Chad Murphy, owner and manager of the Bull & Barrel, with staff in Itaewon. / Photo by John Redmond



By John Redmond





The Bull & Barrel in Itaewon. / Photo by John Redmond

Christmas is a time of year that many foreigners associate with family get-togethers, eating traditional Christmas dinners and catching up with distant and new relatives, along with the gift giving.



For most foreigners living in Korea, however, Christmas ca n be a very lonely experience. Aside from the phone calls and Skype conversations, family contact is very limited.



A traditional Christmas dinner is also impossible to prepare without a fully functioning kitchen and access to the right foods, which is out of the question for many international students, teachers and workers in temporary overseas posts.



To meet the need for a true Christmas experience, many bars in Itaewon offer a dining experience complete with Christmas turkey, Santa Claus and gifts to be shared among friends and work colleagues.



Below is a list of three bars with Christmas specials.



The Bull & Barrel in Itaewon offers two sittings for its annual "Christmas Dinner Buffet," on Dec. 24 at 4 p.m. and Dec 25 at 6 p.m.



Guests can enjoy roast turkey with homemade chestnut stuffing and turkey gravy and cranberry sauce, cod au gratin, roast ham, roast potatoes, green beans and seasonal vegetables with truffle and herb butter sauce.





Tobia Jerling, center, owner of Hidden Cellar, has a drink with staff in Itaewon. / Photo by John Redmond