Best ice cream and gelato parlours in London
Mouth-watering flavours and delicious toppings: 13 of the tastiest ice cream parlours in your local area
Main image: Jefferson’s Ice Cream
1 La Gelateria Della Luna
Fulham
Opening its doors to the public last month, La Gelateria Della Luna brings gelato to Fulham. A private chef and her mother opened the small business, and the menu offers an array of flavours, including all the classics. Make sure to grab a paired coffee with your frozen treat. La Gelateria Della Luna has a range of coffees, and, of course, matcha.
2 Amorino
Chelsea, Wimbledon
Add some baked goods to your typical ice cream at Amorino in Wimbledon. Aside from an extensive gelato menu, Amorino provides crepes, waffles, and macarons for guests to pair with their ice cream. Their most popular delicacy would be their gelato cakes, a perfect combination. Try their delicious desserts at Wimbledon Station, or locations across London.
3 Happy Endings
Dalston, Walthamstow
Is your guilty pleasure ice cream sandwiches? Ours, too! Happy Endings is a funky ice cream parlour that’s known for its “sandys.” They sell a variety of ice cream sandwiches that incorporate different textures and flavours, using cakes and cookies to sandwich together ice cream and special toppings at over 180+ places in London. They currently have a pop-up at 40ft Brewery in Dalston and Walthamstow, with more to be announced soon. If you’re not feeling a sandwich, you can always leave with a small tub of one of their puddings or ice creams.
4 Swoon Gelato
Maryleborne
Swoon Gelato‘s a classic spot in Tooting for your classic gelato, which pairs well with their array of pastries and desserts. They even sell gelato cakes if you’re planning a special occasion.
5 Jefferson’s Ice Cream
Balham
A stone’s throw from Balham train station, those with a craving for all things ice cream can jump off a train and make the pilgrimage to Jefferson’s, and it’s well worth it. The friendly local hot spot was set up by Celine and Christopher Thompson, who said goodbye to their corporate jobs and set out creating the brand which has quickly become a staple of the local community. They create and taste test amazing recipes using the best natural ingredients and welcome Balham residents with their beautiful and bright Art Deco interior. There is a visible kitchen which adds to assurance that ice cream is freshly made, and flavours include everything from sea salt caramel to super-berry snickerdoodle.
6 The Ice Cream Project
Chelsea
Returning this summer for its fifth year in a row is the Ice Cream Project in Chelsea, part of designer Anya Hindmarch’s Anya Village. Their ice cream flavours are niche, as they partner with famous brands to answer the timeless question: what would this taste like as ice cream? This year, the pop-up partnered with a variety of brands, ranging from Illy Coffee to Kikkoman Soy Sauce.
7 Nardulli
Clapham
This quaint little parlour sits right on Clapham Common, meaning it is fantastically situated for a leisurely passeggiata through the park on a sunny day, while enjoying some cold and creamy gelato. The style of the café is typically Italian, and this extends to the flavours which range from the traditional (stracciatella or fior di latte), to the exotic (cardamom or fig).
8 Bella del Gelato
Richmond
Award-winning Bella del Gelato strives to offer the best artisanal gelato in London. Offering a range of over 100 flavours of gelato and several flavours of homemade frozen yoghurt, the café freshly makes everything on-site. For a chance to cool down from the blazing sun, feel free to dine in and enjoy a French crepe or Belgium waffle.
9 Oddono’s Gelato
Wimbledon & other locations
So creamy and authentic is this gelato that the team at Oddono’s has won well-deserved awards. On the menu are a dazzling 130 flavours to pick from, ranging from the classic favourites to the not so classic, with basil or vodka even featuring on the menu. On a sunny summer’s day you can almost guarantee a queue, but the sheer number of people who venture through the doors of Oddono’s is a testament to the flavours and quality of the ice cream.
10 Badiani Gelato
Fulham & Chelsea
Bringing the craft of gelato making all the way from Florence to the streets of London, this Italian Gelateria pride themselves on being in “constant search the most satisfying and original flavours.” From the warm orange walls of the shop, the doors at the back open to a beautiful covered terrace with comfy chairs and vines creeping up the walls, offering a relaxing space mimicking a warm Italian square to enjoy your gelato in.
11 % Arabica
Battersea
Known to take their coffee seriously, you might not expect % Arabica to make it onto a list of best ice creams. However, their location in Battersea Power Station sells their newly launched soft-serve and ice cream flavours remain exclusive to their branding. They sell espresso, matcha, and affogato, which adds a shot of espresso to your soft serve. It’s the perfect pick-me-up snack.
12 Venchi
Richmond
Bringing a touch of Art Deco glamour to Richmond, Venchi is a beautifully decorated parlour where the opulent interior reflects the rich flavours on the menu. The history of Venchi starts in the 1800s in Piedmont and this history is still prevalent to this day with gelato experts who know their thing when it comes to big flavours. There is also an in-house chocolatier with a tasty selection of delicious chocs if the ice cream hasn’t fulfilled your sweet tooth.
13 The Kingstonian Ice Cream Company
Kingston
The Kingstonian Ice Cream Company has been keeping the sweltering masses happy with its incredible ice cream for over 100 years with the firm being passed from generation to generation. The flavouring ingredients come directly from a specialist supplier in Italy that manufactures products specifically for artisan ice cream. New flavours are developed based on current trends and combined with ingredients to make flavours unique to them. See Facebook for its daily flavours and locations.
