Top Five Ice Cream Parlours
Date Updated: 21/11/2022
We all know you can’t live on ice cream but who doesn’t enjoy the occasional double scoop? And no matter what the weather’s doing, ice cream parlours are always fun. Also known as Scoop Shops or Dessert Bars, a cultural shift in the way we socialise means they are popping up all over the place. Being a heritage brand, we like our parlours old school and we’ve been known to match our sandals to our favourite flavours. Scroll on for the Top Five European Ice Cream Parlours …
Image by Cristina Hernandez on Unsplash
G Fassi, Rome, Italy
Italy is surely the undisputed capital of ice cream and this parlour has been doing it’s thing since 1880. The Fassi family have ice cream in their veins and this vast temple to gelato, known as the Frozen Palace, is now run by the founder’s great grandson. There are lots of tables and even a small historic display of ancient ice cream making equipment. The speciality here is sanpietrini (cobblestones in Italian), little nuggets of gelato covered in chocolate, plus ice cream sandwiches and flavours galore.
Fortes, Mumbles, Wales
Guiseppe Macari opened his first ice cream parlour in Mumbles in 1936 and the family business is still going strong today. Set above Limeslade Bay, the view from this sweet little place across the sea to the lighthouse is lovely and the ice creams are all home made with interesting flavours like Turkish Delight and Banoffee Pie. If you walk the cliff path from Langland Bay round to Mumbles, Fortes makes the perfect pitstop.
Morelli's, Broadstairs, England
Morelli’s now has parlours across the globe but we love the original, which opened in 1932 overlooking Viking Bay in Broadstairs. Well known for its iconic 1950’s flying canopy, stepping inside is like going back in time – the soda fountain, the jukebox, the pink leatherette booths – Morelli’s has it all.
Casa Mira, Malaga, Spain
Severino Mira Cortes arrived in Malaga in 1890 initially to sell nougat, fast forward to today and Casa Mira has become a Malageñan institution with several branches and boutiques throughout this beautiful city. The main parlour is on the popular shopping street Calle Marques de Larios. We love the old school interior here but there are no tables so if you want to sit in, it’s best to go to the newest branch on Calle Andres Perez. Try the leche merengada flavour which is based on a classic Spanish drink made with whipped milk and cinnamon. Delicioso!
Raimo, Paris, France
The oldest ice cream parlour in Paris, Raimo now has several branches but the original on Boulevard Reuilly is still the best. Although the Raimo family were originally Italian, their recipes, which date back to the nineteenth centrtury, are steeped in French tradition. You can choose from around thirty different flavours but this varies depending on what's in season as only the freshest produce is used. Their award winning almond milk ice cream and lemon basil sorbet are top of our list.
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