OGAM Tapas Bar

OGAM Tapas Bar, 10 Chapel Market, Islington, London

Ogam Korean Tapas Bar in Islington might be the coolest spot I’ve set foot in for a long time. From the outside you’d barely know but once leaving, and if you’re anything like me, you will immediately want to impress people with this find.

It’s dimly lit in that perfect way, not dark, just low and warm enough to make everything feel a bit slicker. The bar glows softly, stacked with bottles on bottles of international spirits. Whisky, soju, rum, mezcal, the kind of back bar that tells you straight away these people know what they’re doing. And they really do, Owner Tae Yeol Kim was International Korean cup Championship 2015 Winner Bartender.

You sit at the bar or you can hire a private room. From there you get a front-row view of the chefs working just a few feet away. There’s something quietly hypnotic about it, quick hands, sizzling pans, dumplings getting folded, fried chicken flying out. It’s like a little bit of theatre while you drink.

And the staff are seriously good. Cool without trying to be cool, knowledgeable without sounding like they’re reading from a script. That kind of easy confidence that makes you immediately relax and just go with their recommendations. When someone clearly knows their craft, you should let them lead the way.

The menu is wicked and proudly leans into Korean cuisine, but in a way that feels perfect for a bar setting, small plates designed for sharing, drinking, and ordering “just one more thing”. Crispy fried chicken, dumplings, pickled cucumbers, punchy sauces and new discoveries. Cocktails are the highlight, the staff will guide you with your preferred taste preference, but if you want something unique and a little bit silly, ask for the flaming acorn drink (forgive me, I’ve forgotten its name).

I’d like to keep this hidden gem under the radar, but if you’ve made it this far, you deserve to know about it. Make a reservation, be ready to indulge, and turn it into a memorable night