Is Grand Hyatt Seoul’s Mango Bingsu Worth the Hype? 🍧🥭
One of the hottest (or should I say coldest? 😂) topics lately has been luxury hotel bingsu.
I’ve seen countless news articles, and the comments? Brutal. Some people love it, some think it’s a total rip-off. But since I was already on a staycation, I figured—why not try it for myself?
I still remember the trauma from two years ago when I stayed at The Shilla Hotel during the peak of their famous Mango Bingsu craze. As a hotel guest, I tried multiple times to order it, but it was sold out every single time. 😭
So this time, I was determined. I WILL taste the legendary mango bingsu. And with more time at the hotel, surely I’d have a chance, right?
Grand Hyatt Seoul – The Gallery 🍽️
📍 322 Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
🕘 Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM
📞 Reservations? Not necessary (unless for Afternoon Tea or Tapas Buffet)
First Impressions – Classic, Elegant Vibes ✨
Walking into the Grand Hyatt Seoul lobby, I immediately felt the grandeur.
Unlike trendy, modern hotels, this one has an old-school luxury charm that I actually prefer. It feels timeless and sophisticated.
The Gallery Lounge has a stunning view, making it the perfect spot regardless of the season—whether it’s a bright sunny day, a rainy afternoon, or a cozy winter evening. 🌿☕
The interior? Classic and a bit formal. It gave off “CEO business meeting” vibes. Not exactly a hip café, but there was something comforting about its mature, refined atmosphere.
The Moment of Truth – Ordering the Mango Bingsu! 🍧
Without hesitation, I ordered the Mango Bingsu. (They also had a Matcha Bingsu, but let’s be honest—I came here for the mango! 🥭)
💰 Price? Surprisingly “affordable” compared to other luxury hotels.
With some hotel bingsu costing 70,000–100,000 KRW, this one was in the 50,000 KRW range, which somehow made it feel reasonable (hotel price logic 😂).
atmosphere—not quite the calm, refined hotel experience I expected.
But hey, I wasn’t there for the ambiance—I was there for the bingsu!
Mango Bingsu – First Look & Taste Test!
📸 Appearance? Stunning. Last year, I saw pictures where the mango was cut into chunky cubes. But this year, it was thinly sliced and piled high, creating an elegant, overflowing effect. Visually 10/10!
🥭 Mango quality? Excellent. It was fresh, sweet, and juicy—not the hard, underripe kind you sometimes get.
🍧 Ice texture? Super fine and fluffy. None of that chunky, crushed ice—this was the silky, melt-in-your-mouth type.
🍨 Flavor? Pure mango heaven. Even the inside was packed with mango, and the topping (which I assume was mango ice cream?) added an extra punch of flavor.
Honestly, I wondered if I’d feel guilty spending so much on a bowl of ice, but not at all. Every bite was worth it.
And if you visit at the right time, you can even enjoy live music while indulging in this mango explosion. Luxury at its finest! 🎶✨
Final Verdict – Worth It?
✔️ Mango? Fresh and sweet!
✔️ Ice? Incredibly soft and fluffy!
✔️ Presentation? Beautiful!
✔️ Regrets? ZERO.
The only downside? If you’re not having Afternoon Tea, you won’t get a window seat. 😭 That was a little disappointing, but the bingsu itself? Perfection.
Would I order it again? YES. In fact, I think I want to make it a summer tradition. ☀️
(Though with the price increase this year, I can’t help but wonder—how much will it cost next year? 😂)
Final thought? I need to make more money. 💰😂