Craving Cape Town ice cream but at a loss for where to go? Your Mother City Manual has just the guide for you!
Cape Town boasts many beauties, and while hiking the Cape’s mountains and wine tasting are popular activities, sometimes you just need a good old-fashioned ice cream cone to cool down. Whether you’re on the beach, walking the Seapoint Promenade, or exploring the many markets, we’ll bet there’s an ice cream nearby calling your name.
There’s no need to go down the “ice cream shops near me” Google rabbit hole. This article holds the ultimate list of soft serve, gelato, and even vegan-friendly ice cream in the Mother City.
Our Top Choices of Ice Cream Shops in Cape Town
Soft and creamy, cool and sweet, ice cream is our favorite treat. And after tasting any of the ice cream mentioned below, it’s bound to be your favorite too.
Here are some of the nICEst ice cream places Cape Town has to offer, along with how you can find them and our order suggestions.
Kristen’s Kickass Ice Cream
Kristen’s ice cream is so good, it’s gone international! There are five shops in Cape Town, but one in Mauritius too for the jet setters.
Kristen’s Kickass Ice Cream is handmade and delicious. The teams are constantly trying out new and interesting flavors to surprise and delight their customers. Pop into a store to grab a cone, take your favorite flavor home in a 500ml tub, or have your ice cream delivered to home or work.
There are also sugar-free and dairy-free options, so even if you have special dietary requirements, you can still enjoy this ice cream.
Must-try flavor: Don’t miss out on the Sweet Cream with Dark Chocolate & Honeycomb flavor
Location(s): Noordhoek Farm Village
Constantia Uitsig Heritage Village
6 Cardiff Castle
Main St, Newlands
De Wet Centre, Corner of Bird and, Church St, Stellenbosch
Ditto on Kloof
Ditto is Cape Town’s very first 100% plant-based ice cream shop. They work in partnership with Oh Oat, using oat milk to create the most delectable vegan-friendly ice cream. Even if you don’t follow a dairy-free diet, you’re going to love this ice cream.
The flavors here are excellent too, made with fresh and feisty ingredients. Find salted pretzels, licorice, coffee, and fruity flavors to boot. And if you can’t make it to Kloof Street to get your fix, you’ll be happy to hear they deliver too.
It is a good idea to try and get to the store at least once while in the Mother City. They serve waffles as well, with their vegan ice cream generously scooped on top.
Must-try flavor: Royal Rooibos is great for most taste preferences
Location(s): 119 Kloof St, Gardens
Tapi Tapi
At first, Tapi Tapi was a simple Afro ice cream store, creating handcrafted swirls of delight for their community. But today, the small team aims to bring their customers the best of African food. This includes ice cream but delves into spiced coffee drinks, small sweet and savory African meals, and Afro beers and wines.
Their website says, “The intention is to celebrate as much of the continent as possible and so we do not dwell on flavors of the past and instead look forward, to represent as many of us who have been ignored until now.”
Must-try flavor: With their ever-changing menu, the only thing to do here is to ask what’s the top option for the day, and trust the process!
Location(s): 76 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Crumbs and Cream
You can’t go too far in Cape Town without coming across a fridge stocked with Crumbs and Cream ice cream cookie sandwiches. And that’s the good news. The brand started in 2016 and has since become a sensation in the Mother City.
This company is all about fun! The colors, tastes, and smiles whenever you enter a store or come across an ice cream cart are dazzling. If you go to the Watershed kiosk, you’ll find two swings right in front, showcasing the childlike merriment of this ice cream shop.
If you can’t get to either of the main stores, look out for tubs and on-the-go ice cream sandwiches at your nearest Engen garage. You can also hire the cute little pink and yellow trucks for weddings and other special events. (There’s also a store now in Johannesburg, because sharing is caring).
Must-try flavor: This is the kind of place you can try flavors like Carrot Cake and Salted Caramel… but keep in mind that flavors change often.
Location(s): 16 Regent Rd, Sea Point
Watershed Kiosk, V&A Waterfront
The Creamery
Another Mother City staple when it comes to ice cream is The Creamery. With stores all over the city, and seasonal flavor changes, this spot will have you coming back again and again. And there is no limit to the imagination of the flavor team here.
Combinations like Christmas Mince Pie, Chocolate Orange, Hot Cross Bun, and Malva Pudding have all been found at The Creamery, but there’s never a guarantee that a flavor will return. You can get toppings, tubs, and there’s a loyalty card to reward you for visiting and treating yourself.
Local tip: This spot is also one of our favorite waffle spots in Cape Town, so why not visit for a fun breakfast?
Must-try flavor: We want to tell you to hunt down the Tiramisu flavor, but really you should try out whatever the Flavour of The Month is when you visit.
Location(s): Shop 16, Palmyra Junction; 4 Palmyra Road, Claremont
Shop 24, Constantia; Ladies Mile, Belle Constantia
Shop 6160b, Victoria Wharf
Shop 18, Durbanville Village Square; Cnr Rose & Oxford Street
Shop 2, New Cumberland Building; Park Road
Shop 4, Newlands Quarter; Dean Street
The Dairy Den
Life is Sweet at The Dairy Den — quite literally. This tiny but prominent ice cream brand has three different stores in Cape Town, and all of them offer “the best soft serve in Cape Town.” They also now sell donuts, as well as milkshakes and other dairy-based delicacies.
You can bring the whole family to The Dairy Den and all leave happy. Find sugar cones with delectable flavored ice cream like Unicorn Swirl and Caramel, banana splits, and ice cream coffee.
If you’re feeling daring, you can even order The Belter, a cone-donut-soft-serve combination that dreams are made of.
Must-try flavor: Try the Mint Dragon, it sounds cool, it looks cooler, and it tastes the coolest. Also, go with the sugar cone, of course.
Location(s): 148 Main Rd, Sea Point
Food Court, Kenilworth Centre
Outside Woolworth’s Entrance, Willowbridge Shopping Centre
Gelato Mania
Before anyone sends their lawyers, we know that gelato and ice cream are not the same thing. But they are similar, and if you want a true Italian dessert, you’ll find it in the Mother City. Gelato Mania is so loved by Capetonians that they’ve opened nine stores across the city.
The brand makes Diabetic Gelato, vegan-friendly gelato, and the freshest sorbets. You can also get waffles and pancakes to pair perfectly with your gelato.
Must-try flavor: As cliché as it sounds, chocolate, obviously!
Location(s): Shop 152, Ground Floor; Victoria Wharf
47 Dean Street, Newlands
30 Regent Street, Sea Point
65 Main Road, Green Point
Shop 11 Victoria Road; Camps Bay
Kloof Street Village, 8 Rheede Street, Gardens
285 Belgravia Rd, Belthorn Estate, Penlyn
18 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch
Corner Market Street and Marine Drive, Hermanus
Unframed Ice Cream
Unframed creates artisanal ice cream with real flavors, which is why locals love them so much. There aren’t many extra frills to be found at any of their stores or kiosks, but you really don’t need to add much to this kind of ice cream.
No one is left out of the tasty experience, either, because the company caters to vegans and the unfortunate lactose-intolerant community.
Must-try flavor: So many people rave about the Turmeric ice cream, even though it might not be the obvious choice, we suggest trying it.
Location(s): Woodstock Quarter, 187 Sir Lowry Road (closed during winter)
45C Kloof Street
V&A Food Market
Ice Dream
Proudly boasting the title of “Oldest Geletaria in Cape Town,” this family-run Italian Gelateria knows what they are doing when it comes to ice cream (sorry, gelato). They have been serving scoops since 1993, after all.
The gelato here is delicious, it’s flavorful, creamy, and quite literally tastes like a dream. But the real magic is in the family that brought Ice Dream to life. Italian siblings Liana and Liugi first started the store, and now Liana’s son Fabrizio runs it.
Must-try flavor: Cereal. Milk. Gelato. That’s all we’re going to say.
Location(s): Main Road, Hout Bay
Moro Gelato
If you’ve asked a Capetonian where to get the best ice cream in Cape Town before, we’d bet you’ve heard about Moro Gelato. Because their gelato and sorbet is some of the best in the city.
Moro Gelato brings the tastes of Italian delicacies to South Africa, and mixes in a bit of local flavor as well. You can get coffee flavor, chocolate, and vanilla. But also Milk Tart, Rooibos tea, and fruity sorbet.
Must-try flavor: The Mokka Chocco (consisting of mascarpone and coffee cream) is a personal favorite, but honestly there are so many you need to try!
Location(s): 85 Regent Rd, Sea Point
Shop 2, Portside Centre Corner Upper Portswood Rd and, Main Rd, Green Point
165 Long St, Cape Town City Centre
Summary of Ultimate Ice Cream Places in Cape Town
Many Capetonians would argue that the Mother City has the best ice cream in South Africa, but we’ll let you decide that for yourself.
As you can see, regardless of where you find yourself in the city and surrounding suburbs, there’s an ice place nearby for you. Come sunshine, rain, or that distinct Cape Town wind, ice cream in Cape Town is always a good idea.
Article by: Tammi Saayman
Tammi was born in Durban but has lived all over South Africa, she finally came to Cape Town in 2014, fell in love, got married, and hasn’t ever left. She loves all things wordy and enjoys exposing hidden treasures and must-find gems. The oldest of 8 siblings, she embodies a lot of older-sister energy in her writing. When she’s not hidden in a corner reading the latest best seller or cuddling with her husky and cats, you’ll find her sharing her thoughts over on her blog https://tammisays.co.za/
