With the temperatures ramping up these past few weeks, doesn’t something cold and sweet that melts in your mouth sound like the perfect dessert? Then “bingsu” (빙수) is just what you need. Bingsu is shaved ice that’s traditionally topped with red beans, sweetened condensed milk, and “tteok” (rice cakes), but recently fruit-based bingsus have gained popularity with the younger generations. This summer, four hotels in Korea have come up with creative new bingsus that you definitely should go try with your friends and family!
JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul | Jongno-gu, Seoul
The Lounge, located on the eighth floor of the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, is offering a new line of summer bingsus –- the highlight being a Salted Caramel Milk Tea Bingsu. The base is made from black tea-infused milk, and they top it off with soft whipped cream, a scoop of salted caramel gelato, and a milk tea sauce, then serve it with a crispy and chewy green tea pie and bittersweet matcha chocolates. The Pure Apple Mango Bingsu and the Wild Honey & Ginseng Bingsu are returning favorites from last year. For questions, call 02-6282-6267-70.
Prices: Salted Caramel Milk Tea ₩45,000; Pure Apple Mango ₩49,000; Wild Honey & Ginseng ₩49,000.
Dates: May 1 to September 15.
InterContinental Seoul COEX | Gangnam-Gu, Seoul
Both the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and the InterContinental Seoul COEX will be selling “Summer Premium” bingsus this summer in their first-floor lobby lounges. The InterContinental hotels have adapted their menus to accommodate social distancing policies, offering single-serving bingsus in addition to their normal portions intended for 2 or 3 people to share. The Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas will offer a Mango Pudding Bingsu topped with a mango-shaped pudding and a Retro Sook Bingsu, which is made with a combination of fragrant sook, or mugwort, and red beans. The InterContinental Seoul COEX uses healthy ingredients for its bingsu varieties, like its Honey Grain Bingsu, made with black bean ice cream, its Classic Bingsu topped with green tea ice cream and its Mango Bingsu topped with fresh mango sherbet.
Prices: 2- to 3-serving size bingsu ₩38,000; single-serving size bingsu ₩24,000.
Dates: April 27 to August 31.
Grand Walkerhill Seoul | Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
Walkerhill’s “Sweet Summer” bingsu line combines the traditional with the new to offer four bingsus that will surely appeal to any crowd. Their apple mangoes are sourced from Jeju, so you can expect freshness and high quality. Additionally, their line includes watermelon juice, which is perfect for cooling off in the hot weather. You can find these sweet treats at Walkerhill’s “The Pavilion,” but reservations for the fruit-flavored bingsus need to be made in advance. For questions, call 02-450-4534.
Prices: Apple Mango ₩59,000; Melon ₩45,000; Milk ₩35,000; Bean Powder ₩40,000; Watermelon Juice ₩20,000.
Dates: Now until August 31.
Park Hyatt | Busan
The Park Hyatt Busan Lounge is currently having a “Bingsu Promotion” and offering two kinds of bingsu: mango and traditional. The mango bingsu is made by grinding the milk ice with mango and topping it with mango meringue, chocolates, coconut jelly, and more. The traditional version has red beans and injeolmi rice cakes, giving it the old-school feel that everyone loves. For questions and reservations, call 051-990-1234.
Prices: ₩35,000 each.
Dates: Starting May 4.