The Best Gelato in Toronto

At Yonge and Eglinton and in Queen West, devotees line up for classic and vegan gelati at this award-winning spot. Beyond the main draw — in flavours like biscotti, guava, espresso and cheese lover — there are also gelato cakes to appease sweet teeth.

Visit an ATM before you arrive at this cash-only St. Clair West gelato parlour, and indulge in soft serve and bars once you make your way to the front of the line. Inspired by tradition and the seasons, the creative team turns everything from Ontario golden raspberries and chocolate chip cookie dough into must-try treats. Just keep in mind, this seasonal spot is closed all winter. 

If ordering vaniglia feels like sacrilege, the avant-garde flavours at this Dundas West destination are sure to impress. From a team that persistently pushes banal to the door, the menu jumps from cheeseboard to bourbon smoked chocolate, with a smattering of less challenging flavours, like strawberry basil, available for the timid.

A colourful array of house-made gelati greets guests at this spacious, family-run spot at Bayview and Leaside. With hundreds of recipes in its repertoire, the team delights traditionalists and those looking to branch out, with flavours from mocha and tiramisu to marshmallow and caramel popcorn. 

Summertime is synonymous with silky scoops from this beloved chain, with locations in Leslieville, Roncesvalles, the Beaches and Etobicoke. For its velvety gelati, the team churns milk, cream, sugar and flavourings into a host of warm-weather essentials. Whether you cave to luxe dark chocolate, classic pistachio or the timeless allure of a fruit-based swirl, is entirely up to you.

In summertime, rainbow-hued granitas join artisanal gelato on the menu at this lively shop. Happily, from a team trained at Italy's Carpigiani Gelato University, every order satisfies. Check social media for weekly flavours, then start salivating at the promise of swirls of cremino, fior di panna, apricot cream, and more. 

Gelato flights ease the burden of decision-making at this trendy Queen West wine and gelato bar. Embrace the full experience, with three of the team's myriad flavours—each free of dairy, nuts, egg, soy, sesame and gluten—and three wine pours. Or teetotal, and keep the focus squarely on the team's creamy, sweet, smallbatch treats. 

A whack of intriguing South Asian flavours lure sweet-toothed patrons to this booming local chain. Sure, you could order Nutella espresso or vanilla bean, but then you'd miss out on besan, kheer rice pudding or rooh afza piled high into a sundae or cookie sandwich, blended into a shake, or simply scooped into a cone or cup.

For 20 years, this gelatería (in Kensington Market and on the Danforth) has satisfied sweet cravings with classic Italian gelato made to exacting standards. Though flavours like fig and nocciola offer a true taste of Italy, pumpkin, maple and roasted marshmallow bring a little Canadiana to the party.