Looking for Melbourne's best gelato and ice cream shops? Artisan, hand-made or old-school. Taste your way through these delectable city scoop shops.

Melbourne's best gelato shops

Brunetti Classico

Forget the ice cream cart, Brunetti Classico has opened an entire gelato bar on Lygon Street! That Gelato Bar is a sweet little pastel pink space, packed to the brim with 24 flavours. Dig into a cup of refreshing Sicilian lemon granita. Or order scoops of your quintessential summer gelato flavours.

A trio of colourful gelato cups with heart shaped wafers.

7 Apples Gelato QV Melbourne

7 Apples Gelato has opened a swirl station at QV Melbourne. Find the neon-lit store on Red Cap Lane and try a slew of exclusive flavours. There's classic Italian and Asian fusion flavours to choose from. Will it be dark choc and raspberry or coconut pandan jam? Go wild at the topping bar or add a drizzle from the Nutella fountain.

Gacha Cafe

This tiny cafe does gelato the Japanese way. That is, wrapped in warabi mochi or drizzled in matcha tea! Order traditional Japanese flavours like yuzu, black sesame and hojicha. Or try refreshing bingsu. When you've finished your sweets, visit the gacha vending machines to score cute capsule toys.

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 the team's dessert obsession. Order pistachio, fior de latte or rockmelon sorbetto. Try out the selection of cakes, perfect for birthdays and celebrations. Flavours include banoffee pie, bombe Alaska tiramisu and more.

A narrow ice cream shop with a domed concrete ceiling and projections on the walls.

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 caramel, jackfruit, candied sesame seeds and caramelised spring roll pastry. Or opt for a fresh sorbet with pink guava.

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.

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 love a treat? 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.

Melbourne's best ice cream shops and pop-ups

Marameo

A sundae bar is popping up at this Italian restaurant for a limited time only. Visit Marameo this December to try old-school treats. Think gelato sandwiches, pavlova sundaes and Ferrero Rocher ice cream with hot fudge. Thirsty? The adults-only drinks menu includes frozen watermelon cosmos and the sgroppino-inspired 'LimonCHILLo'.

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.

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.

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Green Cup

Green Cup

Specialising in smoothies, acai bowls, smashed avo and raw snacks.

Oakberry

Oakberry

Discover the real Brazilian açai bowls experience.

Yo-Chi

Yo-Chi

Fully customisable frozen yoghurt masterpieces.

llaollao Hardware Lane

llaollao Hardware Lane

Europe's number one natural frozen yogurt comes to Melbourne.

Last updated on Wed 13 Dec 2023

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