10 Perfect Ice Cream Parlours in Wales
From the traditional and charming to the elaborate and scientific, Welsh ice cream parlours are well worth checking out. While it was hard to choose, here are 10 of the best.
Science Cream
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, British
Not only is their ice cream irresistibly delicious but going to this parlour is an experience in itself. At Science Cream, the ice cream is made using liquid nitrogen: the first and only ice cream parlour in Wales to do so. The space has a laboratory feel: the staff wear googles and lab coats to make up your ice cream right in front of you, amid the billowing clouds of liquid nitrogen. This cryogen freezes the ice cream ingredients instantly, making for a super fresh and smoothly textured result. Flavours include brown butter caramel, Dulce de Leche praline pecan, and roasted banana, peanut butter and chocolate…
Creme Pen Cei
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, Pastries, British
Going here is a must if you’re anyway near New Quay. With a colourful and cheery shopfront, this family-run ice cream parlour has a huge selection of creative and tasty flavours, all made on site daily, using locally-sourced ingredients. Catering to vegan/ dairy-free/gluten-free diets with a selection of refreshing sorbets and gluten-free options, the parlour even does savoury food, milkshakes and a great cup of fair-trade coffee. Try the blackberry pavlova, Turkish delight, or the banoffee pie and lemon cheesecake flavours.
Caffe Sidoli's
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, Coffee, Vegetarian
With its Italian heritage evidenced in the ice cream, you can’t go wrong with this award-winning, traditional parlour. There are lots of flavours to choose from, made from real dairy and fresh ingredients, and you can grab a coffee here too — they pride themselves on using only the best Italian beans.
Parisella's of Conwy
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, British
Using only the best, locally-sourced Welsh ingredients combined with Italian know-how, this little award-winning parlour is a must for ice cream. Signature flavours include amaretto and black cherry and blue banana. There’s also Bounty, salted caramel, blackcurrant Eton mess, raspberry pavlova and melon and ginger.
The Hive
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, British, Vegetarian
The Hive is a pretty brick building right on the Aberaeron harbour side which hosts music events as well as serving up exceptionally good ice cream. Choose from ice creams, sundaes, sorbets and frozen yogurts, with flavours which include all the classics as well as their specialist honey varieties like honey vanilla and chocolate or honey Turkish delight. They also take suggestions for flavours via their Facebook page.
Forte's
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, Coffee, British
This well-presented parlour uses only high-quality ingredient and has over 35 flavours of ice cream, ranging from the classics to unique flavours such as rhubarb and custard and lemon and lime cheesecake. For vegans there are sorbets and for those who want a healthier option there is frozen yogurt.
Barker Gelato
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, Coffee
Another one in the Welsh capital, this place does good-quality Italian-style ice cream which it adds to amazing concoctions involving donuts, waffles, cream, sprinkles, sauces and all sorts of toppings. The place itself is another attraction, with pastel crockery, exposed brick walls, fringed lampshades and luxurious vintage leather armchairs.
Pietro's
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, Coffee, British
A busy seafront café serving Italian ice cream as well as your usual café fare, enjoy the lovely views with your ice cream after a day spent at the nearby beach.
Llanfaes Dairy
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, Italian
A traditional parlour in pretty Brecon, Llanfaes Dairy serves artisan ice cream in over 40 different flavours. The owners pride themselves on the quality of their ingredients, going as far as to call themselves ‘legen-dairy’. Visitors agree, with many claiming they do the best ice cream in Wales. Try their caramel with butterscotch, chocolate rum truffle or pineapple cheesecake flavours.
Red Boat
Ice Cream Parlour, Dessert, Coffee, British
The owner of Red Boat, Tony, learnt the craft of ice-cream-making at the Carpigiani University of Italy. He and his partner Lyn specialise in ice cream and sorbet made with love. The parlour is situated in the resort town of Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey, and on hot summer’s days it is packed out.