The scoop on the best ice cream shops in Montréal

Jason Lee

Jason is a food eater and picture taker. As the blogger behind Shut Up and Eat, he covers everything food, from recipes to reviews. Jason has vowed that he will not stop until he has officially eaten his way across Montréal. It’s a big claim, and it’s one he’s making.

This article was updated on June 26, 2023.

Whether youre taking in some of Montréals summer street festivals or about to crest the meanest scream machine at La Ronde, nothing says summer like going for ice cream. Here are some of the coolest places to grab a cone in Montréal to beat the summer heat.

Far East flavours

Ca Lem

This little ice cream shop offers big flavors. As a local favourite, its not unusual to see a lineup that stretches out the door. Asian flavours are on the menu such as pandan, coconut ash and black sesame, Vietnamese coffee and rosewater-pistashio. Their soft serve creations change weekly. Get one of everything. Multiple locations.

Kem Coba

This modest ice cream shop is run by a super duo Vincent Beck and Diem Ngoc Phan, classically trained chocolatier and pastry chef, respectively. The husband and wife team behind Kem Coba sees lines that stretch the length of a city block where patrons often wait between 20 to 30 minutes to satiate their ice cream cravings. With signature soft serve flavours that change weekly like, like rosewater, raspberry/lychee and Orange/coconut, its easy to see why people are willing to wait!

Cremerie Meetha

Located in the Parc-Ex neighbourhood, this family-run ice cream shop serves up scoops inspired by traditional Indian desserts. Think mango rasmalai, jalebi, haldi doodh, gulab jamun but in ice cream form!

Bouza

Bouza specializes in Middle-eastern ice cream. Known for it’s stretchy characteristic and texture, this ice cream is like no other, just like the flavours. Check out Bouza for traditional achta, kaki and rose water cones amongst others.

 

Icy Italian gelato

Dalla Rose

A venture by two former employees from the popular Italian eatery Nora Gray, (Dalla Libera and Nick Rosati) comes this Saint-Henri ice cream oasis. Using locally sourced organic dairy products and seasonal ingredients, their flavours change often. Dont forget to try the ice cream sandwiches – pick-up and delivery now available.

Pizzeria Gema

Its not exactly gelato, but Pizzeria Gemas walk-up take out window has people lining up for their frozen custard in Little Italy. Have your cup of their deliciously decadent soft-serve topped with sour cherry, crushed bacci or have your cone dipped in dark chocolate ganache.

Gelaterie Pierino

Ice cream isnt all about funky flavours that tempt the palates of little ones, grown up deserve an icy treat too! Visit Gelaterie Pierino for their boozy wine infused gelato.

Mollo Cafe

Neighbourhood third-wave cafe Mollo offers all natural artisanal gelato made with local and seasonal ingredients.

 

Classic cones

Crème Glacée Bo-Bec

This classic neighbourhood ice cream shop offers up soft-serve and hard-packed ice cream, homemade sorbets, banana splits, shakes and ice cream sandwiches.

Ripples

With seasonal hours that start from the moment the mercury rises in April until the first sign of autumn (mid-September) its not uncommon to see lineups at The Mains favourite ice cream parlour. Try the halavah or blackberry chocolate chunk cheesecake ice cream!

Le Glacier Bilboquet

With multiple locations across the island of Montréal, Le Glacier Bilboquet has been a fixture in the ice cream scene for over 40 years. With a promise for only using the highest available locally sourced ingredients (milk and cream from the Saguenay, chocolate from the Montérégie, fruits from Eastern Townships) everything is made with love.

Wild Willys

Wild Willys has been wrangling ice cream cravings for over 20 years. A great selection of homemade flavors including apple pie and even a stout flavoured ice cream, try the King Kong” bowl with five of your friends (it has 15 scoops of ice cream!), theyve even got icy treats for our four-legged friends.

Crèmes Boboule

Located in the eclectic neighbourhood of Verdun, Crèmes Boboule is known for their classic soft serve

 

Cool off with a dip

Chocomax

Driven by his passion for chocolate, Chocomaxs owner John Chan pursued his chocolate making dream by studying at Callebaut College in Belgium before settling in Montréal and opening Chocomax. Since then, hes been tantalizing the locals uptown with his chocolate treats and signature Belgium chocolate soft serve and variety of dips.

La Diperie

What started as a modest shop in the Plateau has expanded to over 20 locations across the city. Soft serve with a choice of over 40 different kinds of dip like cookies and cream, salted caramel or classic milk chocolate, top your cone with funky toppings like crushed pretzels and candies, the combinations are endless.

Chocolat Favoris

What began as an artisanal chocolate shop in Lévis (outside of Québec city) 40 years ago has now become a chain of chocolate stores across Canada. They offer 14 varieties of their decadent chocolate fondue dips including chocolate praline, dark chocolate and dulce de leche for their classic vanilla or strawberry soft serve.

 

Vegan-friendly

Hoche Glacé

A frozen treat oasis for vegans, this shop is one of its kind in Montréal. Offering hard packed and soft serve, this spot definitely delivers when looking for a dairy-free treat to cool off in the colourful Hochelaga-Maisonneuve area.

Cremerie Meu Meu

In addition to this plateau ice cream parlours menu of luscious crème anglaise based ice creams, they offer flavourful fruity sorbets and ice soy-milk options as well.

Sachere Desserts

Located in the heart of the Village, Sachere is known for their exquisite desserts and petit fours. They welcome ice cream and frozen treats in time for the summer season.

Swirl

Swirl is located in the Plateau and is known for their Asian inspired dairy-free soft serve swirls. Opened from Wednesday to Sunday and flavours change weekly.

 

Creative cones

Blueboy

Cones are so passé. Thats why the folks at Blueboy have hopped on board with the current trend of fried confectionary cones (churros) and have also introduced fruit bowls! Have your watermelon-basil sorbet served in half a hollowed out watermelon.

Iconoglace

Not only does Iconoglace serve some fun soft-serve swirls, but theyve got some pretty iconic sundaes and slushies as well. Get The Nutjob” - a sundae topped with chunks of homemade marbled peanut butter brownies, hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry on top!

 

Artisanal ice cream

Havre aux Glaces

With two locations, one at the Jean-Talon Market and one at the Atwater Market, the team at Have aux Glaces changes their ice cream flavours depending on whats in season and available in the market – they are opened all year around at the Jean-Talon Market location. 12 choices of ice cream, and 12 choices of vegan sorbet.

Les Givrés

One of Montréals finest artisanal ice cream shops, Les Givrés is open year around. Everything is made in-house from their specialty ice creams and sorbets down to the cones.

LArt Glacier

LArt Glacier combines a world class ice cream maker, fresh ingredients and local restaurant expertise to create a delicious summer taste experience! Chef Roland Del Monte brings his Meilleur Ouvrier de France M.O.F distinction  for his pastry and ice cream skills to Westmount.

Rosette Crèmerie

This little sister” ice cream outpost of  Restaurant La Prunelle serves up fun artisanal soft serve. Expect flavours like Salted caramel and green cardamom, grilled pineapple and coconut milk, lime and coriander.

Virevent

This neighbourhood favorite is located on the busy La Promenade Fleury in the heart of Ahuntsic. Known for scoops and ice cream and sorbet cakes.

 

Jason Lee

Jason is a food eater and picture taker. As the blogger behind Shut Up and Eat, he covers everything food, from recipes to reviews. Jason has vowed that he will not stop until he has officially eaten his way across Montréal. It’s a big claim, and it’s one he’s making.

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