The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Ice cream is the sweet treat that can't be beat, and it's everywhere in the capital city. But with so many ice cream shops in Ottawa to choose from, how does one decide where to go?
Do you do some sort of ice cream trial-and-error tour, opting against paying rent for the month in search of the perfect frozen dairy treat location? Or do you just read another one of my articles, where I do the work for you and put you on to the best of the best when it comes to Ottawa's ice cream scene?
Maybe I'm biased, but unless you're living like Tony Stark, I'd go with the latter.
Sadie Bean's Ice Creams
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Small-Batch Ice Cream
Address: 837 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located inside Ten Toes Coffee House on Somerset (an elite coffee shop, if I may say so) is Sadie Bean's Ice Creams. The owner Tim, better known as Sadie's Dad, has taken his restaurant background and used it to turn ice cream on its head.
By using an exclusive-drop method, Tim's cleverly named ice cream flavours have become an elusive favourite in the city. Twice a week, Sadie Bean's drops four exclusive flavours on their Instagram, which they only have until they're sold out. Once they're gone, that flavour will never be seen again! You have to be diligent with this one, so make sure you keep an eye on their Instagram page and get there early on the morning of the drop (whether it be Thursday or Friday).
Sadie Bean's InstagramThe Merry Dairy
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Frozen Custard
Address: 102 Fairmont Ave., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: If popularity means anything to you as far as quality goes, then drive by the Merry Dairy on any given night. You'll see a lineup of happy people itching for their ice cream!
The name of the game here is inclusivity. This 12-year-old Ottawa veteran ice cream shop offers a variety of options, including vegan, gluten-free and soy-free options, so that everyone who shows up can have a happy tummy.
The Merry Dairy also has a separate line for pints, so if you just want a grab-and-go for your home freezer, you won't need to worry about the wait.
This is a solid community spot that deserves all the love.
Moo Shu Ice Cream
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Small-Batch Ice Cream
Address: 477 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Moo Shu is a "support local" dream! They're a small-batch ice cream maker that works with local farmers, brewers, roasters, jam makers and more to create fun and unique flavours that have the heart of Ottawa in them.
Moo Shu prides themselves on an inclusive atmosphere for both their guests and their staff and has put an emphasis on creating a community environment for everyone who enters their doors.
Gotta love a place with a lotta love.
Chris's Ice Cream
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Small-Batch Ice Cream
Address: 5510 Canotek Rd., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: In my opinion, the best way to describe Chris's Ice Cream is as a place that puts a spin on the classics. If you're willing to venture out of the core of the city a little bit (and you should be), this is the type of spot you need to get to.
Fans of Chris's Ice Cream swear by it, and it seems to be for good reason. From their variety of styles, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto, to their attention to quality and detail, Chris's is a must-add to your list of ice cream spots.
Mantovani 1946
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Gelato
Address: 87 Murray St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Mantovani is peak upscale gelato. Created by master gelato makers, the Mantovani name has since found its way to Ottawa for all of us to enjoy. The ingredients for this luxury gelato are still sourced from Italy by the Mantovani family themselves and sent to the Ottawa owner/operator Paula, who still works in the shop almost daily.
The luxury gelato served here results from years of following ancient gelato-making techniques and pairing them with high-quality raw ingredients, yielding a product like nothing else in the city.
It's pretty special, and worth the hefty price tag.
Mantovani 1946 Website
The Beachconers Microcreamery
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Small-Batch Ice Cream
Address: 273 Brittania Rd., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: This is admittedly a spot I'm less familiar with, but when I have enough people rave to me about a local hospitality business, I take note to do a deeper dive into what they're all about.
The Beachconers was born from a need for ice cream close to the beach and bike path in Brittania Village. When no one else makes your dreams a reality, you have to do it yourself. They focus on making small-batch ice creams with high-quality ingredients, with a specific focus on fresh fruit, herbs and locally sourced jams.
This is the next ice cream spot on my list, and it should be on yours too!
Farinella
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pizza & Gelato
Address: 492 Rochester St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: You didn't think I was going to leave Farinella off the list, did you?
The home of Ottawa's famous metre-long pizza is also renowned for the takeout gelato they serve by the pint. Owners Cesare and Nina had a vision of bringing Italy to Ottawa through their food, and they've built something special in doing so. The importance of family, friendship and loving what you do drives them to continue to bring quality to the city of Ottawa in every way they can.
The gelato itself is awesome as a result. A variety of flavours are available on any given day, and there's nothing better than strolling in to see what's on the menu and being surprised by a new favourite each time. Be sure to give their DOP options a try for that extra Italian authenticity.
There truly is a scoop in Ottawa for everyone, so what are you waiting for? Come and get it while it's hot (outside, that is).
