Community & Current Events
The Best Ice Cream Shops In Ontario
Photo by Slickers, Instagram
Community & Current Events
The Best Ice Cream Shops In Ontario
There’s nothing better than enjoying the dog days of summer with a big ice cream cone.
There are so many amazing independent scoop shops throughout Ontario offering classic flavours and creative combinations. Whether you’re spending the summer in the city or driving up to a cottage every weekend from now until September, grab a sweet treat from one (or all) of these ice cream shops this season.
Ed's real Scoop, Multiple Locations, GTA
With four locations serving small-batch ice cream, gelato, sorbet and yogurt, you can bet Ed’s will have a line out the door on any hot summer day. There are over 150 flavours in this scoop shop’s recipe book, so choices are always changing. We suggest a heaping scoop of burnt marshmallow in a waffle cone for summer campfire vibes.
Kawartha Dairy, Multiple locations, Ontario
This is the quintessential ice cream brand of cottage country! With over 85 years in the business, this family-owned company knows what goes into the best scoops—Canadian dairy. Yes, you can pick up a tub of Kawartha at your grocery store, but nothing beats a freshly made scoop or two at one of their iconic shops. Moose tracks is a classic.
Scoops, Mississauga
This ice cream shop is a summer day’s dream, located just steps from Lake Ontario in Port Credit. The hand-crafted flavours are made in-house and feature creative spins on traditional choices, like salted sponge toffee and cappuccino crisp. There’s also always a selection of dairy-free options, including oat milk-based ice creams and sorbets.
OMG Ice Cream & Frozen Treats, Hamilton & Brantford
If you’re a fan of soft serve, you need to visit OMG Ice Cream. They go the extra mile when it comes to toppings, serving up combos like the salty turtle, with O’Henry bar crumble, pecans, caramel sauce and chocolate sauce, all loaded onto chocolate soft serve. There are also hard ice creams and dairy-free options—something for everyone.
Slickers, Prince Edward County
This PEC institution is always worth a visit if you’re spending the weekend in the area, with locations in Picton and Bloomfield. They have all the traditional flavours you love, plus ones you can’t get anywhere else that truly embrace the spirit of the area. Try the rhubarb ginger or jazzberry ice cream or the prickly pear sorbet.
Avondale Dairy Bar, Niagara-On-The-Lake
It’s always ice cream season at this almost 70-year-old scoop shop that is all about tradition. You can grab a scoop of almost any traditional flavour, or choose from their frozen yogurt or no sugar-added options. If you want to be adventurous, go for a seasonal scoop of peaches n’ cream. Don’t forget to add a healthy topping of whipped cream to whatever you choose!
Pom Pom Treats, Thornbury
This small-batch, plant-based ice cream shop is a must-visit. The creamy vegan flavours like cherry chocolate chunk and peach bourbon are bursting with the refreshing flavours of summer. If you have to go traditional and get dairy-based ice cream, Pom Pom also scoops flavours from the London Ice Cream Company.
Cool Cow, Beaverton
We love this scoop shop for its ice cream and involvement in the community—it’s run by local youth and guided by the Brock Youth Centre. It serves up rotating flavours of Kawartha Dairy, so you know it’s always worth a stop.
Central Smith Creamery, Selwyn
If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, you won’t find a shop with more options. There are 61 ice cream flavours to choose from, ice cream and yogurt bars, sundae cups, and less-fat frozen desserts. Try a scoop of the Algonquin canoe or lime sherbert!
Boderick’s Ice Cream Parlour, Port Stanley
This is the go-to shop for regular, no-sugar-added and dairy-free ice cream in Port Stanley. Boderick’s has been serving up scoops, milkshakes, sundaes and floats since 1984. Get a double stack of creme brulée in a waffle cone or a deep-dish cherry pie sundae.
Buttercup Ice Creamery, Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is a classic summer weekend getaway. While you’re adventuring, make sure to stop by this shop for a scoop of ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet. There’s also a small breakfast and lunch menu if you need some fuel for a hike. Note: This shop is closed on Sundays.
Flurple’s, Sudbury
You’ll love the colourful, polka-dot exterior of this vegan ice cream shop—don’t be surprised to find a line down the block. Choose from a variety of creamy, dairy-free flavours, as well as a weekly soft-serve special. There’s also edible cookie dough, sundaes, pops and shakes available.
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