“Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos.” Don Kardong. I truly believe ice cream solves everything – especially delicious good quality ice cream. There is something about frozen treats that invokes pure happiness, child like emotions and bliss. The following is a the ultimate summer cool down list of the best ice cream in Vancouver. Each are uniquely sinful and we bet you can’t have just one! In no particular order.
Best Ice Cream Vancouver
Soft Peaks Ice Cream Vancouver | Vancouver (Gastown) | 25 Alexander Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1B2 | 604-559-2071
Soft Peaks Ice Cream features Avalon Dairy BC Certified Organic milk churned into a all natural creamy goodness. It is free from chemical stabilizers. Their signature sell is beautiful golden honeycomb from the Okanagan, crushed Tim Tams, and yuzu marmalade.
UYU Ice Cream Vancouver | Vancouver (Gastown) | 433 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1R3 | (778) 379-9986
UYU Ice Cream uses only organic milk and local ingredients. Their flavors changes weekly. Sometimes you will get Earl Grey Tea with Vanilla and have a London Fog twist cone. Other days you will get Vietnamese Coffee and Matcha Green Tea.
BETA5 Chocolates | Vancouver (Mount Pleasant) | 413 Industrial Ave, Vancouver, BC V6A 2P3 | (604) 669-3336
BETA 5 Chocolates Ice Cream Sandwich flavors changes weekly. They also became sold out quickly. There is a constant mad rush of people pulling up to the garage to get their hands on these tasty treats. Did someone say milk chocolate, pear, chai spiced milk chocolate ice cream, pear ice cream, AND chai-spiced sugar cookie?
Rain or Shine Ice Cream | Vancouver (Kitsilano) | 1926 W 4th Ave #102, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M6 | (604) 428-7246
Often the sun couldn’t decide to rain or shine in Vancouver but at least there is Rain or Shine Ice Cream Vancouver in Kitsilano. The name is a bit tongue in cheek and fitting for Vancouver weather. Rain or Shine Ice Cream with a goal to serve good quality ice cream made without artificial flavors, corn syrup. Ingredients are sourced locally and seasonally or imported organic and fair trade.
Earnest Ice Cream | Vancouver (Kensington) | 3992 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4E4 | (604) 428-0697
Earnest Ice Cream has finally opened their very own brick and motar shop on Fraser street, after a year selling to farmer’s market and various food outlets around Vancouver. They are known for quality ingredients, delicious consistencies of rich creaminess and special flavours – London Fog, Whiskey Hazelnut. My favorite is apple cider. It is richly aromatic both sensually and tastefully.
Bella Gelateria Handcrafted Gelato | Vancouver (Downtown) | 1001 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B7 | (604) 569-1010
James Coleridge is the mastermind behind Bella Gelateria and received training at both the Italian Culinary Institute and advanced masters training at Carpigiani’s Gelato University. He believes in the slow food moment and the 100-mile diet where possible, using neither pre-packed frozen ingredients, , industrially prepared pastes or additives / artificial stabilizers. Everything is made fresh from raw ingredients. Try the Rosewater and Noodle sorbetto when you have a chance!
La Casa Gelato International | Vancouver (Strathcona) | 1033 Venables St, Vancouver, BC V6A 3R9 | (604) 251-3211
La Casa Gelato International started some 28 years ago and is perhaps one of the oldest ice cream parlors with hundreds of flavors. The pink house filled with waffles and ice cream immediately puts your brain into overdrive and you end up ordering vanilla. Choose from wilder flavors such as garlic, red bean, durian, pesto and your classics such as vanilla, raspberries and chocolate.
Rocky Point Ice Cream & Cafe | Port Moody | 2800 Murray Street, Port Moody, BC V3H 1X2 | 604-461-3726
Summer times calls for Ice Cream. Period. On random days I like to head off to Rocky Point Park in Port Moody for a picnic and a light stroll. On other days, perhaps kayaking or paddle boarding. Rocky Point has a few gems of its own, Pajos Fish and Chips, Boathouse, and of course Rocky Point Ice Cream & Café. Opened since 1997, this place brings you delicious treats, candies and even ice cream for your canine – K9 Doggy Cone.
Timothy’s Frozen Yogurt Ltd | Richmond (Steveston) | 3800 Bayview Street, Richmond, BC | (604) 275-7547
One of the local gems of Steveston Village, Richmond is Timothy’s Frozen Yogurt. This iconic shop is located right next to the dock and attracts both locals and tourist year round. They are famous for their fresh fruit yogurt, delicious homemade waffle cones. The interior is cute and has a bit of a retro vibe with a couple small high-top tables.
Creekside Coffee Factory | Coquitlam | 2773 Barnet Hwy, Coquitlam, BC | (604) 554-0100
Creekside Coffee Factory is not a ice cream shop but rather serves dew drip, is their version of vacuum coffee. But if you are looking for an Affogato – Italian, “drowned” – it usually takes the form of a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream topped with a shot of hot espresso. What a nice summer treat. A spoonful of ice cream drowned in espresso creates a very refreshing taste to the palate. Coffee and ice cream. The best of both worlds
Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionery | North Burnaby (The Heights) | 4090 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC V5C 2H9 | (604) 500-4548
Classic soda fountain treats and some signature items made especially for our great neighbourhood. Spend an afternoon over banana splits, Egg Creams and Malts in this retro-vibe dessert parlor!
What are some of your favorite Ice Cream Shops in Vancouver? Leave a comment and share with us!
