Tue, August 05, 2008
Time Out has the scoop on Beijing's best ice cream shops
Gustomenta
This shop’s colourful lime green decor is as bright as its gelato – an ice confection so intensely and authentically flavoured, it will take you straight to Italy. At 12RMB a scoop, you don’t have to feel guilty for trying out several flavours. There’s thirty in all, including classics such as strawberry, vanilla, banana, a wonderful mango lemon and a very Italian tiramisu. Make no mistake, this is some of the best-priced gelato in town, and a good place to chill out during summer.
First Floor, Shoukai Xinfucun Guangchang, Xindong Lu (opposite Mare), Chaoyang district (6591 8068; gustomenta.com.cn). Open 7.30am-midnight Mon-Fri, 9am-midnight Sat-Sun; Soho New Town 1301, Chaoyang district (8580 5111). Open daily 7am-midnight; Beijing Culture and Language University (south of basketball court), Haidian district (6234 4487). Open daily 11am-11pm.
Cold Stone Creamery
Customers at Cold Stone Creamery get to watch as their choice of decadent ice cream and mix-ins are slapped and smashed together on the signature frozen granite behind the counter. Sizes go by the names ‘like it’ (28RMB), ‘love it’ (39RMB) and ‘gotta have it’ (50RMB) and flavours range from cheesecake to mint, mango and even cake batter. Even more fun are the sundaes, which are given enticing names like ‘Hunka Chunka Burnin Fudge’ and ‘Cookie Minster’. Fancy a cookie dough creation? Try All Lovin’ no Oven’. The alternative is to create your own, and the girls behind the counter encourage you to throw in all manner of candy (Oreo’s, white chocolate chips, sprinkles), fresh fruits and toppings. Yum.
B1, China World Trade Centre, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district (6505 8588; www.coldstone-china.com ). Open daily 10am-10pm; Tower M, Gate City Mall, Zhongguancun Dajie, Haidian district (8248 6358). Open daily 10am-10pm; Basement 1, Joy City, 131 Xidan Bei Dajie, Xicheng district (5971 6399). Open daily 10am-10pm; 1016 Tower C, Yan Sha Outlet, Dongsihuan Nan Lu, Dongdaqiao, Chaoyang district (8738 3266). Open daily 10am-10pm; Full Link Plaza, 18 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district; Europlaza, Yu Xiang Lu, Shunyi district (8046 6323). Open daily 11am-7pm.
Mondo Gelato
This chain with stores in just five cities worldwide – including Rome – serves delectable gelato made in traditional artisan style using all fresh ingredients. Unfortunately for Beijingers, its outlets are not located on sun soaked boulevards but more often than not hidden in odd corners of shopping malls and department stores. Despite the uninspired setting though, the gelato is great value at 13RMB for a small cup and 20RMB for a large, and the flavours span from exotic durian and guava fruits to more down to earth flavours such as hazelnut and green tea.
Fifth Floor, Lufthansa Centre, 52 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (6465 1188 ext 536). Open daily 9am-10pm; Second Floor, Henderson Centre, 18 Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng district (135 0129 3663). Open daily 9am-9.30pm; Basement, Phase 2 Xinshijie Shangchang, Chongwen district (6708 9787). Open daily 9.30am-9pm; Small kiosk on Wangfujing, north of Tianfu Tea Shop.
ÜYogen Früz
Paris Hilton’s been spotted with a raspberry-mango one, and George Bush was snapped enjoying a strawberry banana creation. Canadian company ÜYogen Früz’s slightly healthier slant on iced treats has recently been introduced to China and so far has gone down a storm. Options include frozen yoghurt, smoothies and bushels of fresh fruit, and some of the frozen yoghurts even have probiotic ‘friendly’ bacteria in them. The shops are usually packed with trendy, and sometimes loud, young shoppers spending their hard earned cash. Prices start at a very reasonable 15RMB per scoop.
Sixth Floor, Joy City, 131 Xidan Bei Dajie, Xicheng district (5971 6048). Open daily 7am-9pm; Basement, Dongfang Xintiandi, Wangfujing, Dongcheng district (8515 2125). Open daily 9.30am-10pm; Second Floor, Jia Mao, Xizhimen, Xicheng district (5830 2440). Open daily 10am-10pm.
