Help stave off the summer heat and humidity with a cone of the cold stuff. There’s a host of top-notch Copenhagen creameries to sample – from Sicilian gelato to traditional Danish flødeis – and to stop the brain freeze, we’ve compiled the best of the bunch for you.
Siciliansk Is
Skydebanegade 3, Cph V; open daily 12:00-21:00; sicilianskis.dk
This old-school ice cream shop specialises in traditional Mediterranean gelato, importing most of their products directly from Italy to their Vesterbro parlour. Their special ingredients: coffee beans roasted in Palermo, pistachios from Bronte and lemons from Messina. There are also outlets at Christianshavns Kanal 2 in the city centre and at Rantzausgade 56 in Nørrebro.
Bon Bon Ice
Andebakkesti 4, Frederiksberg; open Mon-Thu 10:00-18:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-20:00; bonbonice.dk
The nostalgia and goodies are dripping from every item on the menu. Revisit the ‘80s with the Knickerbocker Glory (just 55kr), go Killer Vanilla with the adult milkshakes, and treat yourself to crunchy peanut ice cream scooped onto a homemade cone. And don’t, whatever you do, leave without trying the jumbo-sized Belgian waffle.
READ MORE: Once sampled, you’ll never forget Jumbo’s ice cream
ISTID
Jægersborggade 13, Cph N; open most days 13:00-19:00, closed Mon; istid.dk
At Scandinavia’s first nitrogen ice cream shop you can choose from four distinctive flavours that change every month. Crème fraîche or strawberry with white balsamic are just some of the unusual tastes featured on ISTID’s menu. And don’t miss out on the boozy ice cream cocktails served on Friday evenings. This summer’s list includes Aperol Spritz and White Russians.
Ismageriet
Rued Langgaards Vej 6E, Cph S; open all days 10:00-22:00, until 23:00 at weekends; ismageriet.dk
Only organic milk and entirely natural ingredients go into creating the range of gourmet flavours at Ismageriet. Try the rhubarb sorbet for a fresh zing or the indulgent peanut fudge chocolate ice cream.
Vaffelbageriet
Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; open all days 11:00-23:00, until 00:00 at weekends; tivoli.dk
Vaffelbageriet – the family-owned business located within Copenhagen’s Tivoli amusement park – has used age-old recipes since the turn of the century. The creamery has been tipped as the one of the world’s best ice cream parlours by the New York Times and National Geographic; ask for an Amerikaner and you won’t be disappointed.
Østerberg Ice Cream
Rosenvængets Allé 7C, Cph Ø; open daily Mon-Sun 13:00-21:00; osterberg-ice.dk
Owner Cathrine Østerberg hails from a family known as a global superpower in the world of fruit – dragonfruit, jackfruit and pomegranate are two of the more exotic flavours – although we were more taken by the gooey bits in the cookie dough and chocolate brownie scoops. As the logo says: “Taste the world!”
Is à Bella
Stall B4, Torvehallerne, Frederiksborggade 21, Cph K; open from 10:00-19:00 on weekdays; torvehallernekbh.dk
Amongst the crowds of Torvehallerne food market, you will find the sweet treat Is à Bella. This creamery specialises in homemade Italian ice cream and has over 40 different flavours to choose from; there’s even delicious goodies for vegans, diabetics or those with gluten intolerance.
Oswalds Isbar
Værnedamsvej 3, Frederiksberg; open daily 10:00-22:00
Few would argue that Værnedamsvej, on the border of Vesterbro and Frederiksberg, is the city’s premier gourmet street, and this is a parlour befitting of that reputation. Oswalds also has outlets atEnghave Plads 2 and Godthåbsvej 8.
Hansens Mejeri Forhandler
Store Kongensgade 93, Cph K; open 12:00-18:00 most days, until 22:00 on Fri; hansens-is.dk
As the name suggests, this exclusively sells one of Denmark’s most popular family brands, which takes pride in its local, ethical product selection. The rum ‘n’ raisin is to die for.
Oliver’s Garage
Kystvejen 24, Charlottenlund; open daily 09:00-22:00; oliversgarage.dk
Not content with selling one of the world’s best burgers from Gasoline Grill, a former service station near Kongens Nytorv, some of the city’s best ice cream can be found at this garage, which is housed in a listed building. The ice cream is sourced from Vebbestrup Flødeis.
