Top 10 Toronto Ice Cream Shops
We all scream for ice-cream, but sometimes we scream “where should I go for ice-cream?”
Have no fear, as this list solves that dilemma for you! Read on to discover some of my favourites spots in the 6ix to get some of the frozen dessert.
When you’re done eating your way through ice-cream, don’t forget to check out my Top 10 Toronto Soft Serve list by pressing the link below!
Note: This list is in an arbitrary order. They are not ranked from best-to-worst.
1. ED’S REAL SCOOP
Craving ice-cream? Sorbet? Gelato?
Well, you can treat yourself to all that and more at any of the multiple Ed’s Real Scoop locations across Toronto.
An ice-cream shop that prides itself on being “real” (their definition defines this as making their ice-cream in-store with high-quality ingredients), the scoops from Ed’s are flavourful, bold, and very indulgent.
Ed’s focuses on perfecting their iced products themselves, and they’re good enough to not require any toppings (although they have some available if you crave them). There is always a long line at Ed’s, but it’s worth the wait.
One of the best things about Ed’s Real Scoop is that all of their cutlery and cups are biodegradable! You can feel good as you do good for the environment. Win win, right?
Toronto Neighbourhood: Roncesvalles (West End) Leslieville (East End)
Nearest Subway Station: To Rocesvalles Location: St Patrick — Take 505 streetcar West to Howard Park Avenue / To Leslieville Location: Queen — Take 501 streetcar East to Logan Avenue
Location:
189 Roncesvalles Avenue (West Toronto location)
920 Queen Street East (East Toronto location)
Photo courtesy of Ed’s Real Scoop’s official Facebook page.
Noteworthy Feature:
The cups and cutlery here are biodegradable - eco-friendly perfection!
2. Cool N2
You may be 2 Cool 4 School, but you’re not 2 Cool 4 Cool N2 (that was a terrible joke, and I’m not sorry about it).
Cool N2 is both parts delicious and cool (pun totally intended… I need to cool it with these jokes).
In all seriousness, this eye catching dessert spot serves up ice cream in a variety of flavours (matcha, honey, chocolates, etc...) that are doused with a healthy dose of Nitrogen. This makes it seem as if your entire cup is floating in a cloud, and quite frankly, adds a fun show to a late-night dessert outing!
Read more about Cool N2 and other Downtown dessert places by pressing this link.
Location:
412 Queen Street West
Photo courtesy of Cool N2’s official Facebook page.
Noteworthy Feature:
It’s really interesting to watch the nitrogen being poured onto the ice-cream.
3. DUTCH DREAMS
Overstuffed cups of deliciousness await you at Dutch Dreams’, whose ice creams flavours and toppings are just as dreamy as its name. There’s even a photo of Drake on the wall enjoying one of their creations. If that isn’t enough to convince you of it’s merit, then I don’t know what is.
Chocolate-dipped waffle cones, cotton candy, mounds of whipped cream… they really go above in beyond in this eclectic and whimsical ice cream parlour. Not fancying ice cream? Have no fear, as they also make a mean shake or frozen yogurt delight!
Read more about Dutch Dreams and other dessert spots worth checking out by pressing here!
Toronto Neighbourhood: St Clair West Village
Nearest Subway Station: St Clair West
Location:
36 Vaughan Road
Bonus: My photographer showing me some proofs 😂
Display of cones
Noteworthy Feature:
The interior alone is worth seeing - it’s a bonus that the ice-cream is incredible!
4.BANG BANG ICE CREAM & BAKERY
A hot day staple on Ossington, Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery offers customers excellent ice cream sandwiches.
Owned by the brother of Bakerbot’s owner, Bang Bang is still a great place to visit.
Both places serve their customers ice-cream sandwiches, but they have slight points in which they differ. The similarities are the variety of cookies from which you can choose to complement the ice-cream flavours inside your ice-cream sandwich. Some unique flavours include London Fog, Matcha, Totaro (ube, also known as purple yam), and Burnt Toffee.
Whether you prefer your ice cream inside a sammie, a choux, or a bubble-waffle cone, you won’t be disappointed at Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery, a small-but-mighty shop that has both gluten free and vegan options for those interested. They really specialize in the ice-cream sandwich!
Even though this sweet spot “officially” closes at 10:00 p.m., don’t be surprised to find it still serving customers well past closing during the summer months! Yes, it’s *that* good.
The only downside? There is often a long line. However, that’s truly is a testament to it’s quality!
Toronto Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods
Nearest Subway Station: Osgoode — Take 501 streetcar West to Ossington Avenue
Location:
93A Ossington Avenue
Noteworthy Feature:
Ice-cream sandwiches have become a science for Bang Bang.
5. BOOYAH inc
You’ll be screaming “booyah” when you try some of this ice-cream joints signature creations!
Located only a short distance from Dutch Dream (another ice-cream shop on this list) Booyah standouts thanks to it’s phenomenal vegan ice-cream (some of the best in the city), and it’s ice-cream tacos.
Booyah is nice as it does it’s best to cater to a large market of consumers who look for alternate things in their ice-cream; vegan, gluten-free, lower-fat… they’ve got you covered. Personally, I go for the gluten-free ice-cream sandwich. It never disappoints!
Both their vegan and dairy-based ice-cream flavours are well-made, and have interesting flavour combinations. Think honey lavender, German chocolate, taro coconut, and key lime pie. I genuinely find their vegan ice-cream satisfying and close in texture to it’s counterpart.
If you have any dietary restrictions, or prefer to go the healthier route with your ice-cream indulgences, Booyah is an excellent place to check out. You won’t be disappointed !
Toronto Neighbourhood: South Hill
Nearest Subway Station: St. Clair West
Location:
16 Vaughan Road A
Photo courtesy of Booyah Inc’s official facebook.
Noteworthy Feature:
Vegans and gluten-intolerant individuals will adore the selection!
6. SUMMER’S ICE CREAM
A Yorkville staple for more than 30 years, Summer’s Ice Cream whips up sumptuous ice creams in an assortment of delicious flavours. Their high-quality scoops shouldn’t be a surprise considering the family of the company’s founders had been making ice cream since the late 1930s in their native Czechoslovakia.
Feeling like treating yourself? Why not try one of their well-known “Cookie sandwiches”, or chocolate-dipped ice creams (photo below)? It’s well worth it.
Some of their flavours that I highly recommend are “White Chocolate” and “Simply Butterscotch”, although you really couldn’t go wrong with whatever you choose to try.
Toronto Neighbourhood: Yorkville
Nearest Subway Station: Bay
Location:
101 Yorkville Avenue
Photo courtesy of Summer’s Ice Cream’s official Twitter (@SummersIceCream)
Photo courtesy of Summer’s Ice Cream’s official Twitter (@SummersIceCream)
Noteworthy Feature:
You can get your entire ice-cream cone or cup dipped in fudge - delicious. It’s like a high-quality Dairy Queen dip.
7. BRETT’S ICE CREAM
The East End has an exciting addition to Toronto’s overall best ice-cream shops.
I don’t often pop into Toronto’s East End, but wow, am I ever inspired to begin exploring! I discovered Brett’s Ice Cream by chance one day when I craved ice-cream while in Leslieville. One quick “ice-cream” google maps search notified me that Brett’s was nearby. As such, I didn’t have any expectations for it when I went. Was I ever surprised when I walked in!
The interior, frankly, is cool. It has plants, it has geometric chairs, it has neon lights, it has cool decor… it really is a fun place visually.
In terms of the ice-cream itself, Brett’s impressed me with their unique flavour selection and their variety of cones available. Some of their standout flavours include Muskoka S'Mores, Buttered Scotch Whiskey with Smoked Almonds & Salted Caramel, Raspberry White Chocolate, Obscene Brownie with Saltine Toffee. I mean… wow. Are you not tempted yet?
Each cone is a different colour representing its flavour, such as a “red” red velvet, or a “green” matcha. They even have a gluten-free waffle cone, which is absolutely delicious! There are vegan options, too. It’s worth returning to Brett’s as they have a new feature flavour weekly.
Overall, Brett’s Ice Cream is an excellent ice-cream parlour in the city that is well worth visiting. It’s hard to be disappointed here!
Toronto Neighbourhood: The Beach Triangle
Nearest Subway Station: Queen —> take the 501 streetcar East to Greenwood Avenue
Location:
1698 Queen Street East
Noteworthy Feature:
The Konery cones are quite standout, and taste fantastic!
8. ARCTIC BITES
This Thai-style ice cream shop is known for its ice cream “rolls” topped with an assortment of treats (cookie crumbs, fudge, pocky, etc...). Upon ordering, the staff prepare your ice cream in front of your eyes.
Not only is this treat light and refreshing for the warm summer month, but it makes for a great place to bring a friend or a date you want to impress with a mini “show” before they receive their food!
Toronto Neighbourhood: Baldwin Village
Nearest Subway Station: St Patrick
Location:
21 Baldwin Street
Noteworthy Feature:
You get to watch your ice-cream being rolled - it’s like dinner and a show!
9. FUGO DESSERTS
If you’re fu-going to Fugo, expect to be tempted by unique ice-cream flavours, mini-donuts being made before your eyes, and house-made marshmallow fluff (psst…it’s vegan!).
Fugo began as an ice-cream shop, so it’s easy to understand why their icy treats are worth a try. This store is also well-known for their creative toppings. Think blue “Cookie Monster” ice-cream topped with actual mini chocolate chip cookies, or “Skor Brownie” ice-cream topped with toasted marshmallows (and a s’mores cone if you fancy it).
The dessert place has minimal space, but maximum flavour. The staff have always been kind when I’ve been, and it’s a nice place from which to grab a take-out treat, or a box of mini donuts!
Toronto Neighbourhood: Downtown Toronto
Nearest Subway Station: St Patrick
Location:
205 Dundas Street West
Photo courtesy of Fugo Desserts official Facebook page.
Noteworthy Feature:
The vegan whipped cream tastes fantastic.
10. BAKERBOTS BAKERY
Bakerbots Bakery, owned by the sister of Bang Bang’s Ice Cream & Bakery’s owner, is also an exceptional spot in which to get ice-cream sandwiches.
Both bakeries offer fantastic customizable ice-cream sandwiches. There are a variety of cookies from which you can choose (with a vegan and gluten-free option!), and many unique ice-cream flavours. London Fog, Matcha, Totaro (ube, also known as purple yam), and Burnt Toffee are just some of the flavours on display.
Bang Bang and Bakerbots differ with some of their in-house baked goods. Bang Bang has the option of putting their ice-creams into bubble-waffle cones, while Bakerbots make their own assortment of in-house baked goods that are positively mouth-watering, and can be complemented by a plain ice-cream.
Bakerbots also has a variety of beverages to choose from. They make coffees, matcha lattes, and my favourite: they supply the famous French Mariage Frère tea!
My favourite beverage to order is a cup of Mariage Frère tea, an excellent French tea company. It’s not something that I have easily found elsewhere in Toronto.
The bakery’s proximity to Ossington subway station is also a bonus. Overall, Bakerbots is a great place to check out for those who want good quality ice-cream with either a pleasant drink, or a tasty baked good.
Toronto Neighbourhood: Bloorcourt Village
Nearest Subway Station: Ossington
Location:
205 Delaware Ave
Noteworthy Feature:
Bakerbots sells Mariage Frères tea, which is difficult to buy outside of France.
OK… BUT WHAT DO I PUT INTO GOOGLE MAPS?
Thank you for reading, lovely! Happy Ice-ing!
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