Few things beat the heat of a hot summer’s day in Cape Town like ice-cold, delicious ice cream.
Available in a range of flavours and served on a crunchy cone, Cape Town’s ice cream shops dish up a range of cold treats that cater to every taste.
Join me as I take you on a whirlwind tour of Cape Town’s best ice cream shops and help you find the ice cream flavour that’ll make your taste buds ululate.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Best Authentic Italian Ice Cream – Moro Gelato
- 2 2. Best Handmade Ice Cream – The Creamery
- 3 3. Best No-Frills Ice Cream – The Dairy Den
- 4 4. Best French-Inspired Ice Cream – Unframed
- 5 5. Best Sorbet – Sorbetière
- 6 6. Best Family-Owned Gelateria – Ice Dream
- 7 7. Best for Unique Flavours – Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream
- 8 8. Best Ice Cream Sandwich – Crumbs & Cream
- 9 9. Best Organic Ice Cream – Serendipity Creamery
- 10 10. Best Cow’s Milk Ice Cream – Gelato Mania
- 11 FAQs
1. Best Authentic Italian Ice Cream – Moro Gelato
- Location:
- Green Point – Shop 2, Portside Centre, c/o Upper Portswood and Main Road, Green Point
- Sea Point – 85 Regent Road, Sea Point
- Long Street – 165 Long Street, Cape Town CBD
- Trading hours: Monday to Wednesday (12h00 – 23h00); Thursday to Sunday (11h00 – 23h00)
- Good to know: Moro Gelato is also open on public holidays from 11h00 to 23h00
Not only is Moro Gelato’s gold and pastel-coloured shop interior pleasing to the eye but their range of gelatos and sorbets will also get an approving nod from your taste buds.
Made using owner Stefano Moro’s grandmother’s traditional recipe, these gelatos will have you smiling from ear to ear. Using a range of fresh, Italian-inspired ingredients and flavours, with no colourants or additives, every Moro Gelato ice cream shop offers gelato lovers more than 50 different mouthwatering flavours, including:
- Pistacchio
- Salty caramel popcorn
- Tiramisù
If you live by the motto “local is lekker”, why not try their range of South African-inspired ice creams, made with locally grown and sourced ingredients? You can choose from the following delicious favours:
- Hertzoggie cookie
- Milk tart
- Rooibos tea
For something a little fresh and fruity, try their range of sorbets. They’re made with fresh, seasonal fruits, such as mango, naartjie, lemon and granadilla, and are perfect for vegans!
2. Best Handmade Ice Cream – The Creamery
- Location:
- Palmyra Junction – Shop 16, Palmyra Junction, 4 Palmyra Road, Claremont
- Harbour View at the V&A – Shop 6160b, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront
- Newlands – Shop 4, Newlands Quarter, Dean Street, Newlands
- Mouille Point – Shop 2, New Cumberland Building, Park Road, Mouille Point
- Durbanville – Shop 18, Durbanville Village Square, Cnr Rose & Oxford Street, Durbanville
- Trading hours: Monday to Sunday (09h00 – 23h00)
- Harbour View – Monday to Thursday (09h00 – 12h00); Friday and Saturday (09h00 – 22h00); Sunday (09h00 – 21h00)
- Good to know: They change their flavours all the time and even offer a flavour of the month. If you’re looking for a specific favourite, it’s best to call ahead to make sure that they have it!
Since its launch in 2011, Kate Schrire’s parlour has some of the best ice cream Cape Town has to offer.
These handmade ice creams – crafted from the best seasonal and locally sourced ingredients – are served in biodegradable tubs and hit the mark with every lick. Some of their most popular and delicious flavours include:
- Sweet cream
- Sea salt caramel
- Blackberry cheesecake
They also often offer a range of delicious South African-inspired flavours, including:
- Malva pudding
- Koeksister
- Naartjie choc-chip
Enjoy a scoop of your favourite flavour on a waffle, a bed of a warm cookie or in a sundae. Complete your order with a generous sprinkle of honeycomb crunch, shortbread crumbles, or cookie dough bites.
3. Best No-Frills Ice Cream – The Dairy Den
- Location:
- Sea Point – 148 Main Rd, Sea Point
- N1 Value Centre – Shop 99, Solly Smiedt St, Goodwood
- Kenilworth Centre – Food Court, Kenilworth Centre, Kenilworth
- Willowbridge Centre – Willowbridge Shopping Centre, Bellville
- Trading hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10h00 – 22h00); Monday (12h00 – 21h00)
- Good to know: Dairy Den – in my opinion – has the best soft-serve in Cape Town (available in chocolate and vanilla)!
If you’re looking for a no-bells-and-whistles ice cream experience, The Dairy Den is your go-to!
With its unassuming shopfront, The Dairy Den does the job – giving you delicious, creamy ice cream and milkshakes at affordable prices. They serve a range of classic and kiddies cones or cups and also offer a range of signature cones available in the following options:
- Milk Belgian
- Honeycomb crunch
- Top Deck
The Dairy Den is also known for its Unicorn Swirl Cones, served in a delectable range of flavour combinations of strawberry, caramel, mint, coffee or chocolate. Also, try their doughnuts, doughnut pops or bubble waffles!
Finish your order with a Flake, a caramel or Belgian dip, or a range of toppings such as Smarties, Astro’s or a cookie crumble.
4. Best French-Inspired Ice Cream – Unframed
- Location:
- Woodstock (flagship store) – Woodstock Quarter, 187 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock
- Gardens – 45C Kloof Street, Gardens
- V&A Waterfront – V&A Food Market, V&A Waterfront (temporarily closed)
- Trading hours: Woodstock – Monday to Friday (11h00 – 16h00). Gardens – Monday to Sunday (11h00 – 23h00).
- Good to know: Unframed also offers their ice cream wholesale (available in 5-litre containers) – if you want to snack on your favourite choice for a while longer!
If you’re looking for a creamy, Fench-inspired ice cream in Cape Town, make Unframed your next ice cream destination.
Chef Yann Rey only uses the best and freshest ingredients to deliver top-class ice creamin 32 delicious flavours, including:
- Double carrot cake
- Burnt white chocolate
- Chocolate tahini
Using sophisticated, no-fuss ingredients in all their products, they also serve a wide range of vegan ice cream and sorbets to choose from, such as:
- Apricot & bergamot sorbet
- Vegan spicy mango
- Black currant sorbet
5. Best Sorbet – Sorbetière
- Location: 48 Albert Road, Woodstock
- Trading hours: Monday to Friday (08h00 – 16h00); Saturday (09h00 – 14h00)
- Good to know: Sorbetière is closed on Sundays.
Considered one of the best sorbet and ice cream shops in the Mother City, Sorbetière is a hit among many locals and travellers – especially the health conscious or vegan folks.
French chef Cristini Beran draws inspiration from her childhood years when crafting Sorbetière’s cool treats. Here, you’ll find a range of hand-crafted ice creams in a variety of delectable flavours, including:
- Vanilla pod
- Vanilla & black pepper
- Mascarpone.
However, the sorbets are my favourite here! Patrons can also choose from more than 20 flavours, including:
- Fig
- Litchee
- Roasted Plum
Sorbetiere also offers a range of other treats such as ice cream bonbons, their signature cornetto, an ice cream brioche sandwich and ice cream cakes (which can serve up to eight people).
They also sell their ice cream and sorbets in 500 ml and two-litre or five-litre tubs.
6. Best Family-Owned Gelateria – Ice Dream
- Location: Main Road, Hout Bay
- Trading hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10h00 – 18h00)
- Good to know: Ice Dream is one of the oldest family-owned gelaterias in Cape Town!
If your trip to Hout Bay has you hot and you need a sweet cooldown, pop into Ice Dream for a quick cold treat.
Known for serving the best ice cream in Hout Bay, this small, family-owned ice cream shop has served ice cream fans for almost 30 years.
Their gelatos are made using fresh ingredients, and they pride themselves on not using any artificial flavouring, preservatives or colourants. You can select from a range of delicious flavours, including:
- Rum and raisin
- Tiramisu
- Stracciatella
They also serve a delicious selection of sorbets:
- Lemon
- Sour cherry
- Pink grapefruit
Containing no eggs or gelatine, this is the perfect, sweet treat to wrap up your visit to the Hout Bay harbour. Good news for Banters and vegans – they also serve a range of Banting- and vegan-friendly gelatos. Grab a 500 ml or 1 litre tub to enjoy at home.
7. Best for Unique Flavours – Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream
- Location:
- Constantia Uitsig – Heritage Village, Spaanchemat River Road, Constantia
- Newlands – 6 Cardiff Castle, Main St, Newlands
- Noordhoek – Noordhoek Farm Village, Village Lane, Noordhoek
- Trading hours: Constantia Uitsig and Newlands – Monday to Thursday (12h00 – 19h00); Friday to Sunday (10h00 to 20h00). Noordhoek – Monday to Thursday (10h00 – 20h00); Friday to Sunday (09h30 to 20h00)
- Good to know: There is also an outlet in Stellenbosch (De Wet Centre) – open seven days a week, from 10h00 to 21h30.
If you want to taste a truly authentic American ice cream – made in the Mother City – visit Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream.
Using a generous serving mix of milk, cream, and sugar, Philadelphia-born Kristen Buttress creates a range of light and delicious ice creams. Their top sellers include:
- Coconut fudge
- Dark chocolate
- Choc-chip cookie dough
They also serve up some unconventional flavours for the brave. How do the flavours of Bovil, Everything Bagel and Magical Mermaid sound?
For those with dietary requirements, they serve up sugar-free and vegan options too. They also offer sundae kits, ice cream cakes, and pre-filled cones for takeaway.
8. Best Ice Cream Sandwich – Crumbs & Cream
- Location:
- Sea Point – 16 Regent Rd, Sea Point
- V&A Waterfront – Watershed Kiosk, V&A Waterfront
- Trading hours: Sea Point – Sunday to Thursday (08h00 – 22h00); Friday and Saturday (08h00 – 23h00). V&A Waterfront – Monday to Sunday (10h00 – 18h00).
- Good to know: Crumbs & Cream’s range of ice creams is also available at a wide selection of Engen filling stations across the Western Cape.
With its vibrantly-coloured shop interior and the smell of freshly baked cookies hanging in the air, you’re in for a real treat when visiting Crumbs & Cream.
First, you need to choose two cookies and your flavour of ice cream, to create the perfect ice cream sandwich. Crumbs and Cream has a wide variety of flavours to choose from, including:
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Yogiberry
Top off your order with your choice of fun toppings – think toasted marshmallow, peanut butter, or sour gummies – and start munching away.
9. Best Organic Ice Cream – Serendipity Creamery
- Location: Shop 3, Belvedere Square, Belvedere Road, Claremont
- Trading hours: Monday to Sunday (08h00 – 18h00)
- Good to know: They serve a range of nut-allergy-friendly ice creams.
Since opening its doors to the public in 2019, Serendipity Creamery has become a mainstay for many Capetonians and visitors looking for their ice cream fix.
Their gelatos are freshly made and churned by hand to ensure a creamy, light and delicious ice cream experience. Containing no artificial colours or flavours, Serendipity Creamery offers an extensive range of flavours, including:
- Baklava
- Salted caramel
- Chocolate
If you want to try a truly South African dessert, give their Boeber-flavoured ice cream a try.
Using only the freshest organic ingredients, they offer a range of vegan-friendly, non-dairy and gluten-free gelatos. Top it off with your choice of salted pretzels or chewy marshmallow fluff and you are bound to end up in ice cream heaven.
10. Best Cow’s Milk Ice Cream – Gelato Mania
- Location:
- V&A Waterfront – Shop 152, Ground Floor, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront
- Newlands – 47 Dean Street, Newlands
- Mojo Market – 30 Regent Street, Sea Point
- Green Point – 65 Main Road, Green Point
- Camps Bay – Shop 11, Victoria Road, Camps Bay
- Canal Walk – Canal Walk Shopping Centre, 490 Century Boulevard, Century City, Milnerton
- Kloof Street – Kloof Street Village, 8 Rheede Street, Gardens
- Penlyn – 285 Belgravia Rd, Belthorn Estate
- Trading hours: Click here for the operating hours.
- Good to know: All Gelato Mania outlets have backup generators so you can enjoy a scoop of your favourite ice cream even during loadshedding.
With their huge colourful signage inviting you for a cold and sweet treat, it’s difficult to not give them a try.
Using only the highest-quality ingredients and the freshest full cream cow’s milk, Gelato Mania deserves a place on my list of the 10 best ice cream parlours in the Mother City. Their range of creamy, delightful flavours include:
- Chocomania
- Salted butter caramel
- Yoghurt berry
For the Banters, they offer a Stevia-flavoured gelato, in either chocolate or hazelnut, made using low-fat cow’s milk. Gelato Mania also caters for vegans – using Stevia as a sweetener and soya milk – in the form of their top-selling Dark Chocolate Raspberry gelato.
Go all out and get your scoop served on a soft, fluffy waffle or pancake.
My favourite branch to visit is the Mojo Market branch. Enjoy your ice cream as you stroll along the promenade. Ice cream always tastes better by the sea in my opinion!
FAQs
Are gelatos vegan-friendly?
No, most gelatos are made using dairy products. Many of Cape Town’s parlours, however, do offer non-dairy gelatos, while others do not use gelatin in their products. Opt for a sorbet if you want to avoid any animal products.
Are Cape Town’s ice cream shops halal-friendly?
Yes, Cape Town has a very active Islam community and most of its parlours are halal-friendly. Ask your server for a halal-friendly option when popping into your favourite shop.
Do gelatos contain peanuts?
Most gelatos do not contain peanuts or other types of nuts. If you have a nut allergy, speak to your server about which flavour would be best. Many shops use peanuts and other nuts, so check if your scoop is free from peanuts before ordering.
