Mapo dessert café for Han River sunsets: Puru Papa

A dessert café stop before a Mangwon Hangang Park picnic

This is Mangwon Hangang Park, where I spent the weekend. Before spreading out our mat and enjoying a picnic, our mouths were feeling a little bored and we wanted dessert and ice cream, so I searched around. Let me introduce Puru Papa Hangang MAPOINT Branch, which I visited right away because it is not far from the picnic zone.

Puru Papa Hangang MAPOINT Branch exterior

Maybe because I visited at just the time when my mouth was feeling snacky, I wanted a refreshing ade as well as all kinds of desserts and ice cream. While searching, Puru Papa Hangang MAPOINT Branch caught my eye, so I stopped by. Its sign stood out even from afar, making it easy to find.

The wood-toned interior caught my eye, and there is also a space indoors where you can enjoy delicious coffee, ade, and desserts. We came planning to have a quick bite on the outdoor terrace chairs rather than eat inside.

I visited Puru Papa, a popular dessert spot at Mangwon Hangang Park, because there were so many reviews saying its ice cream was great. I walked in without hesitation and started by looking over the kiosk menu.

What is on the Puru Papa Hangang MAPOINT Branch menu?

First, let’s look at Puru Papa’s new items. The already-popular coconut-series drinks were sold out, so I gave those up cleanly. After debating ice cream or bingsu (Korean shaved ice), my partner and I amicably chose one ube ice cream and one matcha ice cream. There were plenty of tempting bingsu options too, so I think the bingsu menu would be especially popular in summer.

I also looked at Puru Papa’s signature menu, which was full of latte choices. More customers seemed to be getting takeout than eating inside, and lots of people were enjoying Han River ramyeon and desserts on the outdoor terrace.

There were more choices than I expected, so I happily agonized over which desserts and drinks to pick. With the weather so nice lately, the Han River is full of visitors. I was so pleased with this café that I would revisit Puru Papa whenever I come to Mangwon Hangang Park. So, after much deliberation, what did we choose?

Our final picks: two ice creams, an ade, and two cookies

We chose matcha ice cream, ube ice cream, peach ade, a Dubai chewy cookie, and a black sesame cookie. We each wanted an ice cream of our own, and added a refreshing fizzy ade too! We picked the Dubai chewy cookie and black sesame cookie because they seemed perfect for nibbling one at a time.

Maybe because my mouth was just begging for a snack, every single thing we ordered—from the ice cream to the ade—looked so delicious that I could not wait to try it. There are outdoor terrace seats right in front of Puru Papa Hangang MAPOINT Branch, and they were full of people enjoying Han River ramyeon as well as drinks and desserts from the café.

How were the matcha and ube ice creams?

I had been craving green tea ice cream, and the moment I saw it on Puru Papa’s menu, I picked it without a second thought. As soon as my partner and I took a bite, we said this place really is an ice cream spot and even talked about coming by for ice cream often.

My partner’s ube ice cream had a gentle ube flavor and was also so delicious. The soft serve itself was tasty, so I think it would be delicious even on its own.

After trying one ice cream and finding it delicious, there I was getting greedy... haha. The early-evening Mangwon Hangang Park had a breeze, making it such a lovely day for a picnic. As the days grow shorter, it was the perfect time to enjoy tasty ade and desserts while watching the sunset over the Han River.

We ate our ice cream while chatting about this and that, and I think I would order ice cream from Puru Papa again even on my next visit. It is in a very accessible location, so lots of people came in, and the prices were not high, making it an easy place to enjoy delicious desserts or coffee without feeling burdened.

Dubai chewy cookie and black sesame cookie

I also ordered a Dubai chewy cookie, which I had been wanting to eat for a while. It was chewy and generously filled with pistachios, pairing perfectly with the ade we ordered.

The black sesame cookie was great for picking up one at a time like a little snack. Honestly, I did not expect much from the cookies when I ordered them, but they were so much more delicious than expected that I would order them again. The nutty black sesame cookie was so good that I thought I should order it with an Americano next time.

Why I recommend it as a Mangwon Hangang Park café

I discovered Puru Papa Hangang MAPOINT Branch while looking for a great dessert spot at Mangwon Hangang Park. It is easy to get to, so I really want to return, and every dessert we ordered was delicious. That is why I wholeheartedly recommend it as a café for Mangwon Hangang Park.