The Pocket is a small nook of a bar located in Haebangchon (HBC). It is the creation of the Southside Parlor team, whom were inspired to open a more environmentally ethical bar after hosting a Trash Tiki pop up last year. The bar ethos is to make cocktails out of ingredients that other bars throw away, for example lime and lemon rinds. They can be boiled to make stocks which can serve as the base for other drinks. With the mother ship Southside Parlour churning out hundreds of drinks a week, they had plenty of ingredients to recycle. In a world which is becoming more and more polluted each day, I salute a bar like this which sets to rectify its carbon footprint. Especially since they are donating 10% of all their proceeds to a different local charity each month. 
The Pocket is located in the spot that was previously occupied by the Concorde. The colourful space is fresh and fun, and the perfect place for hanging out on summer nights thanks to the large open windows. They also afford you a fabulous view of those queuing for Bonny’s pizza, one of the most sort after views in the neighbourhood.
The menu has just a handful of highball cocktails, along with beer and wine. This post is a combination of many drunken visits so thankfully I have now tried all of the drinks on the menu. The highballs come with a premixed soda which is made using the waste of ingredients left behind from cocktails made at Southside Parlor. The sodas are then mixed with alcohol at the Pocket and a few other ingredients to create the unique libations.
The favourite high ball of mine is the Hey Arnold (10,000). Not only does it share its moniker with an awesome cartoon, but the vodka, tea and lemon combo reminded me of the ultra refreshing iced tea I enjoyed so much in Hong Kong. My hubbies fave was the Purple Drank (10,000), a cucumber, blackberry and grapefruit based gin concoction. He especially loved the slight bitterness from the grapefruit juice and the slight herbal flavour from the cucumber infused gin. Also worth mentioning is the Pocket Rocket (5,000), a prosecco cocktail special. I love a champagne cocktail and at this price this one was pretty amazing. I think I drank to many to remember what is actually in in, so you can consider them potent at the very least.
Overall I love the healthy ethos of The Pocket. The older I get the more I think about what we are doing to the world and this place is a step in the right direction, so it is a trend that I really hope catches on. The cocktails aren’t as fancy as the ones over at Southside, but it’s a great casual little bar to swing by and enjoy a few drinks at while doing a bit for humanity the next time you are in HBC.
The Pocket is located at 28 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong Station (line 6). Walk straight out of exit 2 for about 200 meters and take the first left and walk straight along the road with all the kimchi pots. You will see The Pocket on the right hand side opposite Bonny’s Pizza. For more information you can call them on 02-790-9522, or check out their facebook page. They are open from 6pm-12am Mon-Fri, and 3pm – 12am on Sat & Sun.