Europe’s 14 Coolest Ice Cream Shops for Specialty Scoops

JJ Hings, Paris

This 10th arrondissement shop has built a cult following for its ice cream sandwiches—layered into spiced buns or biscuit-like bases, with combinations like PB&J or maple and cookie butter that lean nostalgic but elevated. Beyond that, expect a tight rotation of creative flavors like orange-vanilla, matcha, and s’mores, alongside house-made cones.

Bena Ice Cream · Istanbul

Bena, Istanbul

Tucked near the Grand Bazaar, this hole-in-the-wall spot specializes in traditional Turkish dondurma—a dense, slightly chewy ice cream known for its stretchy texture. Choose from a tight list of simple flavors (like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry), then pair it with a specialty like fırın sütlaç, a baked rice pudding, or kadayıf, a syrupy pastry.

Alice · Copenhagen

Alice, Copenhagen

This Copenhagen gem has a way of doing less, better—instead of a large menu, Alice offers a tightly-edited seasonal selection of small-batch ice creams in flavors like vegan chocolate, toasted rice, or raspberry passionfruit. They also serve coffee, natural wine, and a lineup of pastries.

Soft & Swirly · London

Soft & Swirly, London

Soft serve is the main event at this London Fields spot, which is tucked inside the garden of E5 Bakehouse. Flavors are constantly rotating, seasonally driven, and a little unexpected, with combinations like spiced pumpkin avocado, buckwheat sobacha, or blackberry verbena. Pair your soft serve with one of the bakery’s deep-fried pies for a real treat.

DILLON · Copenhagen

Dillon, Copenhagen

Dillon takes a focused, almost experimental approach to gelato, with organic milk–based artisanal scoops built around inventive flavors. Think pandan—a fragrant Southeast Asian leaf with a vanilla-meets-herbal sweetness—finished with a drizzle of concentrated oil for extra depth, alongside flavors like olive oil with sea salt or a warmly spiced stracciatella with turmeric.

Isotope · Paris

Isotope, Paris

At this colorful Marais spot, the raison d’être is unexpected pairings—a concept echoed in the name, Isotope, which refers to variations of the same element in chemistry. Everything is made in-house, with combinations like pistachio and praline, cucumber and elderflower, date and tiramisu, and nectarine and Earl Grey.

Gelateria Umberto 1934 Milano · Milan

Gelateria Umberto 1934, Milan

This iconic Milan gelateria has been serving scoops since 1934, with a wood-clad interior that gives it a distinctly old-world feel. Flavors rotate seasonally and are kept intentionally minimal, but the affogato—especially the pistachio with crushed nuts—is the one to order.

Massimo Gelato De Pijp · Amsterdam

Massimo, Amsterdam

With a few locations around the Dutch capital, Massimo stands out for its deeply traditional, ingredient-led approach—everything is made in-house using carefully sourced products, from Sicilian pistachios to local milk. The result is a lineup of exceptionally well-executed flavors, with highlights like pistachio, ricotta and fig, and a vegan chocolate that’s worth the trip alone.

Gelupo · London

Gelupo, London

With its pastel-hued interior and vintage poster art, this Soho spot delivers a retro-cool setting alongside some of the city’s best gelato. The tightly curated menu balances classics with imaginative flavors like mango sticky rice, fennel and pine nut, and Hong Kong milk tea. They also serve fun Italian cocktails (strawberry Aperol spritz, anyone?) and an excellent affogato.

Otaleg - Ice-cream · Rome

Otaleg, Rome

With a name that’s the inverse of “gelato,” this Trastevere shop approaches gelato as a culinary art form under celebrated gelato specialist Marco Radicioni. The approach is exacting and ingredient-led, with hyper-local sourcing, minimal intervention, and a clear focus on texture—resulting in a lineup that spans vibrant seasonal fruit flavors and unexpected combinations like white chocolate with fermented gherkins.

The Dreamery · London

The Dreamery, London

From the team behind Goodbye Horses, this East London spot blends a wine bar and ice cream parlor into one, with colorful, mural-filled interiors that set a playful tone. The menu features inventive flavors (malted milk, rhubarb with olive oil, or gingerbread with butterscotch scotch), best enjoyed with a glass of natural wine.

Vivoli · Florence

Vivoli, Florence

Yes, it’s very famous—but Vivoli still warrants a stop. Tucked in Florence’s historic center and family-run since 1930, this old-school gelateria is known for its deeply traditional, house-made scoops, shaped by techniques passed down through generations. The affogato is widely considered one of the best in the world, and it draws a crowd—so go early.

Ice cream & Coffee | Frisson · Nice

Frisson, Nice

Tucked into the streets of Old Nice, Frisson is as much about the concept as it is the ice cream. Part ice cream shop, café, and retail space, this ultra-cool hybrid comes from two former Colette insiders, and it shows in the details (vinyl records, branded merch, and a steady rhythm of pop-ups). The flavors hold their own—don’t miss the buffalo milk ice cream.

Folderol · Paris

Folderol, Paris

This list wouldn’t be complete without Folderol, a natural wine bar-meets-ice cream counter in Paris that went so viral after opening in 2020 they had to hire a bouncer to manage the door. Thankfully, the very charming spot—owned by a local couple—has died down a bit, which means locals have returned and you can enjoy their wine and ice cream pairings without hoards of people. Options here lean both nostalgic and offbeat—think melon-basil, Pimm’s sorbet, and orange creamsicle. They also have a menu of savory snacks.