The Best Ice-Cream and Gelato in Melbourne
In Melbourne, gelato is more prevalent than ice-cream (learn the difference between the two here) due to so many Italians moving here after World War II. But strangely enough, it was hard to find real gelato as recently as ten years ago. Most shops were still using cheap pastes produced in factories, rather than making their gelato from scratch.
All the spots below are committed to doing things the right way. Hint: look for pozzetti, the lidded, refrigerated pots which protect fragile gelato from oxidisation. Any shop with a glass case full of perky mounds has almost certainly given its gelato the equivalent of a boob job.
If you’re looking to compare the skills of two different shops, order a scoop of pistachio. It’s the industry’s universal benchmark.
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Luther’s Scoops Brunswick
This farm-to-freezer ice-creamery has a pastry chef behind the counter who’s done time in a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants. Inventive seasonal flavours are added weekly, so there’s always something new to try.
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Kariton Sorbetes Chinatown
Find Filipino flavours at this playful dessert spot in Chinatown. Its menu is projected onto the curved, sky-blue ceiling. And it has flavours like ube (purple yam), mango float and champorado (rice pudding) – in scoops, tubs or pillowy bread buns.
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Pidapipo Laboratorio
Anyone who's somehow not acquainted with Pidapipo may be tempted to write it off as touristy or overpriced. Don't. Pidapipo deserves every metre of the long lines it generates, and its gelato is unquestionably some of Melbourne's best. Joining stores in Carlton, Windsor and the CBD is the “laboratorio”, a dessert destination with a chocolate room, a pasticceria offering, gelato cakes and a rooftop honey operation. Plus, experimental scoops you won’t find elsewhere.
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Piccolina Gelateria Collingwood
The original Piccolina is in Hawthorn, but this is unquestionably the brand's headquarters. Enter for fresh and simple Italian gelato made the old-fashioned way. The gelato here is revered for a reason, but keep an eye out for the excellent range of cakes and other treats on offer too.
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Good Daze
This compact gelato bar serves around 21 flavours inspired by sweets from around the world. Of those, there are usually seven vegan options, plus Lacteeze behind the counter if you need it.
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Sebastian Kakigori
Move over froyo. This Tokyo-born dessert haven, backed by Le Bajo Milkbar's owner, serves soft kakigori. The cult shaved-ice dessert comes layered with syrup, crumble, foam and diced fruit (and includes a “Rare Cheese” flavour).
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Kori Ice-Cream CBD
Cup, cone or tub from the vending machine? You can have it all at Kori, a Japanese-inspired ice-creamery by ex-Tonka and Luxbite pastry chefs. Scoop up flavours like Hokkaido cheesecake, white-sesame, tofu-vanilla and more.
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Nuvoletta Gelateria
This gelateria from a sweet-toothed couple brings classic Italian scoops to Carnegie. Plus, gelato cakes and seasonal desserts.
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Miinot Gelato
Owner Emma Nicholas-Jennis grew up in a gelato store. So she's spent most of her life making – and scooping – gelato. So it should come as little surprise that the gelato here is some of the best in town. All of the flavours here are worthwhile, but if you see the burnt fig – go for it.
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Cono Gelateria
At this retro-leaning spot, your scoops might be inspired by the jam doughnuts at Preston Market, pay homage to the cannoli flavours served at a neighbouring Italian pasticceria, or use prickly pear grown locally in backyards.
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Beku Gelato
This gelato shop takes its cues from Southeast Asia, rather than Italy. Past flavours on owner Agusta Triwahyu's eclectic menu have included durian, lychee, Turkish Delight and even Malaysian condensed-milk tea.
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Gelato Messina
Sydney's favourite gelato chain is just as popular in Melbourne. Sometimes going for an ice-cream here – with the big crowds, cool staff and house music blaring – feels more like waiting in line at nightclub. It would almost be frustrating, if the gelato here weren't so good.
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Gelato Papa
This Preston gelateria combines traditional techniques with experimental flavours such as matcha, coconut and gorgonzola. No need to worry if you’re just after a classic flavour though – they’re here as well. Be sure to check out the other sweets on offer too.
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Billy Van Creamy Brunswick
Classic flavours made with the highest-quality ingredients possible are the draw at this ice-creamery. Pop in for scoops of house-made honeycomb, mint and milk chocolate, and more. Plus: milkshakes, sundaes, ice-cream sandwiches and good coffee.
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Glacé
At this frozen desserts store by pastry chef Christy Tania, bestselling ice-creams include the pavlova and cookies and cream flavours. But don’t miss out on the range of ice-cream cakes, babkas and macarons either.
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Kariton Sorbetes Footscray
This Filipino-inspired ice-creamery by two top Melbourne chefs is scooping vibrant, textural flavours like ube, cheese and crème caramel. It's a relative newcomer to the city's ice-cream scene, but it's already making big, creamy waves. A second location is now open in Chinatown.
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Meno Zero
In addition to oodles of gelato flavours, this gelateria has one of the best ranges of semifreddos in Melbourne. The tiramisu and tartufo both look great, but our eyes are set squarely upon the Meno Rocher: a giant, gelato-filled take on a Ferrero Rocher.
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Cuppa Turca
Dondurma is a type of stretchy, Turkish ice-cream. And it’s pretty hard to find in Melbourne. Cuppa Turca specialises in the stuff. If you want a break from gelato but still want to scratch that sweet, frozen itch, this is your pick. Plus there’s colourful Turkish delights and shatteringly crisp baklava.
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Barbarella Gelato and Wine Bar
Gelato and wine. Need we say more? This city gelateria is the perfect option if you find yourself in the CBD on a sweltering day. The wine is good and so's the coffee, but it's the gelato that keeps us coming back.
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Fluffy Torpedo
The floor is quite literally paved with sour-strap lollies. The flavours include grape Aeroplane Jelly, Vegemite-white choc and smoked Cherry Ripe. And you can go on a sampling spree before you commit to any one scoop.
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Hareruya Pantry Carlton
The roller door goes up mid-morning at this sun-drenched Japanese eatery, and it’s worth getting in early to secure your picnic-ready bento box and Japanese-inspired gelato. Once you do, take your spoils across the street and enjoy in Lincoln Square.
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Happy Eats Gelato
This fruit-forward gelateria fights fruit waste with every scoop. Find experimental specials – like lamington and coconut sesame caramel – alongside classics such as pistachio and the crowd-favourite Snickers. Plus, choc-tops, ice-cream cakes and plenty of dairy-free options.
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Gelateria Primavera
This gelateria, perched next to City Wine Shop and Spring Street Grocer, is a contender for having the best gelato in town. The ingredients are high quality, seasonal flavours range from classic to strange, and the pozzetti cabinets keep the preservative-free gelato nice and fresh.
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Augustus Gelatery Pascoe Vale
This gelateria (originally named for the Willy Wonka character Augustus Gloop, who knew a thing or two about sweets) is open 365 days of the year, with over 30 flavours, including a number of buffalo-milk gelati. Now with more than 20 locations across the state.
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Davey Mac’s
At this long-standing bayside favourite, you'll be transported from Black Rock to the heart of Italy with just one lick of this artisan gelato. Flavour-wise, there’s the usual suspects but if you’re after something a little extra, then the elaborate ice-cream cakes are your go.
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Jock's Ice Cream & Sorbet
This ice-creamery – believe it or not, owned by a man called Jock – has consistently been one of Melbourne's best ever since opening back in 2001. That's down to the quality of the ingredients. There are plenty of flavours, but it's hard to look past the Hokey Pokey and Chocolate – it's a bestseller.
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Gigi’s Gelato
Slide into this family-run gelateria for scoops of classic Italian gelati (like fior di latte and pistachio) alongside more experimental takes like pancake or pumpkin pie. Plus, find dairy-free sorbet and creamy cakes to go.
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Hareruya Pantry CBD
Hareruya is Japanese for “sunny shop”. Here, follow the billowing, traditional Japanese noren curtain inside for takeaway bento boxes, bouncy steamed buns, egg salad sandos and experimental gelato flavours.
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1565 Cafe and Gelateria, Kensington
This family-run cafe, gelateria and deli is named after the year gelato was believed to be invented. Naturally, it's scooping house-made Italian flavours such as pistachio – but there are also seasonal specials, with past highlights including ricotta and honey, and watermelon and mint.
Suga Rays, CBD
Tinee Su of Tori's and Humble Rays runs this vegan ice-cream shop on A'Beckett Street in the CBD. You’ll always find ube, Thai tea and matcha scoops as well as some specials such as miso caramel injeolmi (Korean roasted soybeans). But there are also savoury options such as wasabi and edamame.
