Best Ice Cream in Calgary

Here's where you can find Calgary's best ice cream — but this is just the tip of the ice(cream)berg, focusing on businesses that make their own products. There are also plenty of fantastic neighbourhood scoop shops that can satisfy an ice cream craving. So go ahead and get a double scoop!

Abbey’s Creations

A growing local empire, Abbey’s is the creation of Abbey Claro, who opened her first shop in 2020 before expanding to multiple locations scattered around the city. One of the keys to Abbey’s success has been the breadth of flavours available, with all the classics as well as Filipino favourites like calamansi, halo halo, and macapuno and fun combinations including rooter pretzel crunch and hot honey peanut butter crunch.

Location: Various locations

Amato Gelato

A little more old school than some of the other ice cream shops in the city, Amato serves traditional Italian-style gelato and sorbetto. There are over 70 rotating flavours to choose from, ranging from Italian classics like spumoni and stracciatella to more contemporary selections like black sesame and bubblegum, with vegan and sugar-free options as well. Gelato lovers can visit the original gelateria in Kensington or the more recently opened Italian-style dessert cafe on 17th Avenue S.W.

Locations: 7-2104 Kensington Rd NW or 602 17 Ave SW

Lukes Drug Mart

Calgary is lucky to have a family-run drug store that sells great coffee and cool vinyl records alongside pharmacy items and toothpaste, but many customers make their way to Lukes just for the soft serve ice cream. The whimsical flavours change up monthly and are usually formulated in collaboration with some of the city’s best locally owned restaurants.

Locations: 112 4 St NE or 3407 26 Ave SW

Made by Marcus

Offering some of the most creative and unexpected flavours in the city, Made by Marcus takes a foodstuff that’s typically viewed as a kids’ dessert and turns it into an adult-worthy treat. In addition to a group of solid core flavours the shops have monthly features which may include unique concoctions like Taber corn and blackberry or dill pickle peanut butter. Expand the experience by signing up for an ice cream workshop or take home a copy of the shop’s own ice cream cookbook.

Locations: 221 19 St NW , 1105 1 Ave NE , 1013 17 Ave SW #121 , or 1119 10 Ave SE Suite 105

Milk Ice Cream Club

Founded by a pair of cousins with a penchant for nostalgia, Milk Ice Cream Club started operating out of Anita Ly and Tiffany To’s family’s diner and eventually turned into a stands-alone (and very popular) scoop shop in the neighbourhood of Crescent Heights. The small batch flavours skew towards Asian-inspired treats like White Rabbit candy and HK milk tea, as well as ‘90s childhood references such as Dunakroos. Things get even more fun with rotating seasonals which have included Thai sticky rice and tofu pudding.

Location: 1000 Centre St N #110

Noto Gelato

Calgary has an interconnected group of Italian families who have long been key players in our local restaurant industry. One of the latest to contribute to that legacy is Stefanna Spoletini who started Noto Gelato with her uncle, Domenic Tudda (who is also the man behind Pulcinella). The two wanted to make proper high-quality gelato and Noto certainly fulfills that mission. The flavours run from the traditional (pistachio, stracciatella, chocolate) to the not-so-traditional (carrot cake, Aperol spritz, strawberry prosecco) with both gelato and sorbetto available.

Location: 236 4 St NE

Righteous Gelato

A true Calgary success story, Righteous Gelato ’s products are served at several local restaurants, can be found in many grocery stores, via the Righteous Gelato food trucks and at its southeast factory and coffee bar, which is a great attraction for visitors to check out on a trip to Calgary. The handcrafted small batch gelato and sorbetto comes in a variety of flavours, with favourites like dark chocolate caramel sea salt and dairy-free strawberry rhubarb.

Location: 221 19 St SE #110

Sweet Tooth

There are a few rolled ice cream shops in Calgary, but Chinatown’s Sweet Tooth is a favourite for many locals. The process of making this ultra-creamy treat is fascinating to watch: cream is poured onto an incredibly cold metal palate (or “ice grill”) and chopped and scraped with a metal spatula until it develops and ice cream-like texture and is then rolled and served in a cup with toppings. Sweet Tooth offers well over a dozen flavours with standouts like Gotcha Matcha (matcha ice cream with condensed milk) and Nutella and Chill (vanilla-hazelnut ice cream with chocolate chips, toasted almonds and chocotella drizzle).

Location: 206 Centre St S

Village Ice Cream

The first Village Ice Cream opened in 2012 and quickly became a Calgary institution. It’s the first place that many locals flock when the sun is shining, even in the depths of winter. All five locations offer super-creamy hand-made ice cream with a side of community friendliness. Choose from one of the core “always flavours” like Guide’s mint, maple pecan, or Phil and Sebastian coffee, or try a seasonal special. Village's seasonal flavours always include a variety of vegan and gluten-free options.

Locations: 431 10 Ave SE , 4019 University Ave NW , 69 7a St NE , 2406 34 Ave SW , or 820 49 Ave SW (in Britannia Plaza)