One of the most refreshing things to do in the summer is cool down with an ice cream cone. Ottawa has so many great spots full of unique creations and flavours. Here are the top Ottawa ice cream spots:
Byward Market
Mantovani 1946
87 Murray Street
This gelato spot is straight from Italy. This award-winning gelato spot has such a nice atmosphere and plenty of flavours to choose from. Take your ice cream to Majors Hill Park and take in the view of Parliament, Ottawa River and National Art Gallery.
Chris’s Ice Cream
Enjoy ice cream, sorbet, and dairy-free options at this Ottawa ice cream spot. At Chris’s Ice Cream, choose from multiple ice cream styles including ice creams made from coffee, cereal milk, and more. You’ll find vegan options here.
Hintonburg Ice Cream
Little Jo Berry’s
1305 Wellington West
Not only can you enjoy ice cream at Little Jo Berry’s but they have plenty of delicious pastries and more! Everything they do is vegan friendly. You can get Oat and Mill ice cream here. Something unique about this Ottawa ice cream spot is that you can get soft serve in a watermelon slice instead of a cone!
Merry Dairy
102 Fairmont Avenue
The Merry Dairy has frozen custard and lots of delicious ice cream flavours like roasted banana or cookies and cream. This Ottawa ice cream spot started as a food truck and was so popular they planted their roots in Hintonburg. Enjoy it at one of their picnic tables or explore Hintonburg.
Centretown
Pascale’s (Pre-Order Only Right Now)
571 Gladstone Avenue
This Ottawa ice cream spot has lots of fun flavours including peanut butter salted caramel, white chocolate pistachio, multiple vegan options and more. Find Pascale’s at their location in Centretown as well as the Lansdowne Farmer’s Market (where you can try their goat cheese ice cream).
Bank Street Ice Cream
Magic Molecule
This place is SO cool. They make ice cream creations with liquid nitrogen. You’ll see smoke pour over as they create your order. Everything was delicious and we loved watching them make it too. Definitely worth a visit.
Try their “dragon’s breath” while you’re there. Its cheezies frozen with liquid nitrogen. When you eat them smoke will escape through your nose. It’s so weird and cool at the same time.
Moo Shu Ice Cream
477 Bank Street
You’ll find the most unique flavours at this Ottawa ice cream spot. Try flavours like Hong Kong milk tea, black sesame, fruit loops milk, and more. Visit Moo Shu on Wednesdays and you can get your ice cream in a flavoured bubble waffle cone. I suggest the earl grey tea waffle cone. Enjoy this Ottawa ice cream during a walk on the canal.
ThimbleCakes
369 Bank Street
ThimbleCakes ice cream is made using coconut milk and all-natural ingredients. Enjoy it as a cone, ice cream sandwich, or cup. GF/V options available. Enjoy this Ottawa ice cream while exploring Bank Street and its murals.
Marble Slab Creamery
773 Bank Street
Head to the Glebe for this Ottawa Ice Cream Spot. Choose your flavour and add-ons like brownie, gummies, and oreo bits and they’ll mix it all together to create your favourite ice cream combo. Enjoy it at the benches in front of the mural at Bank/Fourth.
Little Italy Ice Cream
Enjoy a cone after kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding on Dow’s Lake.
Farinella
492 Rochester Street
This pizzeria also sells gelato. Order a shot of espresso and turn your gelato cup into an affogato. Also, I saw on their Instagram that when you stop by to ask about Nina’s cup to cone trick. I’ll report back once I’ve tried it out :p Enjoy your gelato at Dow’s Lake.
Ottawa Ice Cream Worth the Drive
Carp Ice Cream
Carp Custom Creamery
3763 Carp Road
Grab a scoop because….Carp Creamery’s daily selection offers 16 flavours for your cone or 40 flavours if you want to take home a 1L tub of ice cream. Their flavours are always changing so you can try out new types of ice cream. Get your dog a puppy cone while you’re there. It’s a small soft serve cone with a dog treat! They have great flavours available and it’s always fun to go with your pup! If there banoffee pie ice cream is available, GET IT! Best ice cream flavour I’ve ever had!
Stittsville Ice Cream
This Ottawa ice cream spot has next level creations. Choose your flavour and then they’ll make it into the creation of your choice. Below is their baby shark, unicorn and s’mores creations.
Where to enjoy it: head to the picnic tables at the back beside their community garden. Afterward, head on this Stittsville Food Truck Tour.
Gatineau Ice Cream
Chocolats Favoris
455 Boulevard de la Gappe (They also have locations in Kanata and Barrhaven)
Get a classic cone or a kooky cone (a dipped cone with extra toppings). They have fun creations like their cotton candy kooky cone that’s dipper in white chocolate and has cotton candy on top of their salted caramel cone dipped in milk chocolate and topped with popcorn, pretzels and caramel pieces. Enjoy it on their patio.
La Cigale
14 Chemin Scott
La Cigale is right near Gatineau Park and the perfect place to stop post-hike. Enjoy one of their 24 ice cream flavours.
Where to enjoy it: in one of the Muskoka chairs after a hike in Gatineau Park.
Cassis Gelato & Sorbet
137 Principale Street
Cassis is an Aylmer favourite and their flavours are so fresh. Get one of their fruit flavours like Strawberry (shown here). They also have some fun flavours like lemon basil that are super refreshing on a hot day.
Where to enjoy it: take it to the Aylmer Marina and catch the sunset.
Britannia Ice Cream
Beachconers
273 Britannia Road
Enjoy a cone after the beach or a bike ride. Beachconers makes small batch ice cream with fresh ingredients like herbs, fruit, locally sourced james and their own baked treats. They also have vegan options available.
Looking for more things to do this summer? How about a Stittsville Food Truck Tour?
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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