Best Patbingsu Places in Seoul

Indulge in a delectable Miltop bingsu and ascend to the rooftop garden for a breathtaking view.

Written by Camille Park for My Guide Seoul

Escape the summer heat with Seoul's beloved dessert - the renowned Patbingsu (Adzuki bean ice dessert). Camille Park, a local Seoulite, urban fashionista, and director of the Bangkok-based brand wwa Seoul, shares her insights on some of the best Patbingsu places in Seoul...

If you're unfamiliar with this seasonal shaved-ice delight - an all-time favorite among Koreans - imagine the satisfaction of finely crushed ice paired with boiled red beans, sticky rice cake, and delectable syrup. Tempting, isn't it? If you haven't yet experienced this treat, fret not - summer in Seoul is far from over!

Coffeest

Coffeest holds a special place among Camille's preferred cafes in Seoul due to their in-house coffee bean roasting, resulting in an intoxicating aroma that fills the air.

During summer, Coffeest offers Patbingsu as a seasonal delight. While most cafes in Seoul rely on automatic ice-grinding machines, Coffeest prefers the charm of a hand-operated one.

A quirky and delightful aspect of Coffeest is their occasional shortage of red beans and rice cake, impacting the availability of Patbingsu (leaving visitors guessing). The cafe prepares limited quantities of homemade red bean and rice cake every day, and once they're gone, they're gone!

Apart from their renowned Patbingsu (which is usually available), Coffeest is also celebrated for their excellent coffee brewing. After sharing a Patbingsu with your friends, the 'Vienna coffee' is a must-try.

Located in Sinmunno near Gwanghwamun and City Hall, visiting Coffeest provides the perfect opportunity to escape the commotion and find tranquility. Art enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to Sungkok Art Museum, conveniently located just across Coffeest.

Price: Patbingsu 7,000 won / Vienna coffee 5,500 won

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10am - 11pm / Sunday: 12pm - 10pm.

Address: 1-335 Sinmunlo 2ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul / Telephone: +82-2-773-5555.

Hap is an establishment renowned for their traditional Korean cookies and rice cakes, with branches in Insadong and Cheongdam. However, only their Cheongdam branch features a charming café.

A standout feature of Hap Café is their limited yet exquisite bingsu menu, with the Citrus Bingsu taking center stage. This refreshing delight combines the invigorating taste of lemons with homemade milk.

Hap Café's interior exudes a vintage ambiance, featuring charming decorations such as antique sewing machines and brassware. The traditional and unique plating only adds to the experience. Be sure not to miss it!

While bingsu is the star attraction here, we highly recommend exploring their other delectable desserts, such as the 'Injeolmi' (a Korean traditional rice cake coated with bean flour) - a visually pleasing delicacy wrapped in aesthetically pleasing packaging, almost too beautiful to unwrap and devour!

Price: Yuja bingsu 8,000 won / Injeolmi 6,000 won

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 12 pm - 9 pm.

Address: 2F 93-3 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul / Telephone: +82-70-7532-4819.

The renowned Miltop Bingsu is arguably the most famous bingsu café in Seoul, having established its presence since 1985 within the main branch of Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong.

During summer, it's not uncommon for over 100 people to be on the waiting list to enter the cafe. However, opting for a to-go Miltop bingsu ensures a shorter wait time. Here's a local tip - take your Miltop bingsu to the rooftop garden (6F of the building) for a truly fantastic view!

Miltop has a few branches in other Hyundai Department Stores, but the main branch at Apgujeong is renowned as the best - it's worth experiencing firsthand.

The crowd-favorite bingsu on the menu is the Miltop Milk Bingsu, made with frozen milk for a unique twist. The Green Tea Bingsu is also highly popular, and those who prefer warm desserts can enjoy the Hot Red Bean Soup, known as Patjuk.

Price: Milk Bingsu 7,000 won / Green Tea Bingsu 7,000 won / Coffee Bingsu 7,000 won / Fruit Bingsu 7,000 won / Red Bean Hot Soup 7,000 won.

Address: 5F Hyundai Department Store Apgujeong main branch, 429 Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 10:30 am - 8 pm.

Okrumong is another delightful bingsu spot in Seoul, located in Hongdae near the Juchajang parking area.

Despite being relatively new, Okrumong has already earned a reputation as a top-notch Patbingsu café in Seoul.

At Okrumong, they adhere to the tradition of boiling Adzuki beans in a caldron for several hours, a sight you can witness through the café's windows.

The sticky rice cake that typically crowns bingsu desserts is also handmade at Okrumong, boasting a subtly sweet flavor distinct from other patbingsus. Additionally, Okrumong serves their bingsu in frozen brassware to preserve its coolness before it reaches your table.

If cold desserts aren't your preference, you can still savor the special Adzuki beans - visit during winter and try their hot red bean soup.

Price: Kamasot (caldron) Patbingsu 8,000 won.

Address: 402-18 Seokyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul / Telephone: +82-2-325-4040.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 12 pm - 11:30 pm.

Bing Bing Bing is among the few bingsu cafés in Seoul that offer their delightful desserts year-round while continuously updating their menus on a monthly basis.

Bing Bing Bing initially opened their flagship branch in Hongdae and subsequently launched a second branch in Cheongdam in March.

An intriguing aspect of this café is their secret collaboration with Grandmother Gom, owner of a renowned Korean restaurant in Hongdae and affectionately known as the Godmother of red beans.

All the bingsus at Bing Bing Bing are prepared with organic sugar, offering a healthier twist. Relish the Yogurt Bingsu, topped with homemade blueberry jam and yogurt - both prepared in-house. Bing Bing Bing is one of Seoul's only establishments serving yogurt patbingsu.

Throughout August, the monthly special is Watermelon Bingsu. You can also get any bingsu to-go.

Price: Yogurt Bingsu 7,700 won.

Address:

Main Branch: 395-199 Seokyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul / Telephone: +82-70-7723-7191.

Second Branch: 5-29 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul / Telephone: +82-70-4177-719.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 12 pm - 9 pm.