JJ Mahoney's turns 30 years old

J.J. Mahoney's has been the nation's leading total entertainment center for 30 years. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Seoul

By Kang Seung-woo

J.J. Mahoney's, a total entertainment bar at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, celebrated its 30th anniversary last week, holding grand birthday parties on June 22 and 23.

The bar, which opened in June 1988, has established itself as the nation's premier and longest-running total entertainment center as it consists of nine separate environments in one place.

While many bars and restaurants have come and gone over the years, JJ's has held up as the leading hotel entertainment outlet, with an ever-growing list of loyal patrons.

It has gained recognition as the undisputed innovator of nighttime entertainment.

JJ's first introduced to Korea a Halloween-themed party in 1988, and since then it has built a cult reputation as the place to go for the latest trends.

The anniversary celebration party, under the theme of “setting the stage for its next 30 years,” appealed to both nostalgia-seekers wanting to walk down memory lane, as well as those in their 20s and 30s who are always looking for different ways to party in a unique and exotic atmosphere.

The two-part celebration began at the poolside, where guests enjoyed a barbecue dinner, watching the sunset and listening to musical performances by renowned entertainers Microdot and Sam Oak.

In the latter part at J.J. Mahoney's, party enthusiasts enjoyed a welcome cocktail prepared by the hotel's bartenders, an endless night of live DJ performances played out over seven distinctive entertainment areas, and live band performances that blew the roof off.