Toronto’s Must Try Ice Cream and Gelato Spots

Bar Ape

This small Wychwood spot (pronounced “ah-pay”) serves up ultra-smooth swirls of soft serve gelato and deluxe ice cream bars, and they’re currently operating with an online-only ordering system. How it works: they post each week’s flavours on their Instagram on Thursdays and Sundays, to be ordered that evening and picked up the next day. They offer mouthwatering seasonal specialties like Ontario strawberry, punchy fresh lemon and Genmaicha tea, and you’ll want to get on their website right away to get your hands on one of the city’s most delectable takeaway treats. If you’re unable to secure an order, don’t worry – they open to the public for an hour after all the orders have been picked up on Fridays and Mondays, so you’ll still have an opportunity to get your fix! Available to order directly through their website on Thursdays and Sundays, for pickup the following evening.

Bang Bang Ice Cream

If you like your scoop of ice cream sandwiched between two freshly baked cookies (and who doesn’t?), Bang Bang is the place to go. With cookie and ice cream flavour combinations like ginger with cinnamon toast, peanut butter oatmeal with burnt toffee and birthday sprinkle with cookies and cream, it’s no wonder that there’s a lineup down the street pretty much daily. If you want to skip the crowds, order a pint and a sammie to go from Uber Eats, and enjoy the magic of this legendary Toronto treat at home. Open for takeout (to be picked up via the shop) and available for delivery through UberEats.

The Big Chill

This old-fashioned style ice cream parlour in Little Italy is a Toronto staple for homemade scoops, loaded sundaes and freshly baked waffles. There’s no shortage of sweetness here, including a plethora of candy toppings, silky sauces and baked goods to pair with your chocolate-, nut- or fruit-infused scoops. Their retail store is currently open for takeout, and you can also grab their goodies for delivery through UberEats and DoorDash to beat that summer heat at home. Available for takeout through the restaurant, or for delivery via UberEats and DoorDash.

Ed’s Real Scoop

Toronto’s beloved local, small-batch ice cream shop has four locations across the city and is currently operating with a revised takeout-only model so summer city dwellers can cool down with a pint (or five). From Thursday to Sunday each week, you can get a taste of their imaginative flavours like burnt marshmallow, chocolate peanut butter fudge and creme brulee, plus a selection of gelatos and sorbets, by the 16oz pint (with an option for cones on the side) or tucked between two cookies. Their locations serve rotating flavours and are open for pickup between 2-7pm, but it’s a wise move to pre-order ahead of time if you want to snag your top picks! Available for pre-order through their website on Sunday night through Wednesday morning, or for pickup in-store on a first-come, first-served basis from Thursday to Sunday. Delivery is also available through UberEats and DoorDash.

Tom’s Dairy Freeze

Going strong since 1969, this old-school Etobicoke joint specializes in authentic soft serve treats made with real ingredients that rival any of the city’s ice cream trucks. Customize your perfect order with flavour bursts, creative sundae toppings and creamy milkshakes, plus grab a savoury protein option from the grill and a side of crispy fries to make it a full meal. There’s no other soft serve like this in the city, and it’s now even easier to experience this unique delight with to-go containers of ice creams and toppings available for curbside pickup and delivery! Available for curbside pickup through their website, and for delivery through UberEats and DoorDash.

Summer’s Ice Cream

If you’ve ever passed through Yorkville in the summertime, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the lineups for Summer’s, a treasured homemade ice cream shop tucked into a small, lower-level space in the heart of this chic neighbourhood. Their focus on quality ingredients and small batch production shines through, with luscious flavour options like caramel turtle, cherry cheesecake, strawberry rhubarb and their classic “Toronto Pothole”, which incorporates chunks of almond, marshmallow, peanuts and chocolate chunks into a creamy chocolate base. They’re open for takeout every day of the week, and you can also pick up 500mL pints through UberEats and DoorDash if you can’t make it in person. The restaurant is open for takeout seven days a week, and delivery is available through UberEats and DoorDash.

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