The best ice cream in London: 16 ice cream parlours for sunny days
As soon as you mention the word ‘heatwave’ in the capital, Londoners flock to the beer gardens, the rooftop bars – and the ice cream parlours. But where can you find the best cream in London? We round up the 16 best spots for a cone of your favourite flavour.
How we choose the best ice cream in London
All of the ice cream parlours and gelaterias recommended here have been visited by a member or members of the Condé Nast Traveller team, who have tried more than one flavour to sample the best each shop has to offer. Some serve classic Italian gelato, while others take a different approach – but all offer delicious flavours, creamy textures and fun specials.
1. Badiani 1932, across London
Nearly a century of expertise goes into the gelato at Badiani 1932 – and it shows. First started by Idilio Badiani in Florence in the 1930s, the business (and the family recipes) have been passed through generations in Italy before launching in London in 2015. Now, there are Badiani outposts in Notting Hill, Chelsea, Angel, Mayfair, Covent Garden and beyond. The team here have trademarked their signature flavour Buontalenti: made in a puritanical fashion with milk, cream, sugar and eggs. This is the base for punchy flavours such as pistachio and our favourite, la dolce vita (with hazelnut and chocolate sauce).
Website: badiani1932.com
2. Happy Endings, stockists across London and the UK
What's better than ice cream? Ice cream sandwiched between biscuits, of course. Award-winning baker Terri Mercieca launched Happy Endings in 2014, combining creamy ice cream with funky cookie flavours and wrapping them in cute paper. The team favourite is The Malty One: malted milk parfait between oaty biscuits and malt crumbs; half-dipped in 55 per cent milk chocolate. The Naughty One (miso salt caramel parfait between slices of chocolate Guinness cake and soy dulce de leche) divided opinions – some loved the salty, punchy flavours, while others found it too strong. A sure-fire crowd-pleaser is Milk It: fresh milk ice cream with 70 per cent chocolate chip cookie and Maldon sea salt.
Website: happyendingsldn.com
3. Matter at Hand, Bloomsbury
Matter at Hand's branding has to be some of the chicest in London, so it's no surprise that the team describe the concept as the intersection of ice cream, art, and design. All is pared-back and beautiful – but the flavours are less classic than you might expect. We tried a handful: the outright winner was the black sesame, while the basil and lemon curd (yes, really) came a close second. Some of the flavours won't be for everyone – the brown butter roasted sweetcorn, for example, was the favourite of some while ranking last for others.
Address: Matter at Hand, Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom
Website: matter-at-hand.com
4. Chin Chin Dessert Club, Soho
Creative and innovative or mad genius? However you look at it, Chin Chin is doing something different to most ice-cream parlours in London. Small batches here are frozen ultra-quickly with liquid nitrogen. That means the smooth and creamy flavours have been made just 10 minutes earlier – or seconds earlier in the case of Chin Chin Labs, the original outpost in Camden where each scoop is frozen to order. Flavours range from classic to wild card: ingredients are whipped up in the kitchen downstairs and include brȗléed sweetcorn ( “an acquired taste”, founder Nyisha Weber tells us), refreshing mango lassi and pandan fruit, an Asian staple that tastes surprisingly like cake batter. At Soho’s cute Chin Chin Dessert Club, you can take a scoop away, or order a full-on pudding to eat in. We recommend the banana-jam ice-cream pie, with a layer of biscuit, burnt-caramel ice cream and warm toffee sauce; or the cookie pie, made with melting chocolate cookie and topped with tonka-bean ice cream.
Address: The Chin Chin Club, 54 Greek Street, London W1D 3DS
Website: chinchinicecream.com5. Oddono’s, South Kensington
Gelato purists will be drawn to the classic recipes made from fresh ingredients at Oddono’s artisan laboratory in South Kensington. The pistachio is not to be missed; while traditional flavours such as chocolate and hazelnut are also firm favourites among fans, but there are more unique options to choose from too. The brand has been known to experiment with basil, lemon and vodka, and honey, and there’s always a selection of sorbets for those who prefer fruitier flavours. Stores are nicely spread throughout London, with outposts in South Kensington, Hampstead, Battersea, East Dulwich, Chiswick, Stoke Newington and Wimbledon.
Address: Oddono’s, 14 Bute Street, London SW7 3EX
Website: oddonos.com
6. Milk Train, Covent Garden
The treats at this Covent Garden café dedicated to all things sugary are every bit as photogenic as the shop itself. Soft-serve ice cream in Crayola colours topped with the sweets of kids’ and big kids’ dreams and cones wrapped in fizzy candy floss are Milk Train’s main draw. The interiors are equally saccharine, with pristine white walls and counters, powder-blue leather booths and a Metro tile sign on one wall. It’s over the top, but whoever wanted a serious ice-cream parlour?
Address: Milk Train, 12 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PH
Website: milktraincafe.com
7. Soft Serve Society, Shoreditch
This stripped-back pudding bar was inspired by the epic soft-serve parlours of Asia’s frenetic cities. Flavours are unusual: the black-sesame ice cream (served in a black cone) is a staple, while sundaes are served in sturdier tubs to accommodate the many toppings. Choose from honeycomb chunks, Oreos, gingerbread chunks and loads more. After a successful residency turned permanent home at at Shoreditch’s Boxpark, the team are now also at Seven Dials Market.
Address: Soft Serve Society, Unit 35 Boxpark, 2-10 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6GY
Website: softservesociety.com8. Romeo & Giulietta Artisan Gelateria, Stoke Newington
Owners Ciprian and Iuliana are Romanian, not Roman – but the couple honed their gelato knowledge in Verona before moving to this leafy north London suburb. On sunshiny days, queues snake around the block for flavours such as ricotta with caramelised figs or black cherry praline.
Address: Romeo & Giulietta Artisan Gelateria, 137 Albion Rd, Stoke Newington, London N16 9JU
Website: gelateriarg.co.uk
9. Grom, Piccadilly
The Piccadilly outpost of Grom is the first UK branch of an Italian favourite that has more than 60 stores at home. Walk around the circular gelato counter to ogle classic flavours (no messing with tradition here) of pistachio, chocolate, coffee and stracciatella, as well as the signature crema di Grom (pastry cream with Meliga biscuits and chocolate pieces). All the ingredients are natural, and the mango sorbet is a refreshing summer-time highlight.
Address: Grom, 18 Piccadilly, London W1J 0DF
Website: grom.it/en
10. Gelupo, Soho
Hidden down an unassuming street in the depths of Soho, Gelupo has become an evergreen hit on the London ice-cream scene. The little sister of Bocca di Lupo (the top-notch Italian just over the road) offers brilliant gelato, sorbet and granita. Flavours include peanut butter and blueberry, strawberry sherbet and a surprisingly tasty and super-creamy olive oil and rosemary. Take a number at the door and join the queue to try before you buy.
Address: Gelupo, 7 Archer Street, London W1D 7AU
Website: gelupo.com11. Ruby Violet, King's Cross
The crew at Ruby Violet were forced to close their doors in the original Tufnell Park outpost in 2021 due to rising rents and the uncertainty of the pandemic. But never fear: their King's Cross sister branch is still going strong. Top a scoop of your favourite flavour with honeycomb, almond brittle or mini meringues, drench it in hot salted caramel or pop it on the side of a slice of cake.
Address: Ruby Violet, Midland Goods Shed, 3 Wharf Road, N1C 4BZ
Website: rubyviolet.co.uk
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Facebook.com/Gelateria3BISUk12. 3Bis Gelateria, Borough Market
The only thing better than gelato in a sun-drenched Italian seaside town is the very same gelato served in London's oldest market. The second branch of Rimini's 3Bis Gelateria is Borough Market's most indulgent late-night hangout (open until 11pm in summer). Favourites include panna cotta and marscapone and fig, while in summer, Eton mess and raspberry sell fast. There's also frozen yoghurt from neighbour Neal's Yard Dairy, homemade tiramisu and Magnum-style gelato lollipops.
Address: 3Bis Gelateria, 4 Park Street, Southwark, London SE1 9AH
Website: gelateria3bis.co.uk
13. La Gelatiera, Covent Garden
La Gelatiera is all about experimentation, but don't be frightened by the playful flavour combinations. Porcini mushroom chocolate cream is sweeter than it sounds, while basil and chilli is like a creamy palate cleanser. Honey, rosemary and orange zest (pictured) is the best seller, or go for a boozy kick with a sorbet (Mojito, peach Bellini).
Address: La Gelatiera, 27 New Row, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4LA
Website: lagelatiera.co.uk
14. Morelli's Gelato, Covent Garden
The recipe for Morelli's gelato has been perfected over five generations: the first shop opened on Broadstairs seafront in 1932 and is still in business. Fortunately for Londoners, there's also an offshoot in Covent Garden (as well as 17 others around the world). Pick from a daily selection of 20 flavours, but you can't go wrong with the classics such as hazelnut and chocolate
Address: Morelli's Gelato, The Market, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8RB
Website: morellisgelato.com
15. Snowflake Luxury Gelato, Soho
There are branches of Snowflake all across town, from Bayswater to Soho, so you're never far from a spoiling gelato. It's made with organic Jersey milk and the flavours have won multiple taste awards; for something more unusual, go for tortadellanona (based on an Italian custard dessert), or white chocolate and rosewater. The sorbetto include tangy lime and mint, and zingy blood orange.
Address: Snowflake Luxury Gelato, 102 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 0TP
Website: snowflakegelato.co.uk
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16. Gelateria Danieli, Richmond
A little further out of town on Richmond Green in south-west London, Gelateria Danieli can claim to be slightly more health-conscious than your standard gelato shop. Here the fat content is between 5 and 10 per cent (it's usually 15-25 per cent). So there's an excuse to go for a double scoop. Stand-out flavours include cardamon and chocolate, pistachio, fig, mandarin and tiramisu.
Address: Gelateria Danieli, 16 Brewers Lane, Richmond, TW9 1HH
Website: gelateriadanieli.com