Keep it cool with ice cream as Sydney heats up
The weather’s heating up, so keep it cool with five of Sydney’s top ice cream shops.
From dependable classic ice cream, gelato and sorbet techniques to something with a bit more swagger, these five Sydney outfits are set apart from ordinary ice cream shops.
Rivareno Gelato
Various locations
This Italian-born gelato outfit feels fancy in all the right ways, but still keeps things pretty laid-back. Everything is made daily in small batches and chilled under sleek, lidded pozzetti so the texture stays ridiculously silky. Expect dense, glossy scoops with big flavour: velvety gelatos, Sicilian granitas and fruity sorbets that stay bright and zingy, not icy. Staff are quick with pairing tips and often convince you to try something you’d never think you’d love (but, of course, you absolutely do …). It’s classic technique with a bit of swagger; perfect when you want a scoop that tastes like someone really cared.
rivareno.com.au
Gelato Messina
Various locations
Sydney’s best-known gelato juggernaut still knows how to have fun. The cabinets brim with playful weekly specials alongside a sharp roster of classics that includes pistachio, salted caramel/white choc and mango sorbet, all built on custom bases rather than generic pastes. Serious fans make the pilgrimage to Messinaville in Marrickville – HQ to its production kitchen, restaurant, bakery and semi-chaotic-but-beloved regular carpark pop-ups. Expect colourful flavours, cheeky branding and absurdly well-designed cakes. Some shops buzz late into the night and there’s always something new to lure you back.
gelatomessina.com
Hakiki Turkish Ice Cream & Baklava
Enmore
As the crowds attest, no stroll along Enmore Rd is complete without a stop here for the signature dondurma, the Turkish ice cream with a wonderfully stretchy, chewy texture – thanks to the inclusion of salep (orchid root flour) and mastic gum. Pair a scoop with one of Hakiki’s crisp, honeyed, perfectly more-ish baklava, and you’ll quickly understand why locals end up lingering here long after their ice cream has disappeared. Late-night hours make it a natural stop after gigs at the nearby Enmore Theatre or dinner, and the warm, unhurried service and weekend party atmosphere adds to the characteristic Enmore charm.
Shop 1/63/71 Enmore Rd, Newtown
hakiki.com.au
Dolcino Artisan Gelato
Bexley
This family-run outfit has become a quiet favourite for Bexley locals craving beautifully made gelato. The flavourboard mixes dependable gelato classics with seasonal specials and bright and fruity sorbets, all made on site. The space has a friendly, come-as-you-are energy; families wander in after dinner, while locals grab take-home tubs to stash in the freezer. The service is warm and patient, with generous samples and solid advice for flavour-curious newcomers. It’s a suburban dessert oasis that proves you don’t need a flashy postcode to deliver memorable, high-quality scoops. Dolcino’s gelato cakes are also the perfect showstopper for any party.
438 Forest Rd, Bexley
dolcino.au
Mapo
Bondi, Newtown & Darlinghurst
Zippy, natural, Italian-leaning flavours are why queues form outside this small artisan favourite. The Newtown original paved the way, slinging gelato and sorbet made daily with seasonal fruit, carefully sourced nuts and quality milk, resulting in bright, uncluttered flavours that let ingredients shine. Bondi and the newly-opened Darlinghurst store deliver the same philosophy – expect fruit scoops that taste startlingly real, pistachio with genuine depth, and a menu that changes with the weather. The mood is understated and warm – more neighbourhood gelateria than flashy dessert bar. Each spoonful speaks of serious craft and a “less is more” ethos.
maponewtown.com
More Coverage
Originally published as Keep it cool with ice cream as Sydney heats up
Ban flags concerns on lecturing people
