Summer is Berlin’s favorite season. Nothing goes better with outdoor fun in the sun than a proper selection of summer treats. Eis is the seasonal treat on everyone’s mind, and these are the best spots to indulge your sweet tooth in Berlin.
The best ice creams are those made fresh and simply with whole ingredients. Rosa Canina wins out in this department with their phenomenal organic confections. Enjoy divine combinations like raspberry and basil or chocolate, nutmeg, and cardamom, plus many of their flavors are vegan as well. While their shop is located in Prenzlauer Berg, keep an eye out for Rosa Canina as they also have a stand at Markthalle Neun.
Pasteurstraße 32, 10407 Berlin +49 163 8082002
Die Eismacher takes the dessert game to the next level with their creative selection of donuts, candies, waffles, rich blended frozen coffee drinks, and outrageously decadent milkshakes. Not to mention, all of their ingredients are ethically sourced, even their imported chocolates. Die Eismacher is located near the popular Volkspark Hasenheide, making it the perfect spot on the way to a weekend picnic or a summery hangout session.
Körtestraße 10, 10967 Berlin +49 30 23624222
In the world of frozen treats there are many compelling choices. From milkshakes to popsicles to a few scoops in a waffle cone just out of the oven, there’s no shortage of options to keep things in the ice cream repertoire interesting. Zwei Dicke Bären are connoisseurs of the ice cream sandwich and one of their most popular creations is the chocolate peanut butter sandwich: chocolate ice cream sandwiched between two chewy peanut butter cookies.
Probably the only thing that’s better than ice cream is a big bowl of gelato. Caffe e Gelato offers just that. Caffe e Gelato prepares theirs in glass dishes accompanied with fruits, shaved chocolate pieces, and plenty of whipped cream. As for the flavors, Caffe e Gelato is known for getting pretty creative. For Christmas, expect options like Panettone and cherry, and in the summer months, be sure to try tropical island, a mixture of passion fruit, coconut, and tiny meringues. Caffe e Gelato also makes cheesecakes, sorbets, and vegan desserts.
Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, Alte Potsdamer Str. 7, 10785 Berlin +49 30 25297832
Berlin is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in Europe. From donuts to burgers and pizza, its possible to find all your favorite indulgent treats, vegan-style throughout town. Ice cream is no exception, and competition among the vegan eiscafes is strong. Kontor Eismanufaktur is a vegan ice cream shop that stands at the top. They offer a variety of different homemade ice creams and frozen vegan yogurts as well as interesting twists on traditional favorites like the German favorite, spaghetti eis.
Danziger Str. 65, 10435 Berlin +49 30 37432662
Situated on a quiet street corner in Friedrichshain and only a stone’s throw from the Boxi Kiez, is Eismanufaktur Berlin. Particularly popular among young school children and their parents after lessons let out in the late afternoon, Eismanufaktur is a cute little shop with many phenomenal flavors. Interesting flavors include vanilla apricot, matcha, and chili chocolate.
Gärtnerstraße 33A, 10245 Berlin +49 160 97670801
With ice creams made fresh daily, EisPiraten serves up 28 different experimental and classic flavors. From basics like stracciatella, chocolate and vanilla to more intriguing options including honey sesame, mango lassi, shortbread, and poppy marzipan, there’s something here for everyone. There are also several different sorbet offerings and a handful of sundae options to choose from.
Grünberger Str. 85, 10245 Berlin
Meaning ‘vanilla and apricot’ in German, Vanille & Marille is one of Berlin’s most popular eiscafes because no artificial flavorings can be found here. Instead, they use spices like saffron, ginger, and Madagascar vanilla to flavor their ice cream. Tasty options worth trying include the walnut fig ice cream and the peanut butter flavor packed with homemade brownie pieces. What makes Vanille & Marille even sweeter is that it actively lends its support to various social and cultural initiatives around the city.
Bezirk Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Hagelberger Str. 1, 10965 Berlin +49 30 78954731
While there are plenty of excellent ice cream shops in Berlin, sometimes we want something lighter and a bit healthier. We know that popsicles in the traditional sense may seem kind of boring, but California Pops are next-level sweets. These handmade frozen treats are beautifully colored with fresh fruits and other organic ingredients. The masterminds behind California Pops go to great lengths to make each one special. The watermelon flavor, for example, very closely resembles the flesh of an actual watermelon, seeds and all.
For a true taste of Italy, go to Anna Durkes in Kreuzberg. We suggest trying their signature eponymous flavor, which consists of vanilla gelato filled with peanuts and chocolate pieces, or the famous brioche gelato sandwich. Located only a short walk from the canal in Kreuzberg, nothing goes better with a canal side stroll than a scoop of gelato!
Graefestraße 80, 10967 Berlin +49 1516 8603627