Toronto ice cream is known for being exciting, innovative, and delicious if the long lines in front of most parlors is anything to go by, but for this guide to the sweet summer treat, we tried to include a variety. From known favorites to some that may be a bit underrated, these are the best parlors and shops serving ice cream, sorbet, and gelato.
1. Bang Bang Ice Cream
Don’t let the lines at Bang Bang Ice Cream deter you. For an excellent cookie ice cream sandwich, Bang Bang still holds up as a local favorite. Make the most of it by getting a variety of different flavors from Lychee Rosewater Raspberry to PB Reese Cup. One of our favorite combos is an Everything Cookie with Burnt Toffee for a sugary but decadent combo. Don’t get too overwhelmed though; you can’t go wrong with any flavor.
Where: 93A Ossington Ave
2. Happy Sundae
A soft-serve ice cream place that offers a variety of flavors–ice creams and cones–that will take you to your happy place. We’d highly recommend trying out their sundaes (it’s in the name, after all) for specialty creations. A Cold Brew Affogato is a great way to kickstart a weekend morning or their fruity happy berry with fresh fruit is perfect for a mid-afternoon treat.
Where: 85 Portland St
3. Dutch Dreams
A Toronto classic that’s been around since 1985 that you’ll want to return to again and again. A charming maximalist parlor with over-the-top scoops from Birthday Cake, Wildberry Cheesecake, Pralines and Cream, and probably anything your kid-at-heart can dream up. Head there during off-hours if you want to avoid any waits.
Where: 36 Vaughan Rd
4. RuRu Baked
“Rich, dense, and creamy” are just some ways that RuRu Baked describes their custard-based ice creams that use egg yolk to make their texture somthing out of a dream. We don’t want to list out any flavors as they have a daily menu that you can check out to get the scoop on what they’re serving. Their flavors–which you can also bring home with you in a pint–can range from global flavors to savory to classic, so we dare you to live a little and try something new there.
Where: 659 Lansdowne Ave
5. Ed’s Real Scoop
A local favorite, Ed’s Real Scoop got their first location in 2000 by the beach and quickly started to rack up lines, but the scoop is still worth the wait. Each Ed’s locations make their small batch menu in-house ensuring quality, plus their menu includes a list of standard flavors like Burnt Marshmellow, Mango Sorbet, and Pistacio Gelato.
Where: 189 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto
6. Death in Venice
A non-traditional shop serving up delicious traditional gelato. Gelato dates back to the 16th-century but Death by Venice is still finding ways to bring new and dynamic flavors–even vegan–from their lab to Toronto.
Where: 1418 Dundas St W