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The Best Ice Cream in Toronto

Christine Peddie

Written By

Christine Peddie

The Best Ice Cream in Toronto

The best ice cream in Toronto is the warm-weather treat you need, whether you pine for nostalgic scoops or innovation in a cone. From high-quality soft serve and gelato to regular ice cream in flavours inspired by the season, Toronto has a frozen dessert you'll want to try this summer.

Home to several perennial favourites, Toronto has also seen a rash of new ice cream businesses popping up of late. With such a wealth of creamy treats on offer, including vegan options, you never have to go far to find a refreshing treat when that's the only thing that will do.

Treat yourself to a season of sweet relief with Toronto's best ice cream. Try new flavours, indulge in creative bites, ask for a cup, bubble waffle cone, or cookie sandwich, and find your favourite. Just be warned, ranking one delightful, drippy, cooling confection against another is a near-impossible task.

Little Italy

566 College St

The Big Chill Ice Cream

This spot on College street is an old-fashioned retro ice cream parlour serving scoops, sandwiches, splits, waffles and more.

The Big Chill Ice Cream

Little Italy

566 College St

This spot on College street is an old-fashioned retro ice cream parlour serving scoops, sandwiches, splits, waffles and more.

Good Behaviour Ice Cream

You may be walking into this spot for their mouth watering subs, but do not leave without a pint of ice cream. Creativity abounds at this COVID-born spot. Since day one, coveted pints of HK Milk Tea, Torta Della Nonna, Honey Nut Cereal and more, have been scooped up by those in the know.

Good Behaviour Ice Cream

You may be walking into this spot for their mouth watering subs, but do not leave without a pint of ice cream. Creativity abounds at this COVID-born spot. Since day one, coveted pints of HK Milk Tea, Torta Della Nonna, Honey Nut Cereal and more, have been scooped up by those in the know.

Butter Baker

This bakery features a soft serve flavour of the month, made with real fruit like Blueberry or Mango and Tahitian Vanilla, as well as a decadent Tiramisu.

Butter Baker

This bakery features a soft serve flavour of the month, made with real fruit like Blueberry or Mango and Tahitian Vanilla, as well as a decadent Tiramisu.

Beaconsfield Village

202 Dovercourt Rd

Taverne Bernhardt’s

Tucked away in a quiet pocket of Dovercourt, this recently opened restaurant isn't just a destination for juicy rotisserie birds. During the warmer months, Bernhardt's changing soft serve offering is a hidden gem not to be missed. Whether it's Creamsicle Soft Serve With Lemon Meringue & Candied Sunflower Seeds or Rhubarb Currant Sour Cream Soft Serve With Rhubarb Pieces, each flavour is guaranteed to delight.

Taverne Bernhardt’s

Beaconsfield Village

202 Dovercourt Rd

Tucked away in a quiet pocket of Dovercourt, this recently opened restaurant isn't just a destination for juicy rotisserie birds. During the warmer months, Bernhardt's changing soft serve offering is a hidden gem not to be missed. Whether it's Creamsicle Soft Serve With Lemon Meringue & Candied Sunflower Seeds or Rhubarb Currant Sour Cream Soft Serve With Rhubarb Pieces, each flavour is guaranteed to delight.

Dainties Macaron

This spot in Chinatown for Korean-style buttercream-filled macarons and their signature macaron ice cream sandwiches are unlike anything else you'll find in the city.

Dainties Macaron

This spot in Chinatown for Korean-style buttercream-filled macarons and their signature macaron ice cream sandwiches are unlike anything else you'll find in the city.

Creamery X

This new ice cream shop on Jarvis offers small-batch, hand-made frozen custard and vegan ice cream. Expect unique flavours that are hard to find anywhere else, like Mom's Bourbon Butter Tart, Vegan Coconut Cream Pie, Carrot Cake, The Homer and one of their signature flavours, The Elvis.

Creamery X

This new ice cream shop on Jarvis offers small-batch, hand-made frozen custard and vegan ice cream. Expect unique flavours that are hard to find anywhere else, like Mom's Bourbon Butter Tart, Vegan Coconut Cream Pie, Carrot Cake, The Homer and one of their signature flavours, The Elvis.

St. Clair West

36 Vaughan Rd

Dutch Dreams

This eccentric spot for ice cream scoops up bold, colourful and over-the-top cones complete with cotton candy, cookie-crusted cones and fun flavours.

Dutch Dreams

St. Clair West

36 Vaughan Rd

This eccentric spot for ice cream scoops up bold, colourful and over-the-top cones complete with cotton candy, cookie-crusted cones and fun flavours.

Summer's Ice Cream

This Yorkville ice cream joint has been serving ice cream and gelato to Toronto since 1984. Ice cream is made in-house, in small-batches and uses only the finest ingredients.

Summer's Ice Cream

This Yorkville ice cream joint has been serving ice cream and gelato to Toronto since 1984. Ice cream is made in-house, in small-batches and uses only the finest ingredients.

East Chinatown

617 Gerrard St E

Wong's Ice Cream & Store

A rotating menu of Asian-inspired scoops -- from Ube and Black Sesame Salted Duck Egg to White Rabbit -- tempt customer's at Wong's.

Wong's Ice Cream & Store

East Chinatown

617 Gerrard St E

A rotating menu of Asian-inspired scoops -- from Ube and Black Sesame Salted Duck Egg to White Rabbit -- tempt customer's at Wong's.

Tom's Dairy Freeze

Nostalgia reigns at Tom's Dairy Freeze on the Queensway, where towering soft-serve cones are the go-to item.

Tom's Dairy Freeze

Nostalgia reigns at Tom's Dairy Freeze on the Queensway, where towering soft-serve cones are the go-to item.

Spaccio

With a range of chocolate-dipped gelato bars on offer, Spaccio is a great place to hit up on sunny days.

Spaccio

With a range of chocolate-dipped gelato bars on offer, Spaccio is a great place to hit up on sunny days.

Bloordale Village

659 Lansdowne Ave

Ruru Baked

Ice Cream

Ruru's small-batch, custard ice creams have garnered a cult following thanks to their creamy texture and interesting flavours, like Condensed Milk and Red Bean, Chrysanthemum, Horlicks, Ribena, et al.

Ruru Baked

Bloordale Village

659 Lansdowne Ave

Ruru's small-batch, custard ice creams have garnered a cult following thanks to their creamy texture and interesting flavours, like Condensed Milk and Red Bean, Chrysanthemum, Horlicks, Ribena, et al.

Ice Cream

Roselle

Known for its dangerously delicious baked goods, Roselle also has a justifiable following for its limited-edition soft serve. Watch the shop's Instagram closely. When you see soft serve on the feed -- be it Earl Grey, Strawberries & Cream, or some other delectable creation -- you know what to do.

Roselle

Known for its dangerously delicious baked goods, Roselle also has a justifiable following for its limited-edition soft serve. Watch the shop's Instagram closely. When you see soft serve on the feed -- be it Earl Grey, Strawberries & Cream, or some other delectable creation -- you know what to do.

Yonge and Bloor

6 Charles St E

Nani's Gelato

Ice Cream

Billed as "Artisan Asian and Italian Gelato," Nani's is the place to go if you're hankering for something unique. From Pistachio Cannoli to Punjabi Milk Cake, Mango Kulfi Cheesecake, and more, Nani's flavours are sure to delight.

Nani's Gelato

Yonge and Bloor

6 Charles St E

Billed as "Artisan Asian and Italian Gelato," Nani's is the place to go if you're hankering for something unique. From Pistachio Cannoli to Punjabi Milk Cake, Mango Kulfi Cheesecake, and more, Nani's flavours are sure to delight.

Ice Cream

Yonge and Eglinton

2651 Yonge St

Milkcow

Milkcow's natural, organic milk soft serve is as light, creamy and delicious as it comes.

Milkcow

Yonge and Eglinton

2651 Yonge St

Milkcow's natural, organic milk soft serve is as light, creamy and delicious as it comes.

Queen West

394 Queen St W

Kekou Gelato

With a focus on Asian flavours, think everything from Peanut Sesame to Jasmine Tea, Kekou's gelato is rich, satisfying and perfect for hoarding in your freezer.

Kekou Gelato

Queen West

394 Queen St W

With a focus on Asian flavours, think everything from Peanut Sesame to Jasmine Tea, Kekou's gelato is rich, satisfying and perfect for hoarding in your freezer.

Queen West

831 Queen St W

iHalo Krunch

Beloved for its trendy charcoal soft serve, iHalo has branched out with a menu of Asian-inspired flavours. Opt for Ube, Charcoal, Matcha, Vanilla or order an Insta-worthy twirl of all four.

iHalo Krunch

Queen West

831 Queen St W

Beloved for its trendy charcoal soft serve, iHalo has branched out with a menu of Asian-inspired flavours. Opt for Ube, Charcoal, Matcha, Vanilla or order an Insta-worthy twirl of all four.

Ice Creamonology

The pet project of a professional chef, plenty of culinary know-how goes into each scoop at Ice Creamonology. Made from all-natural ingredients, it's hard to choose between the premium flavours at this Queen's Quay spot.

Ice Creamonology

The pet project of a professional chef, plenty of culinary know-how goes into each scoop at Ice Creamonology. Made from all-natural ingredients, it's hard to choose between the premium flavours at this Queen's Quay spot.

Honey’s

Honey's premium, plant-based ice creams, in comforting flavours like Double Chocolate Chip Brownie, Peanut Butter & Saltine, Raisin Bread Toast, and more, leave nothing to be desired.

Honey’s

Honey's premium, plant-based ice creams, in comforting flavours like Double Chocolate Chip Brownie, Peanut Butter & Saltine, Raisin Bread Toast, and more, leave nothing to be desired.

Leslieville

920 Queen St E

Ed's Real Scoop

Opened in 2000, Ed's now boasts multiple locations and more than 150 flavours of ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt sure to satisfy. Crafted by hand, Ed's premium offerings boast the flavour of summers gone by.

Ed's Real Scoop

Leslieville

920 Queen St E

Opened in 2000, Ed's now boasts multiple locations and more than 150 flavours of ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt sure to satisfy. Crafted by hand, Ed's premium offerings boast the flavour of summers gone by.

Dundas West

1418 Dundas St W

Death in Venice Gelato

Pad Thai gelato, anyone? If you live for unorthodox frozen treats, you'll delight in the knowledge that no flavour is off-limits for the genius minds behind Death in Venice Gelato. Crafted from seasonal, local produce and dairy, each creation is as surprising as it is exhilarating and delicious.

Death in Venice Gelato

Dundas West

1418 Dundas St W

Pad Thai gelato, anyone? If you live for unorthodox frozen treats, you'll delight in the knowledge that no flavour is off-limits for the genius minds behind Death in Venice Gelato. Crafted from seasonal, local produce and dairy, each creation is as surprising as it is exhilarating and delicious.

St. Clair West

16 Vaughan Rd A

Booyah

Dessert

Booyah's claim to fame, an ice cream sandwich, is the thing to order at this spot on Vaughan Road. Choose from a healthy list of ice cream flavours, including Peanut Butter and Jelly, Kookie Monster and traditional alternatives, pick a cookie and dig in.

Booyah

St. Clair West

16 Vaughan Rd A

Booyah's claim to fame, an ice cream sandwich, is the thing to order at this spot on Vaughan Road. Choose from a healthy list of ice cream flavours, including Peanut Butter and Jelly, Kookie Monster and traditional alternatives, pick a cookie and dig in.

Dessert

St. Clair West

283 Rushton Rd

Bar Ape

Dessert

Bar Ape is seasonal spot, open from May-October. It has grown from its days as a roving gelato truck into a full-fledged gelatería, selling a wealth of flavours of ice cream bars, gelatos, cornetti and more.

Bar Ape

St. Clair West

283 Rushton Rd

Bar Ape is seasonal spot, open from May-October. It has grown from its days as a roving gelato truck into a full-fledged gelatería, selling a wealth of flavours of ice cream bars, gelatos, cornetti and more.

Dessert

Trinity Bellwoods

93A Ossington Ave

Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery

In addition to a menu full of compelling flavours -- from London Fog and Campfire Marshmallow to everything in-between -- Bang Bang offers fresh-baked cookies, cinnamon buns, bubble waffle cones, and more, each tailor-made for transporting your treats wherever you need to go.

Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery

Trinity Bellwoods

93A Ossington Ave

In addition to a menu full of compelling flavours -- from London Fog and Campfire Marshmallow to everything in-between -- Bang Bang offers fresh-baked cookies, cinnamon buns, bubble waffle cones, and more, each tailor-made for transporting your treats wherever you need to go.