The Best Ice Cream in Toronto

Nostalgia is served up one scoop at a time at this homegrown chain with multiple locations across the city. Churning small batches the old-school way, the team pumps out a whopping 150 flavours of ice cream, gelato, yogurt and sorbet that rotate throughout the year. With toasty notes of caramel and campfire, Burnt Marshmallow is peak summertime. 

This spot more than makes up for its crippling effect on Ossington foot traffic with inspired ice creams ladled into cups, cones and homemade treats. Choose between chewy cookies, craquelin-topped profiteroles or one of a half dozen other vessels, then mull over flavours like Boba Popa Milk Tea and Miso Mon Cherry. Play it safe with recommended pairings, or live a little. 

Zany concoctions begin with buckets of real cream and end with plumes of cotton candy at this colourful St. Clair West shop. Family-run since 1985, it's perfumed with house-made waffle cones and invigorated by the energy of littles trusted with towering treats. Though single scoops are always on offer, few orders are quite as memorable as a Royal Dutch Banana Split built in a crispy waffle boat. 

A simple custard base begets a tribe of ultra-rich ice creams at this homegrown chain. Churned from local dairy and yolks, the menu of seasonal and signature treats features a whack of Asian flavours alongside nostalgic faves. Dive into a cup of Oolong or Pandan on-site, then tuck a pint of Burnt Honey Cornbread under your arm to cart home. Made with the same care, sans the custard, vegan flavours ensure nobody has to miss out.

From Moose Tracks to Muskoka Mocha, this Bobcaygeon import scoops all the must-haves devoted fans expect. A first Toronto location for the popular brand, it's the spot to find all the basics—from kiddie cones to milkshakes—plus the added benefit of freezers lined with 1.5L tubs of almost every flavour to take home. 

A pandemic-era pivot morphed into multi-branch business, this spot trades in small-batch custard-based ice creams, plus sub sandwiches and baked goods. Comfort food in frozen form, the team's cheffy creations include Black Garlic Miso Caramel, Kalamansi Pie and the eye-opening Runner's High. Devotion to add-ins—from crackly cookie crumbles to sticky nubs of popcorn—makes every scoop feel like a hunt for buried treasure.

Made with nary an animal product, the frozen creations at this Dundas West destination prove that vegans have just as much fun as their cream-guzzling counterparts. Quintessential warm-weather treats, they cover cravings for refreshment or indulgence with flavours from Field Berry Crumble to Peanut Butter Saltine. Beyond scoops and pints, the team's ice cream novelties leave patrons weak in the knees.

After doing damage at Yorkville's luxe boutiques, the well-heeled revive over hefty scoops from this unassuming shop. Classic flavours appeal to traditionalists, with generous portions charming everyone who walks through the door. Though the small space wasn't made for lounging, the area is a rambler's paradise.

Deep devotion to sweets is the throughline at this Brockton Village spot, where layer cakes, fresh-baked cookies and snack cakes vie for attention with Philly-style ice cream. Made from an eggless base, the team's scoops blend nostalgic global flavours with a sprinkling of whimsy, whether you go in for Jasmine Taro or Banana Cream Pie.