Top 10 Places to Eat Ice Cream
Capogiro, a Philadelphia gelateria, has unusual flavors of the smooth treat, handcrafted each day.
Photograph courtesy Capogiro
From the National Geographic book Food
Journeys of a Lifetime1. Capogiro Gelato, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Made with the freshest ingredients (such as milk
from Amish grass-fed cows), the artisan gelatos and sorbettos handcrafted each
day at Capogiro Gelato include flavors
not seen anywhere else—Madagascar bourbon vanilla, melograno
(pomegranate), nocciola Piemonte (hazelnut), Saigon cinnamon, Thai
coconut milk (with a dash of rum), and zucca (long-neck pumpkin).
Planning: Capogiro has four cafés in Philadelphia.
2. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, St. Louis, Missouri
Made from fresh cream, eggs, and sugar, frozen
custard is a midwestern dessert that looks, tastes, and acts like its close
cousin, ice cream. The stand on Grand Boulevard has been open since 1931,
serving frozen custard in cones, shakes, root-beer floats, and house specialties,
such as Hawaiian Delight and Crater Copernicus.
Planning: Drewes has several locations in St. Louis.
Planning: Drewes has several locations in St. Louis.
3. Bombay Ice Creamery, San Francisco, California
Some of the planet’s best Indian ice cream can be
sampled here, in the Hispanic
Mission District. On offer are flavors such as chiku (sapodilla),
cardamom, chai-tea, saffron, rose, and ginger, rarely found beyond the Indian
subcontinent. Traditional kulfi (a frozen milk dessert) is also on the
menu, plus lassi (yogurt drinks).
Planning: The opening hours change with the seasons, so check before planning a visit.
Planning: The opening hours change with the seasons, so check before planning a visit.
4. Devon House, Kingston, Jamaica
Built in the late 19th century as the home of Jamaica’s
first black millionaire, Devon House is a masterpiece of Caribbean Victorian
architecture and home to the island’s most celebrated ice-cream stand. The 27
flavors run a broad gamut from traditional cherry and pistachio to exotic
island treats like mango, coconut, and soursop. There is even an offbeat,
beer-based ice cream called Devon Stout. Grab a cone and recline in the
sprawling gardens.
Planning: Devon House is in central Kingston. Admission includes a tour of the house and access to the gardens.
Planning: Devon House is in central Kingston. Admission includes a tour of the house and access to the gardens.
5. Helados Scannapieco, Buenos Aires, Argentina
This tiny, no-frills shop seems little changed
from 1938, when Italian immigrants Andres and Josefina Scannapieco first opened
the doors. Members of the Scannapieco clan still make ice cream the way the
family have for 70 years. The menu runs 50 flavors deep, from chocolate and
vanilla to other delights, such as durazno (peach), canela
(cinnamon), lemon champagne, and caipirinha (a Brazilian cocktail made
with cachaça and lime).
Planning: Helados Scannapieco is at Avenida Córdoba 4826 in the Palermo district.
Planning: Helados Scannapieco is at Avenida Córdoba 4826 in the Palermo district.
6. Ice Cream City, Tokyo, Japan
With dozens of stands selling more than 300
flavors between them, Tokyo’s appropriately named Ice Cream City offers some of
the planet’s more unusual ice creams, from soy chicken and orchid root to
sea-island salt and unagi (eel). If you have more conventional tastes,
Italian gelato and American ice cream sundaes are also available.
Planning: Ice Cream City is part of the food-themed section of the Namja Town amusement park in the Sunshine City shopping complex 15 minutes’ walk from Ikebukuro station.
Planning: Ice Cream City is part of the food-themed section of the Namja Town amusement park in the Sunshine City shopping complex 15 minutes’ walk from Ikebukuro station.
7. Glacé, Sydney, Australia
Glacé is celebrated
for its cutting-edge, ice-cream-based desserts, such as bombe Alaska, checkerboard
terrines, and chocolate-dipped petit fours. Rose petal, vanilla bean,
strawberry pistachio, and Belgian chocolate count among its signature flavors.
Planning: Glacé has one retail outlet, at 27 Marion Street in Sydney’s Leichhardt district.
Planning: Glacé has one retail outlet, at 27 Marion Street in Sydney’s Leichhardt district.
8. A’jia Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
There is nothing more romantic than a summer
evening beside the Bosporus, especially when you are having ice cream on the outdoor
terrace of the A’jia Hotel. The dessert
menu includes fried vanilla ice cream, passionfruit sorbet, and traditional
Turkish dondurma (ice cream) made from goats’ milk.
Planning: Located on the western shore of the Bosporus, the A’jia is a 19th-century mansion transformed into a hip new waterfront hangout.
Planning: Located on the western shore of the Bosporus, the A’jia is a 19th-century mansion transformed into a hip new waterfront hangout.
9. Vaffelbageriet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Tivoli
Gardens amusement park is the venue for this century-old ice-cream outlet.
The specialty is ice cream served in a large waffle cone, called the
Amerikaner, which takes up to four scoops plus syrupy topping, whipped cream,
and chocolate-covered meringue puff (rather than a maraschino cherry).
Planning: Tivoli Gardens is in central Copenhagen, and is open from mid-April through late September. The entertainments include concerts, rides, and 40 restaurants.
Planning: Tivoli Gardens is in central Copenhagen, and is open from mid-April through late September. The entertainments include concerts, rides, and 40 restaurants.
10. Perchè No!, Florence, Italy
Going since 1939, Perchè No!—Why not!—sells intensely
flavored ice cream produced fresh on the premises each day. The selection
varies, but favorites include honey and sesame seed, green tea, and a rich
coffee crunch with pieces of chocolate. They also sell a wide assortment of
fruit sorbets and granitas.
Planning: Perchè No! is in Via dei Tavolini, about two minutes’ walk from the Duomo.
Planning: Perchè No! is in Via dei Tavolini, about two minutes’ walk from the Duomo.
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