Artisan, hand-made or old-school. Taste your way through these delectable city scoop shops.

A red dessert taco filled with ice cream

Nibbles

Ice cream tacos are the sweet combo you didn't know you needed. Customisable waffle cones are crafted into fresh taco shells before your eyes, then creamy mixtures are chopped together on a cold plate to make perfectly cylindrical ice cream rolls. Choose flavours like red velvet, matcha fortune cookie, cookies and cream and more.

Two white cups willed with Asian-style ice cream

Beku Gelato

There's nothing quite like a fruity gelato on a summer's day. Beku, now on Lygon Street Carlton, creates natural handmade gelato with tropical flavours. With new, fresh flavours released each month, fan favourites like coconut sorbet won't last forever. Check out Beku's Instagram and see the changing menu via stories.

People lining up outside an ice cream shop with neon lighting.

Pidapipo Lygon Street

Pidapipo combines an Italian’s love of the ‘icy arts’ with a fondness for local ingredients. Handmade daily, the rotating selection of flavours are testament to their dessert obsession. Favourites include pistachio, blood orange and vanilla bean with honeycomb. Try out their new selection of cakes, perfect for birthdays and celebrations. Flavours include, banoffee pie, bombe Alaska and coconut cloud. Find them on Lygon Street in Carlton.

A cup of gelato topped with with sponge fingers, caramel and chocolate.

Kariton Sorbetes

Kariton Sorbetes is inspired by classic Filipino desserts with a unique twist. All the products are made from scratch, using the best quality ingredients. Try interesting flavours like turon. This banana gelato comes topped with muscovado butterscotch, jackfruit, candied sesame seeds and caramelised spring roll pastry. Or opt for a fresh sorbet like 'pinya't suha', a pineapple sorbet with zesty pomelo segments.

An ice cream in a cup, drizzled in chocolate.

Piccolina Gelateria

Found on the corner of Hardware Lane, the first CBD Piccolina store will not disappoint. Walk up the bluestone to the pastel-toned, Italian-style gelateria and you almost feel like you're in Europe. Our pick? Pistachio gelato, stacked with whipped cream and doused in Nutella swirl.  And yes, there's a free-flowing Nutella tap. For something a little extra, try out the gelato sandwiches and Nutella ice magic.

A hand holding a cone of vanilla gelato.

Gelateria Primavera

Gelateria Primavera does artisan gelato in the authentic Italian style – made from fresh, seasonal fruit. The gelato menu changes daily as the team create new flavour combos, like pistachio and cardamom. Stop into the gelato shop at the front of Spring Street Grocer for a scoop or two.

Blue tongs adding a chocolate brownie to cups of pink gelato.

1565

1565 is the year gelato was invented, and it's also the name of a seriously good ice cream spot. This Kensington cafe has mastered the art of gelato. Taste test inventive flavours, inspired by Italian cuisine. Try ricotta and honey; poached fig; orange and fennel or a refreshing watermelon and mint.

A person scooping ice cream into a tub with many different flavours in the background.

Il Dolce Freddo

Artisan Italian gelato with Asian-inspired flavours? Yum! Il Dolce Freddo on Lygon Street offers unique flavours like hibiscus latte with chilli choc chip, pandan and coconut, and matcha green tea. Be sure to try a scoop of the love-it-or-hate-it durian.

Three bowls of ice cream

PHAT fried ice cream

An old-school Chinese restaurant treat gets new life at Phat. Creamy scoops of vanilla ice cream are deep-fried in batter for a crisp coating. Topped with sweet indulgences like caramel sauce, popcorn and marshmallows, not for the faint hearted. Find it on weekends at Queen Victoria Market.

Someone pouring a pot of coffee over a cup of ice cream.

Geloso Gelateria

Take a break from your shopping at Queen Victoria Market and pop into Geloso Gelateria. The team make gelato in-house from recipes passed down three generations. Treat yourself to regulars like hazelnut and cherry ripe, or if you're lucky, the jam donut special is on the menu.

A double scoop ice cream in a cone.

Gelateria on The Docks

Who doesn’t need a treat right now? Gelateria on the Docks has cold comfort in 52 different delicious homemade flavours. Gluten and dairy-free options are very much on the menu. Foodie faves include vegan dark chocolate and rich licorice.

Casa del Gelato

Casa del Gelato

An award-winning gelati shop that has been making delicious ice cream on Lygon Street since 1980.

Gelatissimo

Gelatissimo

Fresh gelato in loads of flavours.

Barbarella Gelato and Wine

Barbarella Gelato and Wine

Premium gelato, perfect coffee and an excellent wine list all within the historic Block Arcade.

Pidapipo Gelateria

Pidapipo Gelateria

Authentic, artisanal Italian-style gelato in bustling Degraves Street.

Last updated on Mon 28 Aug 2023

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