Summer isn’t complete without everyone’s favourite frosty treat, ice cream! Whether you’re looking for an affogato on a hot afternoon, a double scoop of gourmet gelato, or a tasty frozen yogurt on a warm summer evening, there is an Ottawa ice cream scoop for every taste. Indulge in the best Ottawa ice cream at these delicious ice cream spots.

Moo Shu Ice Cream

Unique small-batch ice cream is the name of the game at popular Ottawa ice cream spot, Moo Shu Ice Cream. Known for their unique flavours and sinful bubble waffle cones, Moo Shu uses pure Ontario dairy, local ingredients and often partners with local farmers, roasters, brewers and jam makers. Their thoughtful and inventive flavour combinations have a notable Asian flare and keep visitors and locals coming back scoop after scoop. Try a cone piled high with ginger vanilla bean, mint lime, black sesame, Hong Kong milk tea or local strawberry, or vegan options like algona coffee and classic chocolate. New flavours are continually added to their scooping rotation, and they also serve up seasonal specialty treats, like heavenly ice cream tacos, ice cream sandwiches, and ice cream truffles.

Stella Luna

If you’re looking for authentic award-winning Italian gelato, then make your way to one of Ottawa’s best gelato shops, Stella Luna. Trained in Italy as a master gelato maker, founder Tammy Giuliani has been serving up delicious artisanal gelato since 2011, with the first Stella Luna location opening in the city’s Old Ottawa South neighbourhood. Now with several locations in the Ottawa region, Stella Luna’s handcrafted gelato and sorbets are complemented with an extended menu featuring fruit smoothies, specialty coffees, milkshakes, baked goods and panini sandwiches. Mix and match flavours like maple walnut, pineapple yuzu cardamom, grapefruit gin, Turkish chocolate and Madagascar vanilla, and keep your eye out for their travelling cart at markets and festivals throughout the city.

The Merry Dairy

Since it’s humble beginnings in a cool retro food truck in 2012, the Merry Dairy has evolved into a mecca for ice cream lovers in Ottawa. Its flagship storefront in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood is a favourite for locals and visitors, who flock to the shop year-round for delicious small-batch ice cream and Midwest-style frozen custard. With a rotating menu of irresistible flavours like cherry chip, honey lavender, cookies and cream, and salted caramel, they also have fun seasonal creations like pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate haunted coffee, Concord grape and roasted rhubarb. Liven up your treat with a flavoured, colourful cone like blue salted corn, red velvet, cinnamon sugar, orange creamsicle and purple lavender.

The Merry Dairy uses fresh local ingredients as much as possible, and even hosts a seasonal mint and rhubarb exchange where locals can trade fresh produce for credits redeemable for ice cream. Stop by for a scoop, soft serve twist, ice cream float, ice cream sandwich or fresh fruit popsicle, and take home a pint for indulging at home.

Farinella

Born out of love for Italian food, tradition and culture, Farinella is a powerhouse on the Ottawa food scene. The Ottawa-born founders, brother and sister duo Cesare and Nina, have strong family roots in Italy. While living there they received expert training in gelato and pizza making, and have brought those master skills back to Ottawa for all everyone to enjoy. Fittingly located in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood, their authentic Italian gelato is one of the most popular in the city. Devour a cup or cone in classic gelato flavours like hazelnut, pistachio, and fior di latte, as well as favourites like crème brulé, strawberry, mango, white chocolate and dark chocolate Amarena. Farinella is also renowned for their metre-long pizzas, granitas, and authentic Italian treats like cannoli and brighelle, making it the perfect spot for the complete Italian experience. Stop by for a scoop and stroll to nearby Dow’s Lake, or pick up a pint during the winter months to get you through hibernation season.

La Cigale

Tucked into a charming colourful house with wrap-around porch in Old Chelsea, only a 20-minute drive north of Ottawa, La Cigale has secured its spot as one of the best ice cream shops in the Ottawa region. First opened in 2001, La Cigale is known for its legendary ice cream and cool selection of ice cream treats. Indulge in over 70 carefully-curated flavours rotating seasonally, like key lime pie, raspberry white chocolate, rum raisin, and chocolate Guinness, with vegan and dairy-free options available. Give into your cravings with a classic banana split, ice cream sandwich or milkshake, or opt for one of their epic sundae creations like the Jimmy Mac Brownie Attack sundae, which is piled high with warm homemade brownies, hot fudge, whipped cream and nuts.

With its convenient location just across the street from the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, La Cigale is the perfect place to stop for a sweet treat after a day of outdoor adventure in the park. Take your cone and walk the streets of Old Chelsea, or grab a seat in their beautiful outdoor garden and enjoy your scoops surrounded by lush greenery.

Beachconers

No day at the beach is complete without a cool cone, and Beachconers is the place to go for summer scoops after a day in the sun. Just steps away from Ottawa’s Britannia Beach, the micro-creamery serves up homemade ice cream in playful and curious flavours like chocolate marmalade, cold brew coffee, blueberry lavender, London Fog, beer and candied bacon, and raspberry lemon. Cool inventive flavours spike the already eclectic offerings with seasonal specialties like rhubarb crumble, sweet corn, pumpkin spice and maple olive oil. Vegans can enjoy a swirl of colour with tasty vegan soft serve in flavours like mango, chocolate and blueberry vanilla, as well as frosty dairy-free watermelon mojito pops.

Mantovani 1946

Gelato at best Ottawa ice cream spot Moo Shu — *Photos: Mantovani 1946*

Elegant, stylish and modern, Mantovani 1946 provides the most extravagant gelato experience in Ottawa. With a clean contemporary design, complemented by thoughtful design touches, this Instagram-worthy café serves up authentic, award-wining artisanal gelato in a historic stone building in the heart of the ByWard Market. While they opened their doors in Ottawa in 2016, the history of the Mantovani family dates back to 1946, where they started in business in Napoli, Italy. Sibling duo Marcella and Oreste Mantovani, both trained master gelato makers, have carried on the family name and tradition, creating exceptional Italian gelato made from whole milk, fresh cream and ingredients sourced directly from Italy.

Cafe interior and affogato at best Ottawa ice cream spot Mantovani 1946 — *Photos: Mantovani 1946*

Indulge in mouth-watering flavours like pistachio, hazelnut, espresso, sweet Sicilian almond, rosewater, ior di latte and their award-winning Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, or dairy-free sorbettos made with fresh fruit pulp in tantalizing flavours like raspberry, mango, watermelon and Italian sour cherry. While gelato is their specialty, Mantovani 1946 also serves up authentic Italian pastries, and flavourful Neapolitan coffee imported from Italy. For the ultimate combination try one of their delicious affogatos; a scoop of gelato drowned in espresso and topped with tasty biscotto.

Carp Custom Creamery

A short 30-minute drive west of downtown Ottawa in the village of Carp, is a family-friendly ice cream haven; Carp Custom Creamery. Hand-crafted on-site daily, their small batch ice cream is made with local ingredients whenever possible,. Choose from over 16 tasty flavours scooped daily, and over 40 flavours in take-home tubs like sticky toffee pudding, loaded butter tart, nerds, double vanilla coconut and double chocolate brownie. They also offer signature soft serve swirls, milkshakes, ice cream floats, slushies, dipped ice cream bars and fun ice cream tacos. If you’re visiting Carp Custom Creamery with your pup, don’t leave them out! Treat them to the Carp Custom Creamery signature doggy cone, a popular treat, sure to get the tail wagging.

Marble Slab Creamery

With infinite possible flavour combinations, Marble Slab Creamery is the place to go for your own customized ice cream creation. Pick a base of vegan ice cream, frozen yogurt, or traditional ice cream in a variety of flavours. Next choose your mix-ins with options like sour peaches, nerds, Oreos, shredded coconut, gummy bears, fresh fruit, mini-marshmallows or Reese’s pieces. Then watch as your custom creation is carefully mixed, chopped and folded on their iconic frozen slab. With unlimited mix-in, creating your own signature flavour has never been so fun. For ice cream traditionalists, you can opt for less toppings, or indulge in a classic ice cream sundae or banana split. Keep the ice cream trend going and pick up a pre-made ice cream dessert to take home, including ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cakes and ice cream cupcakes.

Lois ‘N’ Frima’s

Serving up homemade ice cream in the ByWard Market since 1984, Lois ‘N’ Frima’s is an iconic ice cream spot in Ottawa’s ByWard Market. Next door to the famous Beavertails hut, Lois ‘N’ Frima’s dishes up classic ice cream scoops in over 60 different rotating flavours, highlighting the classics like pralines and cream, chocolate peanut butter, tiger tail, strawberries and cream, and rum raisin. They are perhaps best known for their tasty soft serve, available in vanilla, chocolate, and twist, with the option to dip your swirls in rich deep chocolate. For families looking for a quick bite in addition to scoops, they also offer kid-friendly food and drink including hot dogs, milkshakes, coke floats, ice cream sundaes and slushies.