Exploring the best of Toronto and Southern Ontario.

Happy Sunday, everyone – I hope you’re enjoying these long-awaited days of summer! The season is flying by as it always does, and here in the GTA, it’s definitely been a hot and humid one so far. And as far as I’m concerned, as soon as the humidex climbs into the mid-30s, it’s a perfectly acceptable excuse to eat ice cream for dinner!

All joking aside, there are few desserts I love more than ice cream. Not only is it the quintessential summer treat, but it can be enjoyed so many different ways: scoop or soft serve, cone or cup, refreshing gelato or decadent chocolate sundae… the list goes on. And whatever kind you prefer, Toronto’s sure to have a spot to cater to your tastes! In celebration of the summer, I’ve compiled a top-ten list of my favourite ice cream shops in the city. On this list, you’ll find a little bit of everything – from nostalgic classics to innovative creations – and I’m sure you’ll find just the right cone (or scoop, or sundae…) to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Arctic Bites – Founded in 2016, this Baldwin Village hotspot was Toronto’s first rolled ice cream shop, and it’s still one of the only few in the city that specialize in this unique dessert. If you’ve never tried rolled ice cream, you’re in for a treat! The concept originated in Thailand, and it’s also known as “stir-fried ice cream” because of the way it’s prepared. The ice cream is stirred, flash-frozen and rolled on a metal pan, in a process that resembles stir-frying – it’s quite fun to watch! The ice cream rolls are stacked vertically in a cup and decorated with your choice of toppings. Pictured here: the Love At First Bite (strawberry ice cream topped with sliced strawberries, strawberry Pocky, whipped cream and condensed milk drizzle) and the Tough Cookie (cookies & cream ice cream topped with whipped cream, Oreos and chocolate drizzle.)

The Big Chill – It’s only fitting that this ice cream parlour, named after the iconic 80s movie, delivers all the nostalgic vibes. They’ve been a Little Italy fixture for over a decade, and their interior is delightfully retro: think old-school diner booths, leather barstools, neon signs, candy-pink walls and a tin ceiling. They have over 30 flavours of ice cream and upwards of 20 different toppings, so you can customize your treat precisely to your liking. Flavours range from the classics, like mint chip and French vanilla, to more unique varieties like lavender lemonade, peanut butter salted pretzel, and black raspberry cheesecake. Pictured below is a scoop of their peach ice cream, which tastes just like a fuzzy peach candy! Bonus: all of their ice cream is served with a yummy chocolate wafer on top.

Butter Baker – Located in the heart of downtown near Yonge-Dundas Square, this bakery is as famous for their soft-serve ice cream and sorbet as they are for their delicious croissants, cookies and cakes. Both their ice creams and their waffle cones are made in-house. They introduce new feature flavours every month (right now it’s coconut ice cream and pina colada sorbet) and I highly recommend opting for a swirl cone so you can try both flavours at once. Plus, the feature flavours are usually designed to complement each other (I mean…coconut and pineapple…can you think of a better pairing!?) Pictured here is a vanilla-cantaloupe swirl – I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about cantaloupe ice cream, but it was surprisingly delicious!

The Fix Ice Cream Bar – Located along the Harbourfront, this popular spot is a convenient place to get your “fix” when out for a summer stroll along the water. They offer scoops, soft-serve, ice cream sandwiches and milkshakes, but their adorable sundae creations are their most popular (or at least most photographed!) item. Pictured below: the Love Is Love Sundae, featuring “unicorn” ice cream, birthday cake glaze, sprinkles and rainbow belt candy – the perfect treat for Pride Month (or anytime!) Next time, I want to try their signature Campfire Sundae: s’mores ice cream topped with burnt marshmallows, caramel flakes and a chocolate cookie. It looks so good!

Happy Sundae – With the stunning rainbow flower garland adorning its exterior, this King West ice cream shop is hard to miss! The interior is just as Insta-worthy, with pretty wallpaper, neon signs and faux floral accents. Happy Sundae’s soft serve is dairy-free, naturally low-fat, and made with minimal stabilizers, giving it a distinctly lighter, fresher taste than your typical ice cream. They have a bunch of fun, nostalgic toppings to choose from – I got Froot Loops! They’re also known for their house-made croffle bites (mini croissant waffles) – which you can also get in sundae form, because why not?

iHalo Krunch – This is arguably the most unique ice cream cone you’ll try in Toronto! iHalo’s unique, Asian-inspired soft serve flavours and charcoal cones make them a must-try for anyone who’s tired of the same old chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Their signature black waffle cones (naturally coloured via activated charcoal) are baked in-house daily, and they’re so good – definitely the best-tasting cones I’ve ever tried! Ice cream flavours include ube, matcha, charcoal coconut, pandan, strawberry milk, vegan mango, and Madagascar vanilla bean. And for the indecisive like me, fear not: you can get a twist of two, three, or even four flavours! My favourite is the ube, but charcoal coconut comes in a close second. iHalo Krunch has three locations in Toronto (Queen West, High Park and The Danforth) and one in Wasaga Beach.

La Diperie – This popular chain started in Montreal in 2013, and has since expanded to over 65 locations. Their claim to fame is – spoiler alert – their dips! With a huge selection of flavoured dips and toppings to choose from, this is where to go for a truly customizable treat. Forget plain old chocolate and butterscotch: La Diperie’s high-quality Belgian chocolate dips include cheesecake, maple, key lime, creme brulee, salted caramel, pistachio, tiramisu… the possibilities are endless. Toppings range from the classic (rainbow sprinkles, Smarties, shredded coconut) to the unique (cotton candy, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms) to the downright out-there (crunchy Cheetos, anyone??) Whatever your tastes, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your ice cream cravings at La Diperie.

Nadège – This French patisserie has five locations in Toronto (and one in Oakville) and is probably best-known for their exquisite macarons. But did you know that every summer, they open a pop-up ice cream shop at their Queen West location? Nadège’s French-style ice cream and sorbet is made by their in-house pastry chefs, using high-quality dairy from a small local farm. My favourite part about their ice cream? Each cone comes topped with miniature macarons for a truly decadent treat.

⁣⁣⁣⁣Roselle – From their exquisite eclairs to their gourmet gateaux, this Corktown bakery is known for its French-inspired desserts, made in house by Michelin-trained pastry chefs (and husband-and-wife team) Stephanie Duong and Bruce Lee. You may recall Roselle from my post rounding up my 10 favourite Toronto dessert shops! In addition to their (almost) too-pretty-to-eat pastries, Roselle is known for its Earl Grey soft serve, which they only offer for a few weeks each summer. Creamy, floral and decidedly unique, this ice cream is worth the wait!

Tom’s Dairy Freeze – If you’re looking for a classic ice cream joint that’s stood the test of time, look no further than Tom’s. This beloved Etobicoke spot has been around since 1969, and if the down-the-block lineups every summer evening are any indication, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. I’ve been going to Tom’s with my family since I was a kid, so it holds a special place in my heart! My go-to order is the rainbow flavour burst cone – and no, not just because it’s pretty! Each colour is actually a different fruit flavour, and it’s seriously delicious. Another favourite of mine: a blue raspberry dip cone, rolled in pecans. Sounds unconventional, but trust me – somehow it just works! Before you dig in, don’t forget to snap a photo of your ice cream with Tom’s iconic neon sign.

Well, there you have them… my 10 favourite ice cream shops in Toronto. I hope this post didn’t make anyone too hungry… but I do hope it gave y’all some inspiration for some new ice creameries to try this summer! Toronto has so many fabulous ones, and I’ve barely scratched the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended.)

What are some of your favourite ice cream spots in the GTA?