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9 of the Coolest Ice Cream Parlours You NEED to Discover in Ottawa
Summertime is my favourite season because it gives me an excuse to eat as much ice cream as I want. I do want to say that it’s not entirely my fault, as Ottawa’s selection of ice cream parlours is too good to pass on—yup, I’m going with that reason.
So allow me to gush about my favourite ice cream spots in Ottawa on this list and discover why visiting them is one of the best things to do in Canada during summertime.
Whether you have a sweet tooth or simply want to cool down during a hot day, you’ll find something that’ll suit you and your tastebuds in my handpicked list below!
Moo Shu Ice Cream
Media credit: mooshuicecream
Address: 1130 Wellington St. W Unit 1
Contact details: +1 613-565-1524
Operating hours: Thursday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
As soon as I saw Moo Shu Ice Cream’s creme bruléed ice cream sandwiches, I knew I had to include it on this list. This dessert is exactly what it sounds like—an ice cream sandwich that has blowtorched to golden brown perfection!
They also have a unique ice cream sandwich variation where the buns take the form of Japanese pancakes. These pancakes even have fillings like red bean paste, which perfectly contrasts with the sweet and creamy flavour of the ice cream—yum!
Of course, they also have your typical pints, which you can never go wrong with. They offer classic flavours like strawberry and chocolate, as well as unique ones like Hong Kong milk tea, and ginger and purple sweet potato.
Pro tip:
Stay in the know of their latest menu offerings by following their official IG page!
The Merry Dairy
Media credit: themerrydairy
Address: 102 Fairmont Ave.
Contact details: +1 613-680-3144
Operating hours:
- Tuesday: 12:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Wednesday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entering The Merry Dairy and seeing their wide variety of ice cream flavours behind their glass counter will immediately make you feel like a kid in a candy store! You know you’re in a good ice cream store when you see variants like coffee fudge brownie, blueberry, and malted chocolate.
I also love that they feature seasonal flavours to get you into the spirit of whichever holiday the world is currently celebrating. For instance, my go-to scoop of theirs this past holiday season was their peppermint crackle, which by the way, is vegan!
My favourite thing about this place, however, is their ice cream for breakfast offering. This series consists of a thick homemade waffle and a heaping scoop of your chosen ice cream flavour—need I say more?
Pro tip:
If you don’t know what to gift your loved ones for a special occasion, you can buy them a Merry Dairy gift coupon, along with a pint! You can find these together with the other takeout options on their official website.
Carp Custom Creamery
Media credit: carpcustomcreamery
Address: 3763 Carp Rd, Carp
Contact details: +1 613-839-3336
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Carp Custom Creameries is like that no-frills ice cream parlour from your childhood that your family always came back to. It’s family-run and -owned, and all its products are homemade using local products.
Its striking yellow and red exterior will allure you into entering its doors where you’ll be presented with more ice cream flavours than you can imagine. They offer classics like chocolate and vanilla, while also providing unique flavours like sticky toffee pudding and mudpuddle.
I was also surprised to see how their ice cream can take on many forms apart from being in pints, cups, and cones. For instance, they offer an ice cream shaped like a yule log, drizzled in chocolate and various other toppings!
Pro tip:
Consider coming here if you’re vegan, as they offer various fruit sorbets that are equally refreshing and tasty! If you want our advice, however, go for their sea salt dark chocolate—it’s not wrong to treat yourself to something sweet sometimes!
Lois ‘N’ Frima’s Ice Cream
Address: 1626 Stittsville Main St
Contact details: +1 613-720-7707
Operating hours: Friday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Lois ‘N’ Frima’s Ice Cream has been a staple in the ByWard Market since the 1980s. They’re known for offering over 60 flavours of ice cream, including black cherry, orange pineapple, chocolate orange, and other weird yet tasty combinations.
One of the reasons why their selections are elevated is the use of farm-fresh milk and cream, straight from Ottawa itself. This is why you’ll notice that each of their dairy-based flavours like vanilla and chocolate is extra creamy.
I also appreciate how inclusive their menu is, as they offer non-dairy and sugar-free options for customers who have strict diets. Also, as a pet owner, I love that they even provide pup cups!
Pro tip:
Before or after your ice cream feast at Lois ‘N’ Frima’s, stop by Beaver’s Tail, which is located on the same block. This iconic Ottawan business is beloved for its beaver tail-shaped pastry topped with sweet and savoury fix-ins.
The Beachconers
Media credit: beachconers
Address: 273 Britannia Rd
Contact details: +1 613-720-7707
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
The Beachconers holds a special place in my heart because all their ice cream flavours are made from scratch. Even more impressive, they regularly churn up new variations—talk about creativity!
From strawberry to pistachio, chocolate, and more, they offer just about every flavour you could think of. But if you were to ask me what flavour I’d take with me on a deserted island, I’d choose their toasted cornflake.
They also hold “ice cream for breakfast” days for those looking to get their sweet tooth fix in the morning. Instead of traditional waffles, however, their ice cream will be sandwiched inside taiyaki waffles, which are fish-shaped pancakes.
Pro tip:
After consuming all that sugar, you can stroll along the beautiful Britannia Beach, only a couple of minutes away, to burn all those calories!
Stella Luna Gelato
Media credit: slgelato
Address: 1103 Bank St.
Contact details: +1 613-416-4300
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
If you’re looking for a chill place to enjoy your ice cream, Stella Luna Gelato should be right up your alley! Instead of offering a usual grab-and-go set-up, it provides its customers with a cafe, complete with a cosy ambience and Instaworthy designs.
However, the highlight remains to be the gelatos, and there are a lot of them! They constantly refresh their offerings but the one that never gets old is their cream and coffee crunch gelato that comes with drizzled chocolate sauce and bits.
They also offer seasonal flavours, among which is their special candy corn, which they bring out every Halloween. As for the holidays, I always wait for their peppermint gelato—December can’t get here sooner!
Pro tip:
If you’re not too fond of ice cream or sweets, in general, you can opt for their coffee series! Meanwhile, you can order their sandwiches if you’re looking for something heavier.
Malak and Sons
Media credit: malakandsons
Address: 54 Byward Market Square
Contact details: +1 613-668-3073
Operating hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
Out of all the ice cream stores in Ottawa, Malak and Sons is one of the few spots that try to emulate authentic Italian-style gelato. For starters, they’ve imported their gelato machines from Italy—now that’s a dedication to the craft!
Their gelatos are thick, creamy, and best of all, loaded with different ingredients. For instance, if you order their chocolate chip gelato, you’ll find bits of chocolate in almost every scoop.
They also offer fruit sorbets if you’re looking for something more refreshing that won’t make you feel guilty after eating. You can go for the timeless strawberry or mango flavours but our favourite has to be their raspberry because of that signature sour taste.
Pro tip:
Consider reaching out to them if you have events coming up! They can provide gelato and sorbet carts to make your day sweeter and cooler.
Farinella Ottawa
Media credit: farinella.ottawa
Address: 492 Rochester St
Contact details: +1 613-422-6462
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $-$$
Website
Menu
Farinella isn’t specifically an ice cream parlour, but its gelato easily steals the show from the rest of its menu! They can only be ordered in-store and I think it’s because of how massive the serving sizes are, often oozing out of the pints.
They offer pistachio and chocolate as their mainstay flavours, but they’ll also introduce new ones like hazelnut crunch. During the recent Superbowl weekend, they even featured flavours based on the NFL teams like the Raspberry Lemonade for the Chiefs.
If you don’t want to buy an entire pint but still want to enjoy their gelatos, you can opt for their cheesecake gelato on a stick. A favourite flavour of mine that they introduced in this series is the chocolate ganache—you need to try it to know I can’t resist!
Pro tip:
Don’t sleep on their pizzas! Some of their best flavours include the Margherita and the pepperoni. They’re great to order if you’re coming with friends and want to share something for the entire table.
Ice Flame
Media credit: malakandsons
Address: 1398 Highgate Rd.
Contact details: +1 613-927-9632
Operating hours: Daily from 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
Ice Flame sets itself apart from other parlours by offering rolled ice cream—I dare say that this is better than an ice cream cone! For starters, the serving size is bigger, as each cup comes with thick multiple rolls.
I also love that each serving is packed with various bits before being topped off with drizzles and toppings. Watching how these rolls are made is worth the visit as well, especially when the cook starts to scoop the freezing ice cream base to turn them into rolls.
If you can only order one flavour, you MUST get the crunchy KitKat, as the ice cream base tastes like the bar itself while wafer bits can be found in each bite. I also recommend the mango magic if you prefer something fruitier.
Pro tip:
If you want your sweet tooth fix to go, you can order their shakes instead! They also come in different flavours like Oreo, pistachio, mango, and more.
