Best Ice Cream in Vancouver
We really, really love ice cream. When Vancouver is cooking on a hot summer day there is nothing better than a little gelato, sorbet or soft serve to cool down with.
We've found a lot of great spots over the years. These aren't the only ice cream spots in Vancouver, but they're the best, in our humble opinions.
#10 - Mario's Gelati
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Mario's has been in business for a long time and the experience shows. They have a wide variety of flavors, plus some sorbets, and a wholesale business where you can get larger amounts of gelato to feed your needs.
They're family run, and have a classic, Italian vibe that is not to be missed.
#9 - Motoretta Gelato
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Motoretta Gelato really has a focus on quality and variety. Customers (us included) rave about the unique flavors like Almost Tiramisu and the classic Italian Stracciatella. It also has a nice, welcoming vibe that appreciate​.
If you want to try some real, classic Italian Gelato, try this place out.
#8 - La Glace
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La Glace is where you go luxury ice cream. They make a French style rich, custard-based ice cream that that has a unique taste and mouth feel thanks to the real heavy cream and egg yolks. The shop also has a nice French inspired vibe that we really like.
Check it out if you want to get a taste of some really excellent, non-Italian ice cream.
#7 - Yaletown Gelato
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Yaletown Gelato has a casual and friendly vibe and a lot of unique and rotating flavors that will keep you coming back for more. They make an excellent, Italian inspired ice cream and have a whole lot more on the menu if you're looking for more.
It's a great location, tucked in to Yaletown in Downtown Vancouver and a great spot if you're down there and looking for something cool on a hot day.
#6 - J Squared Ice Cream
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J Squared is best known for their tea based ice cream flavors. Try classics like Oolong Cheesecake or Thai Milk Tea that definitely will not disappoint.
They also offer great seasonal flavors that will keep you coming back in every season.
#5 - Earnest Ice Cream
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A Vancouver institution. They're the spot that everyone has heard of. They get hyped up a lot and you know what, it's mostly deserved. With several locations across the city, you probably don't have to travel far to get your Earnest ice cream.
With a mix of rotating flavors and some true classics, they'll always have a few vegan ice creams and gluten free ice creams available, for those that want them. I think they're flavor choices can be a little conservative sometimes, but there is no denying that they make an excellent ice cream.
#4 - Mister
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Mist does things a little differently. They serve up ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. This gives the ice cream a denser, smoother texture that we really fell in love with.
Like a lot of ice cream spots on this list, they don't just do ice cream. Want a Flaming Hot Cheetos Ice Cream sando? You've come to the right spot. Like our #3 favorite spot Rain or Shine, Mister also sources ingredients from local farmers and suppliers, which we deeply appreciate.
#3 - Rain or Shine
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Rain or Shine prides themselves on using locally and organically sourced ingredients. They really care about where the food comes from, and the quality shows in the end product. They offer some fun, unique flavors like Blueberry Balsamic that needs to be tasted to be believed.
Not enough to convince you? What about ice cream taco Tuesdays. Everyone's favorite food day of the week just got better.
#2 - Bella Gelateria
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If you want solid, traditional gelato, go here. They make award winning, old school straight up gelato with no added colors, flavors or preservatives to mess with your gelato experience. If you do go, try the Wickedly Burnt Caramel (trust me).
And just like any good old-world gelato place would, they offer things like affogatos and traditional Italian milkshakes. So good, you definitely won't go just once.
#1 - La Casa Gelato
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With over 500 flavors, including some really out there options like garlic and curry, La Casa Gelato really does have something for everyone. They have an old school token system for the cones, giving the whole place a very classic kind of vibe, and they're a bit of an East Van institution.
Expect a long line, but we promise that the wait is worth it!
Honorable Mentions
Best Ice Cream Sandwich
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Yum Sweet Shop has, undeniably, the best ice cream sandwich around. They offer a wide variety of sweets and tasty treats, and even ice cream, but the ice cream sandwich is the only thing they sell that I dream about.
Check it out, you'll be glad you did.
Best Soft Serve Ice Cream
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I like Nana's Green Tea for their excellent Matcha flavored soft serve. It has a very deep and authentic flavor that is amazingly tasty. They also have a whole lot of other tasty treats on the menu that are worth checking out.