Where to get Victoria's best ice cream
Victoria has long been known as the “California of Canada” – while the rest of the country is busy trudging through the snow, we’re out here donning flip flops and complaining of the heat. It makes sense, therefore, that we would have plenty of great ice cream shops. These are just a few of the places where Victorians go to grab a cone and beat the heat.
Cold Comfort Ice Cream
2-1115 North Park St, Victoria, BC V8T 1C7The fine, friendly folks at Cold Comfort hand-craft some of the most delicious ice cream in Victoria. Every flavour they make is created from natural ingredients and inspired by the season. If you’re into monstrous ice cream sandwiches, they have you covered. From the standard Vanilla Bean ice cream between chocolate chip cookies to their unique Dark Matter Beer ice cream between vanilla macaroons, Cold Comfort has a flavour for every palate!
Beacon Drive In Ltd
126 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8V 2N9Beacon Drive In is one of Victoria’s oldest soft serve ice cream and fast food shops. They’ve been serving up their phenomenal soft serve since 1958, and they’ve been voted Victoria’s best ice cream 21 years in a row! What makes it the best? It’s the creamiest soft serve you’ll ever have. Full stop. Enjoy it in a cone, with a flavour twist, or splurge on one of their Avalanches.
Marble Slab Creamery
1150 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8W 3M9For a chain ice cream shop, Marble Slab mixes up some pretty sweet treats. From cupcakes to pies to low-fat yogurt cakes to gourmet sundaes, this place can do just about anything with ice cream. In the mood for something small? Try a scoop of one of their three dozen flavours mixed up with the candy bar of your choice. Our favourites are Birthday Cake ice cream mixed up with Oreo cookies and Reese cups and Green Tea ice cream with cookie dough and raspberries.
Kid Sister Ice Cream
10 Fan Tan Alley, Victoria, BC V8W 1W3Kid Sister is relatively new to the Victorian ice cream scene, but they’ve definitely entered with a bang. Their frozen treats are completely original and made of real ingredients. Nothing fake goes into a Kid Sister ice cream or frozen bar, and it definitely shows in the flavours that they’re able to produce! Creamy, smooth, and bursting with exotic flavour combinations, the ice cream at this shop will leave you wanting more. Act fast – they’re only open from Thursday through Sunday and their treats go quick!
The Soda Shoppe
801 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W8Down on Government Street, across from the Empress Hotel, lies the quaint old-fashioned Soda Shoppe. Step inside and allow yourself to be whisked away to yesteryear as their talented baristas whip you up a wonderful frozen confection. Decked out in striped aprons and hats, these talented people can create anything from a brown cow to a giant banana split. Feeling extra peckish? Try matching one of their milkshakes with a fabulous hot dog from Dog Gone It next door!
Paradiso Di Stelle
10 Bastion Sq, Victoria, BC V8W 1H9This classic Italian bistro not only dishes out some great paninis and pastas, but they also make some stunning gelato. Paradiso’s gelato and sorbet are all made in house and come in a variety of seasonal flavours. If you want the full Italian experience, you have to try their Affogato Coffee or Liqueur. They stop churning the gelato machines from January until May, but they more than make up for it with their holiday flavours – Candy Cane Cheesecake or Eggnog Gelato anyone?
Oh Gelato
1013 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1X6This little ice cream parlour on Government Street is the most popular gelato spot for tourists and locals alike during the summer months. They serve up authentic Italian gelato all year long, and they have over 66 amazing flavours! Oh Gelato’s ice cream is always incredibly creamy and sweet, and their flavour profiles are on point. Current favourites are Nutella, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Spumoni.
