BEST ICE CREAM IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO: A LOCAL’S SCOOP GUIDE
Toronto in summer moves slower — like it’s waiting for a cone to melt just enough. Downtown glows different when it’s ice-cream season: Queen West storefronts buzzing, Ossington sidewalks sticky with joy, Waterworks echoing with post-Pilates chatter.
Whether you crave pistachio-smooth gelato or a cookie sandwich the size of your face, these are the best ice cream spots in downtown Toronto — the ones locals actually go to when it’s too hot to think straight.
By VITALIY PAVLYSH NOVEMBER 9, 2025
Scoop Season Downtown
You don’t need a road trip for great ice cream here — just a streetcar pass and a little curiosity.
Downtown Toronto’s ice-cream scene feels handcrafted: design-forward spaces, flavours that tell stories, and crowds that somehow look better holding cones.
From Queen West’s sleek gelaterias to Ossington’s chaotic cookie sandwiches and Liberty’s hidden gems, every scoop has its own personality.
It’s the city’s unofficial love language — cold, sweet, and always best enjoyed on the go.
1. Mizzica Gelateria & Café (307 Queen St W) — Italian summer, Toronto streetlight
If gelato had an It-girl era, this would be it. Mizzica is clean, modern, and unapologetically Sicilian — pistachio that tastes like vacation, hazelnut that melts into memory. It’s the spot you “accidentally” linger at while pretending you’re texting.
- Must-try: Pistachio + hazelnut, always together.
- Vibe: Minimalist elegance — half locals, half design students people-watching.
- Pro tip: Go mid-afternoon when the sunlight hits the terrazzo tables.
A core best ice cream Toronto stop for anyone craving old-world flavour on Queen West.
2. Scooped by Demetres (Waterworks Food Hall, 505 Richmond St W) — Industrial sweetness
Tucked inside Waterworks, Scooped feels like dessert’s chic comeback. Small-batch, super-creamy, and flavour-driven — maple pecan crunch, über ube, lemon curd blueberry. It’s the perfect “I deserve this” stop between meetings or after yoga.
- Try: Maple pecan crunch if you love cozy flavours.
- Style: Concrete + chrome + soft-serve dreams. Young professionals and creative types refuelling.
- Pro tip: Grab a scoop, then drift into Waterworks’ courtyard — instant calm.
Easily one of the best ice cream downtown Toronto options for something polished yet playful.
3. Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery (93A Ossington Ave) — The chaotic good
Bang Bang is an experience, not a dessert. The lineup snakes down Ossington for a reason — cookie sandwiches stacked with flavours like burnt toffee, cornflake, or London Fog. Messy? Absolutely. But you’ll be grinning the whole time.
- Vibe: Loud, sticky, fun. Zero pretense, full joy.
- Pro Tip: Golden hour = less line + perfect lighting.
- Try: Any cookie sandwich; extra points for bubble-waffle style.
The name that defines ice cream Toronto culture — creative, chaotic, iconic.
4. Nani’s Gelato (120 Lynn Williams St) — Downtown’s hidden smooth operator
Liberty Village’s Nani’s Gelato is quietly genius. Every scoop is small-batch magic — brown butter pecan, saffron pistachio, toasted coconut. The texture? Buttery-smooth. The vibe? Casual luxury. It’s the local secret you brag about later.
- Try: Brown butter pecan or saffron pistachio.
- Setting: Calm, airy, laptop-friendly during weekdays; couples at night.
- Why go: Their flavour menu rotates weekly — check Instagram before heading over.
A Liberty Village highlight and solid pick for best ice cream downtown Toronto explorers.