The Best Ice Cream + Gelato Spots in Cape Town

Ice cream is the ultimate summer-in-the-city comfort food, as is gelato (the real Italian deal). When the craving for a cone of icy scrumptiousness strikes, head to one of these cool spots for an artisanal scoop that’ll hit all the right spots.

Italian purists swear by the bright, fresh flavours of artisanal gelato (less sugar and lower fat content, with the real fruit, nuts and chocolates shining through in all their glory). And dedicated ice-cream fans love the dense creamy texture and layers of flavour that come with the lower-temperature and higher cream and  sugar content of pure, small-batch ice cream.

But when it comes to decadent deliciousness, there are no wrong answers… One day you’ll scream for ice cream, the next day gelato is obbligato… Summer in a scoop!

Moro Gelato

Southern suburbs’ locals are finally getting a taste of “new-school” Italian gelato – in a gold-and-pastel-hued parlour at High Constantia (in part of the old Foxcroft space). Owner Stefano Moro, who grew up watching his nonna make gelato on summer holidays on Italy’s Ligurian coast, has brought the rich tradition to Cape Town, modernising it with local flavours. The gelato, protected by decorative golden domes covering the traditional pozzetti, is made daily from locally sourced ingredients; flavours might include bacio di dama, pistachio, halva, caramel cookie crumble, Herzoggie cookie or milk tart. There are also sorbetti made with seasonal fruits such as mango and pomegranate, as well as nuts, spices and chocolate. No need to drive to the city bowl, Sea Point, Green Point or Stellenbosch!
Opening May 2026. Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to know.
Cherry on top Each gelato is topped with a wafer freshly dipped in a choice of chocolates from the chocolate fountain. And they make wonderful affogato – with coffee as the Italians do.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Contact info@morogelato.co.za
Where to find it High Constantia Centre, Groot Constantia Road, Constantia, Cape Town
165 Long Street, Cape Town
85 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Portside Centre, Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town
13 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch

Unframed

If you’re after artisanal ice cream with French flair, Yann Rey has dreamed up an array of sophisticated flavours at his slick parlour. Here, it’s all about the art of ice-cream making, and the parlour is like a minimalist gallery space (hence the name), where the “artworks” get to shine. His small-batch ice cream is the perfect balance between flavour, sweetness and texture. Standouts include vanilla bean, beetroot chocolate ginger, burnt white chocolate, double carrot cake and chocolate passion fruit (with an array of incidentally vegan options that are just as flavour-packed). We love the Woodstock Quarter HQ, and there are stores in Kloof Street and at the Time Out market, as well as mobile Unframed trolleys at various wine farms.
Cherry on top A tasting flight of any five flavours. And the “cookie bomb”: homemade double chocolate, pistachio white chocolate or chocolate pecan cookies, topped with ice cream, sauce and your choice of topping. Toppings are noteworthy, too: chocolate sauce, salted caramel, candied pistachio, mini marshmallows… and there are rainbow sprinkles too!
Opening times
Kloof Street + Time Out Market: Monday – Sunday, 11am – 11pm
Woodstock: Monday – Friday, 11am – 4pm
Contact 063 601 0287, unframedicecream.com
Where to find it 187 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
45C Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Time Out Market, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream

True to her roots, US-born Kristen Buttress makes her small-batch ice cream Philadelphia-style, with milk, cream and sugar – as opposed to the traditional custard base – resulting in something that’s lighter and more textured. (She’s also got a raft of inventive sugar-free and vegan options.) She’s obsessed with the science of ice cream, balancing the technical wizardly with a childhood nostalgia that says more is more. For alluring flavours like chocolate-chip cookie dough, coconut fudge, salted caramel, roasted cherry and dark chocolate, she bakes all the cookies, cake, almond brittle, honeycomb, etc, in-house. Through the year you’ll discover creative seasonal flavours such as Christmas Trifle, Halloween Candy and Sweetie Pie, and irresistible kids concoctions such as Sophie’s Magical Mermaid and Cookie Monster. Her original pet-friendly parlour at Noordhoek Farm Village is the ideal outing for families, and you’ll also find outlets at Constantia Uitsig, Newlands, Muizenberg, Somerset West and Stellenbosch.
Cherry on top Kristen makes bespoke ice-cream cakes for birthdays and special occasions.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 10am – 8pm (some locations may vary)
Contact 079 265 5108, kristen@kristenskickass.co.za
Where to find it Noordhoek Farm Village, Noordhoek Main Road, Noordhoek, Cape Town
Constantia Uitsig, Spaanchemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town
6 Cardiff Castle, Main Street, Newlands, Cape Town
82 Beach Road (behind Knead), Muizenberg, Cape Town
13 Drama Street, Somerset West
De Wet Centre, Corner of Bird and Church Street, Stellenbosch

Tadaa!

With its catchy name, coral-pink walls and promise of all-natural ice cream, this gorgeous parlour serves up sheer delight. More than 20 flavours (from the classics to the more unusual, like Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, or amaretti cookie with cherry) are on offer, scooped into tubs or cones. The interior is inviting and whimsical, with cushioned benches, window stools, tub chairs and even a “melting” disco ball, making it a lovely spot to sit and enjoy your treat. Owner Lena Sönnichsen is combining two loves: a life-long passion for the product (she learnt how to make it at an ice-cream school in Germany) and her love for her new hometown, the essence of which she aims to distill into her frozen treats – “sunny days, freezing tidal pools, vibrant people and aromatic kitchens” – using fresh ingredients sourced locally and made onsite.
Cherry on top A playful German ice-cream classic called Spaghettieis… vanilla ice cream ‘spaghetti’ with strawberry sauce and white chocolate ‘parmesan’ shavings served once a week on ‘Spaghettieis Wednesdays’. And sometimes a special limited-edition rosé frozé with pink champagne. You can also buy a 10-scoop gift card.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 1pm – 10pm
Saturday + Sunday, 11am – 10pm
Contact @tadaa_icecream
Where to find it 17 Kloof Nek Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town

The Creamery

We’ve had a love affair with “slow foodie” Kate Schrire’s ice cream since we took our first lick back in 2011. Not only is it heaven in a tub, it’s handmade using seasonal, organic, locally sourced ingredients (and bean-to-bar chocolate from Cocoafair) served in cones or biodegradable tubs. The Flavour of the Month is much anticipated among intrepid ice-cream lovers who have sampled such delights as jasmine blossom, Rosetta Roastery coffee, blackberry cheesecake, malva pud, koeksister, naartjie choc-chip and black sesame. Toppings include shortbread crumbles, cookie-dough bites and honeycomb crunch. For location alone, The Creamery Café in Mouille Point gets our vote, and there are outlets in Newlands, Claremont and Durbanville.
Cherry on top Scoops can also be enjoyed on crispy waffles or soft, warm cookies, or as a classic banana split or sundae.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9am – 11pm
Contact  021 447 7690, hello@thecreamery.co.za
Where to find it 2 Park Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town
Shop 4, Newlands Quarter, Dean Street, Newlands, Cape Town
Palmyra Junction, 9 Palmyra Rd, Claremont, Cape Town
Shop 18, 36 Oxford St, Durbanville, Cape Town

Thirteen

In 2013, French chef Beran Cristini started supplying the restaurant trade with sorbets and ice creams (and still creates bespoke flavours for various Cape Town restaurants), later opening her Woodstock shop to scoop directly to the public. Changing the name from Sorbetière to Thirteen last year, her small-batch creations continue with the same classic style, varying according to season and mood. You might find strawberry and basil, salted caramel, roasted peach, fresh mint and chocolate chip, honeycomb, lime and ginger – all best enjoyed in her hand-rolled choc-dipped cornetto cones or cups. The café is a little oasis of cool in a hidden courtyard in Woodstock’s bustling “art district”.
Cherry on top Bringing some patissier style, Beran also does ice-cream bonbons (praline topped with vanilla-pod ice cream and a coating of chocolate) and ice-cream cakes.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm
Saturday, 9am – 2pm (summer only)
Contact 079 085 5607, thirteenicecream@gmail.com
Where to find it Side Street Studios, 48 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town

Ice Dream

If you want “old-school” Italian gelato, this spot in Hout Bay has been serving it up for over 30 years. Brother and sister duo, Luigi and Liana Lazzarotto, opened the cute, pint-sized parlour in 1993 and Liana’s son, Fabrizio, is now in charge of the family tradition. The gelato is made on site using fresh ingredients, with no flavourings, preservatives or colourants. There is a range of classic, melt-in-the-mouth flavours, with names given in Italian with English translations below. The vanilla (made with Zanzibar pods) is pure joy; there are also traditional gelato favourites such as nocciola (hazelnut), caffé (coffee), fragola (strawberry), as well as tiramisu, mascarpone, stracciatella… and tantalising sorbetti too, in lemon, sour cherry, raspberry, litchi and pink grapefruit, to name a few. Special seasonal flavours to grab when you see them include black fig and ricotta, prickly pear, Campari, and even eggnog ice cream at Christmas time.
Cherry on top The freshly-made crunchy waffle cones come in a choice of cinnamon, sugar and regular.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 11am – 6pm
Saturday + Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Contact 021 790 2496, icedreamgelateria@gmail.com
Where to find it 22 Main Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town

The Ice Café

For ice cream made using a secret family recipe, head to this vintage seaside shop in Kalk Bay. It’s small (with benches outside on the pavement), but on a hot summer’s day it pumps out delicious cones by the dozen – even Jamie Oliver has popped in for a lick. The ice cream is made with natural ingredients and no eggs or gelatine. Other than the great prices and huge scoops, we love that they change flavours daily so there’s always something new to try; this might be Amareno cherry, creme brûlée, pistachio, Seville orange, Belgian chocolate, liquorice, ginger, Amarula, lime and basil, or mango yoghurt, among over 41 rotating flavours.
Cherry on top Get a family tub with up to six different flavours to take away and share at your favourite tidal pool. And you can add a chocolate flake to your cone for a nostalgic step back in time.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 7pm
Saturday + Sunday, 9am – 8pm
Contact 021 788 1995
Where to find it 92 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

Gelato Mania

Two generations of the Kappatos family are behind the success of Gelato Mania, which they started in 2006 using traditional Italian recipes that they made their own. Twenty years later they have notched up 15 stores (six in Gauteng), with a raft of flavours (at least 24 on display at any one time), so there’s almost too much choice! A fruit-forward mango sorbet, refreshing lemon, sultry strawberry, indulgent Snickers or Turkish Delight in hand-made sugar cones; and of course the original chocolate and hazelnut Pino Pinguino. Then there is the supremely decadent new Lindor Tiramisu, and vegan delights such as the acai berry or the dark chocolate and raspberry… and a sugar-free range too. You’ll find stores in Sea Point, Green Point, Camps Bay, Newlands, V&A Waterfront, Canal Walk, Stellenbosch and Hermanus.
Cherry on top Crisp Belgian waffles or pancakes topped with gelato and chocolate hazelnut sauce.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9am – 10.30pm (varies according to store)
Contact 021 914 6376
Where to find it 83A Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Mojo Market, 30 Regent Street, Sea Point, Cape Town
65 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town
11 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town
47 Dean Street, Newlands, Cape Town
Shop 152, Ground Floor, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Canal Walk, 490 Century Boulevard, Century City, Cape Town
18 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch
Corner Market Street and Marine Drive, Hermanus

Crumbs & Cream

A family business based on a love of desserts, Crumbs and Cream has grown from a pink and yellow truck on Sea Point Promenade in 2016  to now having five retail stores (including one in Joburg). Choose two cookies and a generous scoop of ice cream (from around 10 flavours on any day including at least one vegan option), which is then squished between the biscuits. Think red velvet cookies with real chocolate, or milk tart cookies with carrot cake ice cream. Then you add more: sour gummies, toasted marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, BarOne sauce, rainbow sprinkles… The cookies and cones are made on site and from scratch, and the ice cream is made in the Italian gelato style.
Cherry on top You can buy ice-cream cakes and mini bite-size cookie sandwiches to take home.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 11am – 11pm (varies according to store)
Contact 067 446 2352, hello@crumbsandcream.co.za
Where to find it 126 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
222 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
The Watershed, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
7 De Beer Road, Stellenbosch

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