private room without a room charge. It is especially recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy a meal and drinks in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.

They also offer a wide variety of dishes, including sashimi, sushi, nabe (Japanese hot pot), chicken, and stir fried noodles, so even if you visit with a group, it is easy for everyone to order something that suits their taste.

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'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch | Why We Recommend It

• You can use a private room with no room charge.
• It's a great izakaya for enjoying Japanese dining near City Hall.
• The menu lineup is diverse, from sashimi and sushi to nabe and chicken.
• There are lots of dishes that are perfect for sharing with a group.
• There are plenty of seating options, including private rooms, a terrace, and window seats.

'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch | Our Visit

As soon as we stepped inside, the clean, comfortable atmosphere immediately stood out. 'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch is a spacious venue operating from the 2nd to the 4th floor, with plenty of room to accommodate larger groups.

Even though it's a large place, it didn't feel noisy or hectic at all, it felt calm and comfortable for enjoying a meal and conversation.

Since the City Hall area has lots of offices, this is also a popular spot for Korean office workers looking to enjoy dinner and drinks after work. If you're traveling in Seoul and want to experience the kind of izakaya vibe locals actually go for, this is a great fit.

In addition to private rooms, the restaurant also has a terrace and window seats, so you can choose based on your group size and the vibe you want.

We were told the private rooms can be used from a minimum of 2 people up to 25, the terrace fits 2 to 40, and the window seats fit 2 to 6. We liked that it works well for everything from small get-togethers to larger group gatherings.

Once we were shown to our seats, the table was set up in a sleek, tidy way.

The private room was separated from the other seating areas, which made it easy to chat, and we could enjoy our meal at a relaxed pace without worrying about the surroundings.

When you're traveling, there are times you want a more comfortable space rather than a crowded restaurant, and 'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch felt like a great match for that.

Before ordering, we took a look at the menu.

They provide menus in multiple languages, which made it easy for international visitors to order comfortably.

'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch offers a wide variety of food centered around Japanese dishes. Some of the signature items include the Premium Sashimi Platter, Omakase Sushi 15 pcs, Mille-Feuille Nabe, Snowy Mentaiko Rolled Omelet, K-Fried Chicken, and Chicken Thigh Buldak Bokkeum Myeon.

From dishes that really give you that Japanese dining vibe like sashimi and sushi, to warm soup dishes, chicken, and spicy stir-fried noodles, the selection felt especially broad.

If you're visiting with a group, it seems ideal to order a mix of cold dishes, warm dishes, fried items, and something spicy, then share everything together.

This time, we ordered the Omakase Sushi 15 pcs, Mille-Feuille Nabe, Premium Sashimi Platter, Snowy Mentaiko Rolled Omelet, K-Fried Chicken, and Chicken Thigh Buldak Bokkeum Myeon.

Since there are so many options, it was genuinely fun deciding what combination to get, and there were plenty of dishes that work well for both a meal and a night out for drinks.

Japanese Dining Where You Can Enjoy a Variety of Dishes

First, the basic setting was brought out. The tableware and sauces were neatly arranged so it was easy to start right away, and we could wait for our food in a private, relaxed space.

'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch is great for drinks, but because the menu is so diverse, it also works really well if you're coming mainly for a meal.

Omakase Sushi 15 pcs

The first dish we'll introduce is the Omakase Sushi 15 pcs.

It came plated in a long row, letting us try many different types of sushi at once. We also heard the Omakase Sushi 15 pcs is limited to only 10 orders per day.

It's a great pick if you want to sample a variety of sushi, and it pairs nicely with sashimi or nabe.

Mille-Feuille Nabe, Perfect for a Warm Comforting Dish

Next up is the Mille-Feuille Nabe, a warm soup dish.

Mille-Feuille Nabe is made by layering napa cabbage, perilla leaves, and thin-sliced beef, then simmering it into a hearty broth. As soon as it arrived on the table, the neat presentation caught our eye, and being able to enjoy it piping hot really added to the dining atmosphere.

It was an especially good combo when ordered alongside cold dishes like sashimi or sushi, and it also felt easy to share with a group.

Premium Sashimi Platter With a Stunning Presentation

The dish that stood out the most at 'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch was the Premium Sashimi Platter.

The Premium Sashimi Platter comes with a wide variety, including a seasonal selection, flounder, flounder fin, salmon, salmon belly, honmaguro akami, otoro, chutoro, steamed abalone, sweet shrimp, sea bream, and mekadoro, among others.

Since you can enjoy many different kinds of sashimi on one plate, it's a great choice for anyone who really wants to dive into Japanese dishes.

The plating was also very impressive, it was the most eye-catching item on the table, and it felt perfect for a special dinner or a get-together.

Snowy Mentaiko Rolled Omelet, A Soft and Easy Side

Next is the Snowy Mentaiko Rolled Omelet.

This Japanese-style rolled omelet is made with mentaiko (pollock roe), then topped with flying fish roe and snowy cheese. The long rolled omelet with all the toppings looked great, and it was an easy dish to enjoy alongside the others.

It paired especially well between lighter dishes like sashimi and sushi, and the soft egg with the salty mentaiko was a great combination.

Crispy K-Fried Chicken

We also tried ordering K-Fried Chicken alongside the Japanese dishes.

Because you can enjoy crispy chicken too, it's a great crowd-pleaser to share when visiting with a group.

It's a good option when sashimi and sushi alone feel a bit too light, or when you want to add something familiar. For international travelers, being able to enjoy Korean-style fried chicken together with Japanese dishes can feel like a fun twist.

If you dip it generously in the seasoned sauce, it stays delicious without feeling too greasy.

The chicken was really meaty too, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

It's even better when paired with the Buldak Bokkeum Myeon introduced below, definitely give it a try!

Chicken Thigh Buldak Bokkeum Myeon, Perfect for Ending on a Spicy Note

The last dish we'll introduce is the Chicken Thigh Buldak Bokkeum Myeon.

It's a dish that tops spicy Buldak Bokkeum Myeon with chicken thigh, a great match for anyone who loves bold, intense flavors.

After enjoying a variety of dishes like sashimi, sushi, and nabe, finishing with something spicy gave us a whole different kind of satisfaction.

If you're an international traveler who wants to experience Korean-style spice, it's a fun option to order and share it together as a group.

Banana Highball

We also ordered a banana highball to go with the food.

The banana highball caught our eye first with its unique look compared to a typical highball. It had a smooth banana aroma and a sweet flavor, making it easy to enjoy even if strong-tasting drinks feel a bit overwhelming.

It paired especially well with lighter dishes like sushi or nabe, and sipping it during the meal felt like it gently refreshed the palate.

It has a different kind of charm from the standard highballs you often see at izakayas, so we'd recommend it if you want to try something a little different.

A Space That's Perfect for Private Gatherings

One of the biggest highlights of 'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch is, of course, the private rooms.

When you make a reservation, you can use a private room with no room charge, which makes it great for enjoying a meal in a quiet setting. It's a great fit for hanging out with friends, company dinners, dates, and also for travelers who want a comfortable dinner during their trip.

Another plus is that there are terrace and window seats as well, so you can choose the atmosphere you want.

More About the Venue

Overall, the venue felt very considerate of guests. They have portable chargers, blankets, and coat hangers available, which felt like a thoughtful touch.

You can borrow a portable charger.

Inside the room, you can hang up your coat, and you can also borrow a blanket.

There's also a photo booth where you can take pictures with your group, which is perfect for making memories. It's free!

You can use free Wi-Fi on every floor.

There's also a smoking room on each floor inside the venue, so you can use it without going outside.

There's an elevator, so it's easy to move between the 2nd to 4th floors.

Final Thoughts

That's how we enjoyed a variety of dishes at 'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch.

We were especially happy that we could use a private room with no room charge, and with such a wide selection, sashimi, sushi, nabe, rolled omelet, chicken, and stir-fried noodles, it's a great place for groups with different tastes.

If you're looking for Japanese dining in a quiet, comfortable atmosphere near Seoul City Hall, we recommend 'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch.

Also, if you book through Creatrip, you can get one free highball per table, making it even more convenient.

If you're planning dinner or drinks near City Hall during your Seoul trip, stop by.

'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch | How to Get There

Exit City Hall Station through Exit 8.

Walk straight toward the traffic light.

Keep going straight.

Continue straight.

Turn left at 7-ELEVEN.

Turn right.

Arrive at 'Izakaya Namu' City Hall Branch!