[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Four dessert spots to visit to complete your bingsu bucket list

The rainy and humid monsoon season has kicked off. May the exploratory outdoor activities be canceled or postponed for better weather, but a gastronomic getaway should never be put away, especially if it includes a unique experience.

The Shilla Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, serves Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu for 98,000 won ($76.9) until Aug. 31st. [THE SHILLA SEOUL]

The rainy and humid monsoon season has kicked off. May the exploratory outdoor activities be canceled or postponed for better weather, but a gastronomic getaway should never be put away, especially if it includes a unique experience.

If you have been saving up for some small luxury, you may shift your plans from a day outdoors to exploring premium summer desserts at hotel lounges. If you have no complaints about opening up your wallet for some minute extravagance, follow the four recommendations by the Korea JoongAng Daily for a fulfilling day both for your taste buds and eyes.

The Shilla Seoul, Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu

Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu is a summer specialty of The Shilla Seoul, Jung District, central Seoul. [THE SHILLA SEOUL]

Bingsu cannot go unnoticed when reading about the summer dessert trend in Korea. Shaved ice served with fruit and sweet ingredients, bingsu is sold throughout the country at a wide price range. While you can get a perfectly fine bingsu for approximately 12,000 won ($9.4), some restaurants serve bingsu at above 120,000 won.

The infamous apple mango bingsu, first served at The Shilla in Jeju, started the trend of paying the equivalent amount to a full meal at a Michelin-star restaurant. When the hotel charged 27,000 won for a bowl of this summer dessert in 2008, concerns were raised about it being overpriced. However controversial the price had been, the lifestyle trend of embracing small luxuries went viral, and now apple mangu bingsu is sold at 98,000 won at The Shilla Seoul.

Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu is served at the first-floor lounge, The Library, and younger customers constantly seek after it. During the weekends, it is not too hard to see a queue forming along the hotel. There is no reservation system for the bingsu here, so people wait for their turn in line.

Following this trend, most five-star hotels serve apple mango bingsu, including Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno District, central Seoul, Signiel Seoul in Songpa District, southern Seoul and Conrad Seoul in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul. They add their own variations and twists to suit different palettes.

@theshillaseoul249, Dongho-ro, Jung District, central SeoulOperation hours: 10 a.m. to midnight. (Bingsu is sold 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and is on sale until Aug. 31.)Phone number: 02-2230-3388 (The Library), 02-2233-3131 (The Shilla Seoul)Website: https://www.shillahotels.com/index.do

Park Hyatt, Bingsu Combination

Bingsu Combination allows visitors to choose two out of four flavors served at Park Hyatt, Gangnam District, southern Seoul. [PARK HYATT]

Park Hyatt in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, serves Bingsu Combination on the top floor, The Lounge. This luxurious space on the 24th floor marked a place in La Liste's World's Best Pastry Shops Selection 2023.

If you order a Bingsu Combination, you get to choose two out of four bingsu flavors — cherry, honey gold, persimmon and mango.

Once you choose the two flavors, they are served on a special tray that has designs of traditional Korean patterns. The tray contains dry ice, creating a dream-like atmosphere with a miniature vaporization performance. The solidified carbon dioxide oozing out from under the bingsu bowl gives no choice to the visitors but to raise their phones to capture the artistic moment. If you cannot handle the cold too well yet still want to give Bingsu Combination a try, you can instead order an afternoon tea set which lets you add a small-sized bingsu.

@parkhyattseoul606, Teheran-ro, Gangnam District, southern SeoulBusiness hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Promotion runs until Sept. 12.)Price: 73,000 won (Bingsu Combination) Phone number: 02-2016-1205 (The Lounge), 02-2016-1234 (Part Hyatt)Website: https://www.seoul.park.hyattrestaurants.kr/en/web/main/

Sofitel, Bingsu Secret

Bingsu Secret is a sizeable croissant bingsu that is served in Sofitel, Songpa District, southern Seoul. [SOFITEL]

If you are open to an intriguing and a cultural experience with desserts, head to Sofitel in Songpa District, southern Seoul, for croissant bingsu. Named "Bingsu Secret," the croissant bingsu was made by international chefs who went through numerous trials to present a dessert dish that is culturally creative and delicious. The main ingredients in this masterpiece are homemade croissant milk and Jeju mandarin. Each representing the French and Korean specialty, the combination embraces the link between the two cultures, which is the hotel's theme.

The insightful approach aside, the tall bingsu draws attention among those who want to try some sizeable and creative desserts. Other delicacies such as ice cream, mousse cake, orange blossom creme brulee and chocolate flowers are a part of the package. Although there's a reservation site listed on the hotel's website, you can only make reservations by call at the moment.

@sofitelseoul209 Jamsil-ro, Songpa District, southern SeoulBusiness hours: noon / 2:30 p.m. / 5 p.m. (Runs until Aug. 31)Price: 100,000 won (for two people)Phone number: 02-2092-6104Website: https://www.sofitel-seoul.com/en/

L'escape Hotel, Persimmon Yakgwa Ice cream

L'escape Hotel in Jung District, central Seoul, serves Persimmon Yakgwa Ice cream for 15,000 won ($11.8). [L'ESCAPE HOTEL]

L'escape Hotel in Jung District, central Seoul, invites those who have nostalgia for the old and friendly Korean desserts. The main attractions here are Persimmon Yakgwa Ice Cream and Whisky Affogato. Yakgwa is a traditional Korean honey pastry, and once paired with dried persimmon, it becomes a quintessential Korean snack combination. A further creative twist awaits since the vanilla ice cream served with this combination is from Ben & Jerry's. This international collaboration aims to offer the premium taste of each culture. Persimmon Yakgwa Ice Cream is served on the hotel's sixth floor at Den 1930s for 15,000 won.

If you are willing to try the bar, you can head to Bar Marque d'Amour on the 26th floor for Whisky Affogato. Ben & Jerry's steady-selling chocolate fudge brownie ice cream is served with a glass of whisky. You can pour the whisky into the fudge to taste a bittersweet flavor.

@lescape_hotel67 Toegye-ro, Jung District, SeoulBusiness hours: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Den 1930s), 6 p.m. to midnight (Marque d'Amour)Phone number: 02-317-4000 (Hotel), 02-317-4001 (Den 1930s), 02-317-4004 (Marque d'Amour)Website: https://www.lescapehotel.com/

BY BAEK JONG-HYUN, KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]