Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

8 of the Coolest Ice Cream Parlors in the World

Calling it ice cream is cute, but these sorbet, gelato, and nitrogen laboratories around the world are turning simple soft serve into flavorful masterpieces. Not only are the scoops wild, but the cones are larger than life and the shops are designed like modern galleries.

Hope you don’t have a sweet tooth – we recommend having a box of Daiya plant-based dessert bars on hand because you will need ice cream after this.

Prossima Fermata

Milan, Italy

Prossima Fermata
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The clean, quaint ice cream laboratory that is Prossima Fermata combines a parlor sales space with a scientific ice cream work area. Designed around three basic materials: linoleum, stone, and wood, this minimalist ice cream shop is obsessed with fresh, delicious flavors based around seasonal fruit. Its cool desserts include fig granita, blood orange sorbet, and tiramisu gelato.

Ice Scream

New York City, New York

Ice Scream
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You scream, we all scream for this liquid nitrogen ice cream bar that does away with freezer space and wait time, since customers get freshly frozen scoops on the double. Freezing at -321 degrees, the ice cream has less crystals and air, meaning the taste is dense and creamy. Ice Scream isn’t complete without a mess of toppings, from caramel de leche to fluffy whipped cream. Dine in because the 80s interior design by Asthetique is, like, totally bitchin’.

Sweet Salvation

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sweet Salvation
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The boldest minds of history (and ice cream creation) rely on experimentation. Toronto-born and Dubai-based, Sweet Salvation is a mind-bending ice cream shop serving tall swirls of vanilla or chocolate ice cream topped with icing, cake crumbles, sauce, or cotton candy. Yes, these ice cream cones are our saviors. Pair with a cold brew and enjoy on the sunlit turquoise barstool.

Glam Air

Taiwan

Glam Air
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hidden in the basement of a shopping mall in Taipei is the playful ice cream counter Glam Air. Famous for making cups of overflowing cotton candy atop soft serve, Glam Air shapes cute Chinese creatures out of cotton candy for a dessert that earns a spot on your Instagram … even if you hate food pics. (Want some pro tips for your photos?)

Milk Train

London, England

Milk Train
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Candy floss, popcorn, and (duh) ice cream are a few of the funky sweets invented at London’s Milk Train. A common cone here includes a cloud of cotton candy surrounding a mountain of soft serve and sprinkled with wild candies. Milk Train’s modern Covent Garden storefront is designed to look like a train station, and their ice cream creations are almost (almost) too good to eat.

Soft Touch

Medellín, Colombia

Soft Touch
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bring your sweet tooth to Colombia’s Soft Touch ice cream shop. Flushed with bright colors, the popular salon welcomes you in with pink neon signs and pastel wire chairs — a modern and lively space designed by Plasma Nodo — before absolutely demolishing your sugar cravings. Try an ice cream sandwich, shake, sundae, or fudge-infused brownie topped with ice cream. Drool over their Instagram … but only if you’re prepared to jump on a flight.

CoolN2

Toronto, Canada

CoolN2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you see an ice cream stabbed with a flavor syringe, you know that ice cream is legit. CoolN2 is a Toronto-based nitrogen ice cream lab with one simple counter and an easily identifiable tiger sign beckoning us to a willful brain freeze. The flavors are wildly unique and made from scratch (cream, fresh fruit, sugar, nitrogen, BOOM.) There’s almost always a line but it’s so worth it. They also serve dragon breath.

Ice & Vice

New York City, New York

Ice & Vice
Ice & Vice

If your biggest weakness is ice cream, embrace your vice with bougie flare in the Lower East Side ice cream parlor Ice & Vice. Largely inspired by Mexican flavors and spins, opt for an ice cream taco instead of a cone, and satiate your palate with scoops of ghost peppers, Vietnamese coffee, prickly pear, or cheddar and peach ice cream. Want a slice of pie thrown on top? Cool with them. Calling it ice cream is an understatement.

Editors' Recommendations

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Tlayudas is the ‘Mexican pizza’ you never knew you needed
Chef Alex Mixcoatl of El Lugar Cantina share his top Tlayuda tips.
El Lugar tlayuda closeup

El Lugar Cantina Tlayuda. Jose Portillo / El Lugar Cantina
Savory, crispy, and spicy, Tlayudas are a classic of Mexican cuisine. A street food favorite in Oaxaca, Tlayudas consist of a large corn tortilla piled high with refried beans, Oaxaca cheese, various meats, lettuce, or cabbage.
As an Oaxaca native, Chef Alex Mixcoatl is passionate about Tlayudas, and at his restaurant El Lugar Cantina, he's creating his version of the classic dish. With unique toppings like spicy shrimp or mushrooms, Mixcoatl's Tlayudas might differ from tradition but remain rooted in Mexican flavors. And the best part? Chef Mixcoatl is here to share his favorite Tlayuda ingredients and insights.

Tlayudas are being cooked in the wood-fired oven at El Lugar Cantina. Jose Portillo / El Lugar Cantina
How to cook Tlayudas 
Traditionally, Tlayudas are made on a flat griddle or plancha. At El Lugar, Mixcoatl changes the dynamic by using a wood-fired oven that roars as hot as 600 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. The intense wood-fire cooking adds a bit more crisp and char to the finished dish.

Read more
El Cristiano Tequila: Taking agave to the next level
A look at the award-winning spirits brand, El Cristiano Tequila
The fields at El Cristiano Tequila.

As tequila continues to be coveted in markets beyond its Mexican homeland, we're being introduced to more versions than ever. The popular agave spirit has made waves on domestic soil, and now we're enjoying a bit of a golden era. From limited-edition sippers to riffs aged in distinctive barrels, the time is now to enjoy the stuff.

has very much ridden this recent wave. The label touts itself as the world's most delicious tequila, a bold claim amid a saturated realm. The brand is nothing if not decorated, having earned several awards and high praise from drinks writers. Which begs the question: How do you stand out in such a crowded category?

Read more
What is the healthiest fruit? 5 items you should be eating daily
Fruit Salad

Consuming a variety of fruits can contribute to a healthy gut microbiome and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. But do you know which are the healthiest fruits for you? Let's look at how many and what type of fruits you should be eating for optimal health. 

What is the healthiest fruit?
The healthiest fruit is not a single fruit but rather a variety of fruits that offer a range of nutritional benefits. According to the American Heart Association, adults are recommended to consume 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Read more