In a country where summer lasts almost six months, ice cream is a necessity. Whether you generally go for traditional flavours or have more adventurous tastes, here are some of the best ice-cream shops in Athens where you can satisfy any sweet craving.
Inspired by the Canadian ice-cream brand from Manitoba, Dickie Dee is located right off Ermou Street, a stone’s throw away from Syntagma Square. A recent addition to Athen’s selection of ice-cream parlours, Dickie Dee specialises in delicious soft-serve ice creams. Here, you will find a wide range of scrumptious flavours, such as fior di latte or pistachio from Sicily. There are even vegan ice creams for those with dietary restrictions. It’s a tiny store that packs in plenty of flavour and charm for those on the lookout for a refreshing icy dessert.
Since its arrival in the Greek capital, Le Greche has successfully seduced Athenians and visitors alike with its gelato. This is where to go when you are craving Italian gelato with a Greek twist. Born out of the collaboration of Italian maestro gelatiere Francesco Palmieri and Greek maestro galetiere Evi Papadopoulou, Le Greche serves delicious gelato made with pistachios from Aegina, fresh seasonal fruits or Valhrona chocolate. This emphasis on quality raw ingredients makes Le Greche’s gelato undeniably a popular choice when it comes to ice creams in Athens. Pair your treat with an authentic Italian café or an affogato (a dessert combining a cup of espresso with a scoop of vanilla ice cream).
Get ready to enjoy some ice-cream rolls in Athens. With the recent opening of a central outpost, IceRoll, which first opened in the southern suburb of Glyfada, is now available to more people. Based on a Thai technique consisting of ‘cold frying’ sheets of ice cream before rolling them, IceRoll ice creams are made before your eyes. They serve a variety of flavours and toppings to cater to all tastes, such as the Black Forest ice roll or the Bueno ice roll, but Culture Trip highly recommends the bougatsa (traditional custard-filled pie) ice roll. The combination of flavours and textures will blow your mind.
For those moments when a simple scoop of chocolate or vanilla just won’t do, you should head to Psyrri and try one of the original, artisanal ice creams from Kokkion. Created by Paris’s Le Cordon Bleu alumnus Vassilis Papamatthaiou, this ice-cream parlour focuses on out-of-the-box flavours, such as mandarin-ginger or sheep yoghurt made with fresh yoghurt from Mytilini island. It’s perfect for foodies, culinary adventurers or anyone with a desire for more than just your average ice-cream scoop.
With several outposts all over Athens and many islands, DaVinci is a favourite of many Greek ice-cream lovers and dessert addicts. This shop is famous for its decadent ice creams, with their colourful cones invading Instagram feeds everywhere. Top it with a focus on fresh, quality ingredients without additives or preservatives, and you’ll understand why the crowd goes crazy for DaVinci’s ice creams.
With several stores and selling points across the nation, Kayak is a homegrown brand with a philosophy of using the purest ingredients to provide the best products. With over 163 flavours available, including frozen yoghurt, this Glyfada-based ice-cream parlour is a perfect place to enjoy a delicious cone of ice cream with a cup of coffee in a welcoming environment.
A family business run by Nikos Christogeorgos, Solo Gelato is a gelateria located in Halandri, with a franchise in Glyfada where you can taste exquisite ice creams made from scratch. They use fresh fruits and high-quality raw ingredients such as Greek milk, butter and hazelnuts from Piemonte in Italy. The result is a creamy ice cream that requires no colouring or preservatives, and they also serve vegan and gluten-free options. From lemon and basil sorbet to stracciatella and gianduja, Solo Gelato knows how to make ice cream you won’t easily forget.
