# Gangneung gelato café with Valrhona dark chocolate cups: Hi Gelato - By Areum Hyun (https://superchart.com/en/@jeju-stone-porch/) - Written Sep 23, 2026 - Local places › Cafés › Gangneung, Gangwon - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@jeju-stone-porch/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@jeju-stone-porch/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/index.md) ## In short Hi Gelato is a handmade Italian-style gelato shop on Toseong-ro near Gangneung Central Market and Seobu Market. After a street food tour through the market, a couple each ordered a large cup at Hi Gelato, pairing Valrhona dark chocolate with matcha and with milk choco chip, plus taste spoons of sundubu (soft tofu) and mango-strawberry. The finish is clean rather than heavy, which makes Hi Gelato an easy dessert stop after eating your way through the market. ## Good to know - **Hours**: 11:30–20:00 - **Address**: 1st floor, 158 Toseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State - **What we ordered**: 2 large cups + complimentary taste spoons - **Flavors tried**: Valrhona dark chocolate, Achacha Matcha, milk choco chip, sundubu (soft tofu), mango & strawberry - **Location**: Near Gangneung Central Market and Seobu Market, on a gift-shop walking route *as written by the visitor on Sep 23, 2026* A dessert spot in Gangneung worth knowing: Hi Gelato. ![Gelato cup from Hi Gelato, a Gangneung dessert spot](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-01-cn7lo-1200.webp) ## Why Hi Gelato is the dessert stop after Gangneung Central Market We headed to Gangneung wanting to see the blue East Sea, and after wandering the alleys of Central Market eating all kinds of street food, we started craving something cool and sweet haha. Instead of anything heavy or overly sugary, we wanted a Gangneung dessert café that would refresh the palate and let us rest happily mid-trip. > Open 11:30 / Close 20:00 Located near Gangneung Central Market and Seobu Market, Hi Gelato is a handmade Italian-style gelato shop that's perfect to stop by after browsing prop shops nearby. After wandering the charming little shops near Seobu Market, we walked over with light steps, and the café greeted us with a warm, friendly look from the outside. ![Exterior of Hi Gelato on Toseong-ro in Gangneung](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-02-1d4d7-966.webp) *Hi Gelato* ## What the shop feels like inside Inside, the cute yet stylish interior melted away our travel fatigue. Whether it's a sweet date with a partner or a family outing with kids, the cozy mood makes it a gelato spot near Gangneung Central Market where anyone can settle in comfortably. ![Cute interior decor inside Hi Gelato](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-03-1fxdo-966.webp) ![Indoor seating and decorative details at Hi Gelato](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-04-3zsgv-966.webp) ![Stylish interior space inside the café](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-05-muhg9-966.webp) ## Hi Gelato's handmade flavors, made in small batches daily Standing in front of the showcase, the bright, mouthwatering array of colors caught our eyes right away. Hi Gelato doesn't bring in factory-made product — they stick to making everything fresh in-house, in small batches, every single day. They especially avoid artificial sweetness, letting the deep flavor and aroma of the raw ingredients shine through for a more refined taste. There are also seasonal limited menus, so no matter what time of year you visit, there's always the excitement of trying something new at this handmade gelato specialty shop. ![Handmade gelato displayed in Hi Gelato's showcase](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-06-njzy0-966.webp) ![Colorful gelato lineup in the showcase](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-07-thsid-966.webp) ![Gelato display with seasonal limited flavors](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-08-7da82-966.webp) ## Two large cups and free taste spoons at Hi Gelato Since we both wanted to try plenty, we each ordered a large cup. On top of that, they thoughtfully added a taste spoon each, which made the whole thing look absolutely adorable haha! ![Two large gelato cups topped with taste spoons](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-09-12hkl-966.webp) My combination was the bittersweet Valrhona dark chocolate paired with the fragrant matcha green tea. For my taste spoon, I picked sundubu (soft tofu) gelato, Gangneung's signature flavor. ![Large cup of Valrhona dark chocolate and matcha gelato](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-10-1k3yh-966.webp) ### Valrhona dark chocolate paired with Achacha Matcha The rich, bittersweet depth of top-grade Valrhona chocolate blended beautifully with the fragrant matcha for a perfect harmony. The bite of sundubu gelato they added on top was subtly savory and light — it genuinely surprised me. My chocolate-loving husband also picked Valrhona dark chocolate, pairing it with the soft, sweet milk choco chip, and for his taste spoon he chose the adorably named mango & strawberry. ![Milk choco chip and mango-strawberry gelato](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-11-1nyyb-966.webp) ### Milk choco chip with mango & strawberry Of course we had to steal bites of each other's flavors haha. The crunch of choco chips scattered through the rich milk base was fantastic, and the mango-strawberry combo we tried was bursting with tangy-sweet juiciness that refreshed the palate. Every time we scooped with the spoon, the chewy, dense texture felt really satisfying. ![Spoonful of chewy gelato texture](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-12-1nbmw-966.webp) ## A clean finish the whole family can eat The moment it touches your tongue, it melts smoothly away — a texture gentle enough for kids and grandparents alike to enjoy together without any harshness. With no heavy or sticky aftertaste, the finish was so clean and refreshing that we scraped every last bite. ![Nearly finished cup of Hi Gelato gelato](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-13-4hdet-966.webp) It was a Gangneung dessert of standout quality, one I'd call a must after a Central Market food tour. Getting to genuinely feel the charm of authentic Italian-style handmade gelato sent our trip satisfaction soaring. ![Holding a cup of Hi Gelato gelato](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco-14-15lc2-966.webp) If you've just had a hearty meal at Central Market, or you're craving something sweet after strolling the alleys near Seobu Market, I hope you'll stop by Hi Gelato, a Gangneung dessert spot with real care and healthy flavor, and enjoy a happy cup of ice cream! ## Where it is - Hi Gelato (하이젤라또) - 1st floor, 158 Toseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea - 강원특별자치도 강릉시 토성로 158 1층 - 37.7554497, 128.8938564 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%95%98%EC%9D%B4%EC%A0%A4%EB%9D%BC%EB%98%90/@37.7554497,128.8938564,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@jeju-stone-porch/gangneung-haigelato-valrhona-dark-choco/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt