With summer in full (or maybe semi) swing, nothing satisfies a sweet tooth like ice cream. Vancouver is home to some renowned ice cream parlours. For an extra special summer treat head to one of these exceptional frozen dessert spots. Or better yet, go out on a tasting treasure hunt throughout the city!
>> Five places to grab a milkshake!
Ice cream YVR
Innocent Ice Cream
We love this adorable, gluten-free ice cream sandwich shop! Handmade, all natural flavours such as Coconut Rose, Chai, and Mystic, the Unicorn Ice Cream Sandwich (pictured) paired with non-dairy, egg-free cookies are a dream come true. Can’t make up your mind? Order a flight of minis – perfect for kids and sharing. Located on Main Street, it’s a convenient stop on your way to Queen Elizabeth Park or Nat Bailey Stadium.
Rain or Shine
Fresh, natural, sustainable whole ingredients are what define this family-owned gem. By partnering with local suppliers, Rain or Shine creates unique flavours like Coffee Toffee (with freshly roasted JJ Bean espresso beans) or Blueberry Balsamic (with organic blueberries from Hazelmere Organics Farms in Surrey and balsamic vinegar from the Vancouver Olive Oil Company). Check out their vegan, gluten-free and egg-free options at any of their three locations!
Mister – Artisan Ice Cream
Liquid nitrogen ice cream? Think richer, creamier, made-from-scratch deliciousness with natural ingredients sourced from local farmers. This is one ice cream shop you won’t want to miss! Located in Yaletown, a short walk from the Roundhouse Community Centre and oceanside David Lam Park.
Welcome Parlour
Serving naturally delicious, hand-crafted, small batch artisan ice cream is a time-honoured tradition for this North Vancouver joint located in the super cool Shipyards. Dig into a flight of fresh flavours! Feeling nostalgic? Share a milkshake, batch of candy, or ice cream float and watch the world go by. Open every day in the summer!
La Casa Gelato
This list would not be complete without mentioning this legendary gelateria on Venables. Open until 11 pm seven days a week, you can always count on La Casa to satisfy a late-night craving. With 238 flavours, half the fun is finding your favourite and daring a sample of Durian, Purple Yam, Wasabi, or Pear Gorgonzola.
Earnest Ice Cream
Legions of fans can’t be wrong. And if they are, we don’t wanna be right. The standard by which all artisanal ice cream is measured, Earnest Ice Cream is a must for ice cream fans. Local ingredients, insanely original combinations (as in the aforementioned), summer isn’t complete without a visit to Earnest.
Banter Ice Cream
Based in Abbotsford, Banter was inspired by a love for light-hearted conversation and really good ice cream. All of their ice cream is made in-house, and they source as many ingredients from the Fraser Valley as possible. With flavours like Blueberry Basil and Strawberry Elderflower, this is truly ice cream worth talking about!
You missed La Glace on 16th and MacDonald- they have amazing ice cream!