Where to Find the Best Ice Cream in Toronto: My Tested & Approved Spots

Table of Contents Hide

Ice Creamonology
Ed’s Real Scoop
Mizzica Gelateria & Cafe
The Big Chill
Lulu’s Gelato Bike
Summer’s Ice Cream
The Sweet Scoop
Nani’s Gelato
Scooped by Demetres

I don’t know about you, but for me summer means walks along the lake. Early evening, when the temperature starts to cool down a little and the sun sets over Lake Ontario. And during those walks I have one essential accessory: an ice cream in hand. The scenery can change, we might be strolling through one of Toronto’s beautiful parks, but the accessory never does. And since I’m sure I’m not alone in this, I’ve put together a list of the best ice cream spots in Toronto. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments so I can explore more options and neighbourhoods to grow this list!

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Ice Creamonology

If you’ve ever walked along Lake Ontario near Harbourfront, you’ve probably seen the line outside this very popular Toronto ice cream shop: Ice Creamonology. As you can imagine, the constant crowd isn’t just because of the prime location. Their ice cream is truly delicious and the portions are generous. I love the mango and brownie/chocolate combo. Yes, I’m one of those people who mixes flavours that maybe don’t always go together haha.

Address: 250 Queens Quay W

Ed’s Real Scoop

A Toronto classic! From the east to the west of the city, you’ll find 3 locations to enjoy Ed’s Real Scoop. A true ice cream lover, Ed arrived in Toronto just before the year 2000. He dreamed of ice cream but couldn’t find what he was looking for. After a year of testing his creations on neighbours and friends, he took the leap. The first shop opened in The Beaches, followed by 2 more Toronto locations and a fourth in Mimico.

Address: 920 Queen St E, 2370 Lake Shore Blvd W & 2224 Queen St E

Mizzica Gelateria & Cafe

If you’ve ever walked along Queen West and John St on a hot summer day, you’ve probably spotted the lineup at the corner. And you’ve undoubtedly wondered: is this ice cream really worth waiting that long? Well, first of all, their team is super quick, the wait isn’t actually that bad. Especially if you’re with good company and chatting away, the time flies. The space is tiny but they have a cute little patio outside if you can snag a spot. Oh and yes, it’s worth it!

Address: 307 Queen St W & 2375 Yonge St

The Big Chill

This recommendation comes from my partner. He took me there several times during the pandemic. We’d grab an ice cream and walk the streets (if you were in Toronto at the time, you know we all became serious walkers). I love the vibe, it’s a retro shop that looks absolutely cool. It might be one of the options on this list with the most variety: you can choose from 30 flavours! I also love the street art on the walls around the shop.

Address: 566 College St

Lulu’s Gelato Bike

For this ice cream option, you’ll have to put in a little work. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt. The Lulu’s Gelato bikes move along the lake and sometimes venture into the city. You can’t miss them with their pretty turquoise blue and parasol. Flavours change regularly and are always original. You can even hire them to serve gelato at one of your events! Their favourite spot to hang out is Sugar Beach, that’s a good place to start looking!

Address: The bike moves around, check their Instagram stories to find them.

Summer’s Ice Cream

I lived near Yonge and Bloor for several years, so of course I have recommendations for the best ice cream around Yorkville! This shop has been serving ice cream at the same address for over 40 years! Yes, you read that right. Imagine all the sweet-tooths they’ve served since then. Incredible. I love doing this kind of research and reading the stories behind the owners. They wanted to offer homemade ice cream with a village feel, bringing back the spirit of their hometown, a family tradition rooted in Czechoslovakia, from the city of Košice. A must-visit on our list of the best ice cream in Toronto. Good luck choosing from the 26 flavours!

Address: 101 Yorkville Ave

The Sweet Scoop

We continue our tour of the best ice cream spots in Toronto, and we’re staying by the lake (I wasn’t lying, I really do love eating ice cream by Lake Ontario). Head to Yonge and Queens Quay, where the little shop The Sweet Scoop sits at the base of a condo building, offering both ice cream and gelato: something to satisfy every sweet tooth. Why do they offer both? Because in their family, some people love ice cream and others prefer gelato, and they were always having to visit two shops to keep everyone happy. They decided to open their own place so others wouldn’t have to. That’s exactly the situation with my partner and me, which makes this spot perfect for us.

Address: 16 Yonge St A

Nani’s Gelato

This is the only spot on this list with locations across multiple Canadian provinces, though mainly in Ontario. Be patient if you visit the location at Yonge and Bloor, the lineup can get a bit long. But in my opinion, that’s always a good sign! Enjoy.

Address: 6 Charles St E & 120 Lynn Williams St Unit 2B

Scooped by Demetres

We’re changing neighbourhoods and heading to the Distillery District for a sweet stop. Scooped offers homemade ice cream with creative flavours. They have several locations in Toronto, but the one I visited is in the Distillery District, a place I love in Toronto. The perfect spot to grab an ice cream and wander around. You’ll see what I mean.

Address: 46 Gristmill Lane (Distillery District), 113 Fort York Blvd (City Place), 499 Richmond St W (Waterworks).

I hope this list (far from exhaustive, of course!) of the best ice cream spots in Toronto helps make your summer walks even sweeter. If you have other suggestions, I’m all ears, always curious to discover new spots! If you’re looking for more Toronto recommendations, check out my article on the best coffee shops in Toronto or the most beautiful spots to photograph the CN Tower.