Luxury vs. wild, two clubs compete for ‘best’ title

By Korea Herald

Published : Oct. 17, 2012 - 19:59

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Following is part of a series on Seoul’s hottest bars and clubs. ― Ed.

Clubbing in Seoul has become one of the most entertaining nighttime experiences. In the past few years, multiple clubs have sprouted up especially in the Gangnam district, some of which are among Asia’s top clubs.

Club ELLUI in Cheongdam-dong and Club OCTAGON in Nonhyeon-dong opened within six months of each other. Despite differences in general features, the two share many similarities, competing for the title of best club in Seoul.

ELLUI is already known as where the legendary nightclub “Juliana” once flourished. If Club ANSWER has the “elevating stage,” Club ELLUI’s signature is the “paper shower” and cool gas falling from its ceiling when the “heat” really goes up.

Clubbers at Club OCTAGON dance to the music of the house DJ. (Club OCTAGON)

Other famous features include the themed zones ― the black and bed zones on the first floor and white and sky zones on the second floor. These luxurious zones have two or three different house DJs often playing simultaneously. They bear different moods and settings, namely the black zone, which has the feel of an underground club in Itaewon or Hongdae. Party lovers with different preferences can enjoy multiple settings in one club.

Its gigantic capacity can hold up to 5,000 people at once, making it the biggest club in Korea. Despite its outstanding features and size, its interior design leaves something to be desired. The theme-colored couches are reminiscent of the dull sofas sitting in the lobby of the W Seoul hotel.

Further, the mix between the luxurious zones and brick walls in the main stage is an odd match. Music-wise, the club offers mediocre house DJ music for Gangnam and its genres include house, funk and electronic. Club ELLUI does not allow guests with shorts, flip-flops or training pants.

(Club ELLUI)

Club OCTAGON located in the basement of New Hilltop Hotel first opened in November 2011. The two-floor facility is a multi-purpose complex dining bar, club and lounge. During the week, visitors can enjoy Italian cuisine and fine-tasting cocktails.

In addition, the club offers possibly the highest-quality DnB, trans, house, techno and other electronic music delivered by its custom-built Funktion-One Dance Stack sound system. Its environment can simply be described as “wild.” With its fences, warehouse-like interior and rough features, the club evokes the style of European clubs in parking lots and warehouses, but trendier.

The club instantly attracted many expats and club-aholics. Its capacity can hold up to maximum of 4,000 guests, considerably large among Seoul clubs. The facility also offers details that cannot be found in other clubs ― the “single lounge” where singles mingle freely, a transparent elevator overlooking the whole club, a powder room for female clubbers to “re-arm” themselves and a pool for women on special occasions. Nudity, hip-hop-style clothing, formal suits, shorts, flip-flops and training pants are prohibited.

Both clubs are open from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Club OCTAGON’s doors are open Thursday to Saturday, while Club ELLUI is open Friday to Saturday and on special occasions, Thursday. Both open the eve before holidays.

OCTAGON charges 10,000 won before 12 a.m. and 30,000 won after, with a free drink, while ELLUI is 30,000 won entrance at all times. Depending on bottle service and floor, the price of a table for eight at ELLUI ranges from 450,000 won to 930,000 won and rooms vary from 1.2 million to 1.5 million.

By Lee Hyun-jae, Intern reporter
(lhj137@heraldcorp.com)

Club OCTAGON:

New Hilltop Hotel B1/B2, 152 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
(02) 516-8847

Club ELLUI:

129, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
1577-9669

Korea Herald
Korea Herald
Articles by Korea Herald

Luxury vs. wild, two clubs compete for ‘best’ title

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