Best Ice Cream in Toronto 2024 You Must Try Now
Looking for the best ice cream in Toronto? This is the only guide you will need. While it’s definitely the ultimate summer treat, here in Canada we eat ice cream all year round. In fact, some of these places listed below are so good that you’ll often seen line ups around the block – even during the dead of winter when it is -40 degrees celsius out.
Are you maybe looking for some gelato instead? Gelato is definitely ice cream’s European cousin. It’s made with milk instead of cream, tends to have less air than ice cream (making it more dense), but is equally as good. If you’re looking for gelato head on over to this page to check out the best of the best in Toronto.
But if classic ice cream is what you’re after then keep on reading. Toronto has no shortage of good ice cream no matter where in the city you are.
Best Ice Cream in Toronto
Ruru Baked – Best Ice Cream Toronto Parkdale
Ruru baked is the one of the best spots for ice cream in Toronto. It’s located in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood and right around the corner from one of Toronto’s best Italian restaurants, Sugo.
Their slogan is “The best ice cream in the galaxy”, and while I haven’t tried every ice cream in the galaxy it’s definitely damn delicious.
Ruru baked makes a custard based ice cream which means they have a higher percentage of egg yolk compared to regular ice cream. This makes it smoother and creamier and just as delicious.
Ruru baked in particular is famous for their creative flavour offerings and generous mix-ins. There’s no skimping out here! They have everything from classic flavours like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, to flavour offerings that represent cultures from all over the world.
In fact, Ruru baked is so well known that despite being a single small batch local operation they’ve partnered with huge brands like Adidas, Levis, and the Toronto Symphony.
Be sure to check their website or their instagram to see which flavour are available daily.
Brett’s Ice Cream – Best Ice Cream in Scarborough
Brett’s Ice Cream was originally located in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood but has since relocated to Scarborough at Kingston Road & McCowan Road. Still, it’s worth the trip a little more east
Brett’s is known for their well made all-natural ice creams and their flavoured cake batter cones. They even have several vegan options in the form of sorbets as well as gluten-free options for their cones.
Their flavours rotate daily so make sure you call ahead to see what they’re scooping that day. They also have a wide variety of pastries as well as hot and cold beverages available.
Dutch Dreams – Best Ice Cream Toronto St. Clair West
Dutch Dreams is considered an ice cream institution in Toronto. Located in Toronto’s St Clair West neighbourhood at Bathurst it is just as well known for it’s colourful & whimsical interior as it is for it’s fun and delicious ice cream flavours.
With endless topping options that range from candies, to chocoates, to fruits, and even cotton candy there isn’t anything your mind can’t come up with that they can’t create here. The same goes with their waffle cones which are sprinkled generously with the same topping offerings and draped in chocoalte.
They have a wide variety of flavours here available as well and they make their own ice cream with premium and kosher ingredients.
Locals also love the generous portions here so come prepared for the giant scoops at this shop!
Milkcow Cafe – Best Soft Serve Ice Cream Toronto
Milkcow Cafe is located in Toronto’s mid-town area between Yonge & Eglinton and Yonge & Lawrence area. It is a Korean dessert cafe that also has the most delicous milk soft serve ice cream.
Unsurprisingly you can find a wide variety of Asian flavours as well as classic ones here. The toppings are also plentiful and range from honeycomb, to tapioca boba or bubbles.
During the summer they are also famous for their watermelon soft serve that is sandwiched in between a thick slice of watermelon.
Bang Bang Ice Cream – Best Ice Cream Toronto Ossington
Bang Bang Ice Cream is one of the best ice cream spots in Toronto. In fact, it’s pretty legendary. It’s not uncommon to see lineups around the block for this spot, even during the dead of winter when it’s -40 degrees celsius outside.
They are well known for serving their ice cream inside a hong kong style egg waffle, although you can also get a classic cone, sugar cone, waffle cone, or even a cup if you choose. People here also love the ice cream sandwiches where you can choose your flavours and the type of cookie you’d like. Both the cookies and ice cream are made in-house.
The flavours here rotate daily. You can find a wide variety of Asian inspired flavours as well as unique offerings like avocado and sour sop.
Make sure you come as early as possible to avoid line ups and possible disappointment if they sell out!
Roselle – Best Soft Serve Ice Cream Toronto King East
Roselle is a very well known pastry shop in Toronto. In fact, their pastries are some of the best in the city. They only open 3 days per week and without fail there will be lineups around the block for a taste of their extremely tasty goods.
In addition to pastries they also have soft serve ice cream which is some of the best in Toronto. Their earl grey soft serve is well loved by locals and for a few extra dollars you can get it “leveled up” with white chocolate crispy pearls, lemon curd, and a earl grey shortbread cookie added. You’ll definitely want to do this. Trust me.
There is only one flavour of soft serve available at a time here since they are a small operation that doesn’t specialize in ice cream. They occasionally swap out the flavours depending on what is in season. Think strawberry parfait and peaches and cream during the summer months.
The only downside here is that their soft serve ice cream is seasonal. So if you’re lucky to snag some during the warmer months make sure you do so along with some of their pastries. Be sure to check out their instagram for the latest in what they’re offering for both ice cream and pastries.
Butter Baker – Best Soft Serve Ice Cream Toronto Eaton Center
Butter Baker is another one of those wonderful Toronto pastry shops that also happens to have some amazing soft serve ice cream. Located across the street from Toronto Eaton Center right at Yonge & Dundas it’s also easy to get to.
Their soft serve ice cream is all natural and made with fresh ingredients. They only feature 1-2 flavours at a time though and they rotate based on what is in season.
They also somehow manage to get that picture perfect swirl every single time too.
Be sure to check out some of their other pastries while you are here as well. Their croissants are exceptional, as are their cakes. You can read more about Butter Baker here as well.
Ed’s Real Scoop
Ed’s Real Scoop has multiple locations throughout Toronto including Leslieville, The Beaches, Roncesvalles, and Etobicoke.
All of their ice cream and waffle cones are made in-house and the flavours range from traditional to super unique!
It’s another one of those spots that are considered to be an institution. In addition to making some of the creamiest ice cream in Toronto they also make gelato and sorbets which are vegan friendly as well.
Be sure to try out their burnt marshmallow ice cream. It taste’s exactly like a s’more but without the camping required.
Bakerbots Baking
Bakerbots Baking is a small but mighty in taste and flavour. They carry a wide range of classic baked goods, beverages, and of course ice cream!
They are famous for their ice cream sandwiches although you can also get your ice cream scooped into a classic cone or cup as well.
Everything is made in-house and you can select which cookies you want to pair with your ice cream to make the ultimate ice cream sandwiches.
Popular flavours include their earl grey and the chocolate peanut butter, but there’s a huge variety to choose from.
Booyah Ice Cream
Booyah ice cream is located in Toronnto’s St. Clair West neighbourhood and just a short distance from Casa Loma. It’s also around the corner from another Toronto ice cream favourite Dutch Dreams, listed above.
They have plenty of flavours to choose from and give you the option of getting your ice cream in cones, cups, ice cream cookie sandwiches, and even a waffle taco! Yes a waffle cone shaped like a taco that you can fill with different flavours of ice cream.
In addition to ice cream you can also get shakes and vegan sorbets.
Taverne Bernhardt’s
Taverne Bernhardt’s is actually a really popular restaurant that is famous for their roasted chicken. The food here in general is pretty phenomenal.
However, they also have amazing ice cream here as well. The flavour changes depending on what is in season but it’s truly a delight not matter what they’re offering.
It’s soft serve style and is always swirled perfectly into a coupe dessert glass and topped with toppings that compliment the current flavour offering. It looks like the ice cream sundae of your childhood fantasies but with grown-up taste.
So, sit yourself down for some of their famous roasted chicken and order the ice cream, or coupe glacée (French for ice cream in a bowl) as it appears on their menu.
Bar 32 – Best Ice Cream Toronto Summerhill
Bar 32 originally took over what was much the once beloved Summerhill ice cream shop “My Favourite Ice Cream”. They have since moved down the block to Coco’s Market.
They are well known for their artisanal ice cream bars which are hand made as well as their ice cream scoops. Daily flavour offerings can be found on their website.
The bad thing about this place though is that it is seasonal only. So make sure you try it out before the summer is over and you have to wait until next year!
Happy Sundae – Best Vegan Soft Serve Ice Cream Toronto
Happy Sundae is located in Toronto’s king west neighbourhood on Portland Street.
It’s a fun and whimsical shop with a neon signage and floral decor. While this shop isn’t specifically vegan they do offer vegan soft serve in a variety of flavours as well as in a classic vanilla/chocolate twist.
The flavour (both vegan and non-vegan) rotate daily and they have flavoured cones, classic waffle, or cups.
iHalo Krunch
iHalo Krunch has multiple locations in Toronto including Queen West, Danforth, Bloor West, and Vaughn.
They originally rose to fame with their activated charcoal soft serve as well as activated charcoal cones. If black is your colour their ice cream will definitely coordinate with your outfits.
They do however have several flavours available like matcha, ube, taro, strawberry, pandan and even classic vanilla. You can get flavours solo or twisted together.
Dairy Freeze
Tom’s Dairy Freeze has been serving classic soft serve for over 50 years since 1969. It’s a walk up counter that hasn’t changed since the opening and definitely has the old-school original retro feel. It’s reminiscent of the drive-up diners of the 1950s but without the driving part.
They’re known for their endless and over the top soft serve offerings. They have every sort of topping imaginable and the soft serve is piled sky-high.
Their soft serve is what they’re famous for but you can also get classic ice cream, shakes, slush floats, and funnel cakes.
Summer’s Ice Cream – Best Ice Cream Toronto Yorkville
Summer’s ice cream is located in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood. It’s easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for though since you need to walk down a stairs where it is semi-hidden below street level. Despite their semi-hidden location they’ve been open since 1984 and serving some of Toronto’s most delicious ice cream for almost 40 years now.
It’s good. Damn good. It’s beloved by locals everywhere for being creamy and high on flavour impact. Pistachio and toffee are some favourites but there’s plenty of flavours to choose from whether you like chocolate, fruity, or candy like confections.
They also serve sorbets if you are vegan and even have the famous Dole Whip!
Tsujiri
Tsujiri is a Japanese dessert shop that focuses on flavours popular in Japan like matcha, adzuki, yuzu, houjicha, kinako, and plenty of others. They have locations across Canada, and in Japan of course, but two specifically here in Ontario.
Needless to say their ice cream is amazing and also infused with Japanese flavours and toppings. Locals love the rich tasting and flavourful soft serve they have here.
They also have a wide range of Japanese infused beverages as well as pastries like Japanese cheesecake and daifuku.
Gia – Best Vegan Ice Cream Toronto
Gia is a plant-forward Italian restaurant in the Dundas West area of Toronto. It has a wide offering of vegan menu items as well as vegetarian items that can be made vegan upon request. It’s so good though that it’s definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto.
For dessert though they have an affogato on the menu. Vegan ice cream is served with a shot of espresso that you can pour over your scoops. The vegan ice cream here is so creamy and dreamy you won’t even miss the dairy.
Prime Seafood
Like Gia, Taverne Bernhardt’s, Roselle, and many others listed above this is another place that isn’t an ice cream shop but still has amazing ice cream.
Even though the name would indicate otherwise Prime Seafood Palace is a steak house with a healthy amount of seafood offerings. It’s also extremely price. Come with deep pockets.
The dessert menu features rotating flavours of ice cream though and they are spectacular. They make them in-house and are some of the smoothest scoops with intense flavour you’ll ever have.
Bakerbots Baking – Best Ice Cream Toronto Bloor West
Bakerbots Baking is located in Toronto’s Bloor West neighbourhood close to Parkdale.
They make fresh in-house made pastries and you can even use their homemade cookies to request as part of an ice cream sandwich. They have a select list of flavours to choose from daily and usually offer a few vegan ice cream options as well.
Besides their ice cream locals also really love the butter tarts, cinnamon buns, and brownies from this local bakery.
Sweet Jesus
Sweet Jesus ice cream originally started as an offshoot of La Carnita, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Toronto.
It’s since then taken on a life of it’s own with it’s popular soft serves, although they do also sell shakes, cakes, frappes, hot chocolate, and baked goods.
Their soft serves have definitely gained social media notoriety with they over the top toppings. Popular flavours include the Krusty the Kone which is adorned with cotton candy to look like Krusty the Clown, Birthday Cake with has funfetti cake pieces and a lit candle, and Rocky Road Rage that is covered with oreos, marshmallows, chocolate sauce, walnut & cashews.
Good Behaviour
Good Behaviour has two locations in Toronto and is equal parts ice cream shop and sub sandwich shop.
They have a wide variety of flavours that rotate regularly and offer options that are also vegan and/or gluten free.
Popular flavours here include their strawberry cheesecake and the chocolate peanut butter. They also sell their popular ice cream in pints that you can take home and enjoy whenever you crave.
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