Super Bowl and bagels: Where the parties are

In Korea, when the live broadcast of the 36th Super Bowl begins, it will not be late Sunday afternoon ?the time for barbecue parties, chips and salsa and drinks. It will be 8 o'clock Monday morning.

In fact, drinks may be out of the question due to the unfortunate timing. If you're determined to capture the entire experience, the pregame shows start at 2:30 a.m. The game itself is expected to end about noon. For those who can cajole their bosses into letting them come to the office late, several pubs in Seoul are putting on breakfast-based festivities to complement the battle between the St. Louis Rams and the New England Patriots.

3 Alley Pub, behind Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon

02-749-3336

Doors open at 6:30 a.m.

Darts, a pool table and good lighting give this place a comfortable ambiance. But on Monday morning, all eyes will be on the pub's 80-inch projection-screen television, only installed Thursday.

"I can hear the sound now, and the stereo sound is wonderful," said Gunter Kamp, a German who owns the pub.

Kamp first came to Korea in the mid-1990s to open the Hyatt hotel's Paris Grill. The menu at 3 Alley Pub on Monday morning will be all-American, including bacon, eggs, hash browns, sausage and coffee and juice. The pub opened last summer.

Whose camp is Kamp in? "Rams."

Oak Room, Hilton hotel

02-317-3234

Doors open at 7:30 a.m.

In the wee hours of the morning, juice or coffee will be the drinks of choice at the plush bar in the lower level of the Hilton. "But we'll serve alcoholic drinks if people ask," said the manager, Kim Choon-ho.

About 40 people watched the game at the bar last year. The breakfast menu this year is a buffet of cereal, cold cuts, bread, cheese and fruits. The cost is 20,000 won ($15), not including tax. Fans can watch the game on one of four monitors or on a wide-screen television, from the comfort of leather seats.

Who is Mr. Kim rooting for? "The Rams," he said. "They're an exciting team to watch. But of course, Patriots fans are more than welcome." The gauntlet has been thrown.

O'Kim's, Westin Chosun Hotel

02-317-0388

Doors open at 7 a.m.

This hang-out for the business crowd in downtown Seoul is hosting its second Super Bowl party. Last year, there were 40 fans and "lots of noise."

This year, breakfast will be a Continental buffet including cornflakes, toast, eggs, pastries, croissants, doughnuts, coffee, juice and milk. Cost is 17,500 won to 21,500, not including tax. Fans can watch on one of five televisions, including a wide-screen number.

Who is the pub manager rooting for? Lee Soo-young smoothly said, "My stance is neutral."

by Joe Yong-hee