Soooo I may or may not have been writing this post for 7 years. Pardon my delay, but I took the research component very seriously. Alright alright, I just wanted an excuse to eat a ton of ice cream. Regardless, you guys benefit because I can now proudly (or maybe not so proudly) declare that I’ve pretty much tried it all — from the classics like Greg’s Ice Cream to the wild and crazy Sweet Jesus. But only a few reign supreme in my books so I’ve listed them below in case you’re also on the hunt for the best ice cream in Toronto!
Before I reveal the coveted list, a few things to note:
- Please please please check the store website/social media accounts before heading over. I can’t tell you how many times my ice cream mission has ended with a sad face. Many of the shops are closed Mondays, some have random hours and others are only open until they sell out. Social media is your best bet for the most up-to-date info.
- I apologize in advance if the flavours I fell in love with are no longer. Some of these spots are crazy innovative and/or focus on seasonal ingredients. Go in with an open mind, explore different flavours and I’m confident you’ll be pleasantly surprised. These are the cream of the crop. See what I did there?
- I’ve included the best ice cream, the best gelato and the best soft serve spots in the city so this could be your ultimate, one-stop guide.
The Best Ice Cream In Toronto
Brett’s Ice Cream
Fun, colourful waffle cones from The Konery and handcrafted Belly ice cream await at Brett’s. Basically a match made in heaven…
The ice cream at Brett’s is velvety smooth and incredibly fresh; the chocolate dipped strawberry flavour literally tastes like the strawberries were just picked from a field. Oh and it’s made with 100% Ontario cream, has no artificial colours or flavours, is GMO free and loaded with handmade ingredients (brownies, caramel, fudge etc.)
Wong’s Ice Cream
Wong’s is a recent discovery for me, but I’ve now tried five of their flavours and can agree with all of my foodie friends that it’s one of the best in the city. Their Asian flavour profiles like wasabi honey, black sesame & salted duck egg and Vietnamese coffee will jolt your taste buds.
Skip the cone and order your ice cream in a “cup” here (spoiler alert: it’s a takeout container). My fave flave so far? Strawberry Mochi!
Dutch Dreams
We used to frequent this spot after soccer games so it’s a nostalgic one for me. Founded by the Aben family back in the 80s, Dutch Dreams is a Toronto institution when it comes to ice cream. Their flavours are Kosher, can only be found at their parlour and are always made with fresh cream.
Ed’s Real Scoop
Is it even an ice cream roundup if Ed’s isn’t on it? I think not. They’ve been serving up handmade, premium ice cream in Toronto since 2000. The flagship location in the Beaches is my personal fave, but you’ll also find them in Leslieville, Roncesvalles and Mimico! Trust me, this is small-batch ice cream and gelato worth trekking to (and waiting in line for). Don’t leave without trying the Burnt Marshmallow ice cream.
Summer’s Ice Cream
Summer’s was my local ice cream shop for almost a decade. When I lived on campus at U of T we would often walk over in a large group to devour their scoops while perched on “the rock” in Yorkville. The tradition continued when I moved into my first condo at Bay & Wellesley so they’ll always hold a special place in my heart.
The love for homemade ice cream runs deep in this family. Founded by Len and Helka Tokey in 1984, Summer’s is a continuation of a tradition that began in Czechoslovakia by Helka’s family in the 1930s! So ya, they know a thing or two about ice cream. My fave scoops? Toronto Pothole and Strawberry Rhubarb!
Bang Bang Ice Cream
Before you ask, yes the lineups are worth it. The freshly baked cookies, puffs, Big Bang cones stuffed with mouthwatering flavours will have you going back time and time again. Their avocado, London Fog and burnt toffee flaves are my recos, but I truly haven’t had a subpar scoop here.
Nadège Ice Cream Shop
Nadège Nourian is one of my favourite chefs in the city. Incredibly talented, extremely generous and one of the most hard working mamas in the industry. I met her the first week she opened her shop on Queen West and have been a devout customer ever since. Even more so when she opened up her ice cream shop which serves up French-style ice cream and sorbet!
Crafted from scratch right here in Toronto, the ice cream is made using high-quality dairy from a local farm. Make sure to try the raspberry pistachio flavour and don’t skip the ice cream macarons — she’s a fourth generation pastry chef born in Lyon so they are legit.
The Best Gelato In Toronto
Bar Ape Gelato Company
Go here for the gelato bars. Thank me later. Chocolate raspberry is my personal favourite, but I’ve yet to meet a gelato bar I don’t like from Bar Ape.
I still remember spotting their little blue truck at Trinity Bellwoods back in 2014. I fell in love immediately — really, one bite and I was HOOKED. Their gelato is truly incred and can be devoured as soft serve, bars, cornettos or straight out of a tub (I won’t judge). Order anything with seasonal fruit and you won’t regret it.
Death In Venice Gelato
If you love the unexpected, this spot is for you. Chemical engineer turned gelato magician, Kaya Ogruce whips up flavour combos you could only dream of. They’re often wild, but they work! Don’t believe me? Kaya won Chopped Canada with his ricotta, rosemary and lemon ice cream!
To make things even more exciting, Kaya often partners up with chefs across the city to produce unique flavours. I’m currently eyeing the Thai Iced Tea collab with Chef Nuit.
Kekou Gelato
Made onsite, Kekou‘s Asian-inspired gelato flavours are inspired by desserts (black sesame), drinks (oolong tea) and food (coconut sticky rice). Interesting, right?! You can basically expect everything from durian to taro in their scoops!
Sud Forno
The artisanal gelato at Sud Forno is the real deal. One lick and I feel like I’ve been whisked back to Italy. I’m a fan of all their flavours, but the limone, nocciola and pistacchio are my go-tos. Let this be a warning: you’ll likely walk out with more than just gelato. Their famous bombe and other Italian treats are alluring.
Best Soft Serve In Toronto
iHalo Crunch
I lived dangerously close to this spot for quite some time. When they first launched the lineups often felt endless, but things have since quieted down. Fortunately, their cones are just as delish and insta-worthy as ever so definitely give them a try! Ube All The Way (sweet purple yam) with Black on Black (coconut and activated charcoal) is my fave twist.
Tom’s Dairy Freeze
These guys are a CLASSIC. Tom’s has been around since 1969 and it’s the kind of spot that makes me feel like I’ve gone back in time. I truly hope they never change. Their banana splits and fun cones (like the Cookie Monster) are the big draws. But really, you head here for the nostalgia.
Butter Baker
Known for their banh mi croissant sandwiches, brioche loaves and delectable pastries, Butter Baker also dreams up some amazing soft serve flavours. You can expect flavours like Baker’s Tiramisu, Cassis x Vanilla and Guava x Vanilla. Their distinct cones can be spotted all over Instagram, regardless of the season.
Bar Ape Gelato Company
Yup, two mentions for these guys because they’re THAT good. The gelato soft serve at Bar Ape is heavenly and has the perfect texture & consistency in my opinion. They’re always coming up with different flavours so definitely check their website or social media platforms to get the scoop! Ontario apricot, passionfruit & Madagascar vanilla, grape & hazelnut and blueberry & crema twists have been some of my faves in the past.
Drooling yet? I’ll continue updating this list as more shops pop up around the city. Do comment with your favourites so I can give them a try!!
4 Comments
Jay
January 30, 2021 at 5:25 pmSurprised I didn’t see sweet Jesus on this list. Everything on the menu is a work of art as well as being exquisitely delicious.
Solmaz
February 2, 2021 at 5:16 pmTo be honest, I’m not that big of a fan (I know, I know, unpopular opinion). But they’re definitely impressive looking.
Berns
March 20, 2021 at 1:02 amOoh…you’re going to have to update this to include Ruru Baked. Custard ice creams with such unique flavours, a number of which are Asian inspired.
Solmaz
March 22, 2021 at 10:21 amThanks for the tip! Will check them out!