Best Ice Cream in Ottawa: Gelato, Soft-Serve & Scoop Shops

Ottawa's ice cream scene has quietly become one of the most exciting in Canada, and most visitors have no idea what they're missing.

While Toronto and Montreal often dominate food conversations, Ottawa has cultivated a diverse collection of ice cream shops that rival any major city. From Asian-inspired scoops like Hong Kong milk tea and mango sticky rice to award-winning Italian gelato, the capital offers frozen treats that locals fiercely debate and passionately recommend. Whether you're craving a classic scoop on a summer afternoon or a soft-serve cone in the ByWard Market, this guide covers Ottawa's best ice cream and gelato shops, with current addresses and hours.

Key Highlights

TL;DR: Moo Shu (Hintonburg) is the pick for Asian-inspired flavours, Stella Luna (Old Ottawa South) is the most awarded gelato shop and stays open year-round, and Merry Dairy (Hintonburg) labels its vegan flavours. Piccolo Grande and Lois 'N' Frima's cover the ByWard Market.

Why Ottawa's Ice Cream Scene Stands Out

Ottawa's frozen dessert landscape has transformed dramatically over the past decade. What was once dominated by chain stores and generic scoops has evolved into a sophisticated collection of artisan shops, each bringing unique perspectives and flavour profiles to the table.

The city's multicultural population has driven much of this innovation. Moo Shu builds its scoops around flavours like Hong Kong milk tea, White Rabbit and mango sticky rice, while Italian gelaterias such as Stella Luna, Piccolo Grande and Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana keep traditional recipes alive.

What truly sets Ottawa apart is how many of these shops are small and independent. Local threads regularly debate which one deserves the crown, with some fans championing Moo Shu's inventive scoops and others Stella Luna's European-style gelato. That friendly rivalry keeps quality high across the city.

The Complete Guide to Ottawa's Best Ice Cream Shops

Moo Shu Ice Cream - The Local Favourite

Location: 1130 Wellington Street West, Unit 1, Hintonburg Style: Asian-inspired small-batch ice cream

Moo Shu moved to Wellington Street West in the fall of 2024, leaving its earlier Bank Street spot in Centretown. It is a small-batch ice cream shop that makes its scoops with Ontario dairy and builds its menu around Asian-inspired flavours, with several vegan options alongside.

The current scooping menu lists Hong Kong Milk Tea, White Rabbit, Calico Chocolate, Local Strawberry and Lime Leaf & Fresh Mint as regular flavours. Vegan scoops such as Dalgona & Coffee and Mango Sticky Rice sit beside them. Other flavours rotate, usually monthly, so the board you see in October will not match the one in July.

What to Expect: The shop sells scoops in basic cones, cups and homemade waffle cones. It is open Monday and Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm, and closed Tuesdays, but holiday hours differ, so check the Moo Shu website before you go.

Pro Tips:

• Check the online scooping menu first, since the rotating flavours change about once a month
• Go on a weekday afternoon if you would rather not queue on a sunny weekend
• The Moo Shu website also covers custom orders and catering, so ask there if you want ice cream for an event

Flavours to Look For:

1. Hong Kong Milk Tea - Sweet, aromatic, and a mainstay on the menu
2. White Rabbit - Another flavour that stays on the menu
3. Calico Chocolate - White, milk and dark chocolate marbled together
4. Lime Leaf & Fresh Mint - A bright, herbal scoop
5. Vegan Mango Sticky Rice - A dairy-free take on the Thai dessert

Stella Luna Gelato Cafe - Year-Round Italian Excellence

Location: 1103 Bank Street, Old Ottawa South Style: Artisan Italian-style gelato and cafe

While many Ottawa ice cream shops close or cut their hours in colder months, Stella Luna stays open through the year, apart from a holiday break (its website lists a closure from December 24 to January 2). Regular hours are Monday to Friday from 11:30 am to 10 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm. The cafe is a family-owned spot that serves breakfast, lunch and snacks as well as gelato, so it works for a leisurely dessert date.

Stella Luna's website says it was awarded Best Gelato in Canada and Top 3 Gelato Shops in the Americas at the Gelato World Tour in Chicago in 2016, and it received the International Journalist's Choice Award in Italy in 2017. Regulars single out the pistachio, and other favourites listed by 613today's 2026 guide include Salted Caramel, Chocolate Chillies and Madagascar Vanilla.

What Sets It Apart:

• Award-winning gelato, with sorbet on the menu too
• Open through the year, except the holiday break
• Cafe seating, with panini, soups, buttermilk waffles and espresso
• Gelato cocktails, local craft beer and Italian wine for an evening visit

Must-Try Flavours:

1. Pistachio - The flavour regulars most often recommend
2. Salted Caramel - A crowd-pleaser from the shop's 2026 favourites list
3. Chocolate Chillies - Chocolate with a warm kick
4. Madagascar Vanilla - The simple scoop that shows off the base

Piccolo Grande - Small-Batch Gelato in the ByWard Market

Location: 55 Murray Street, Unit 102, ByWard Market Style: Italian gelato and espresso bar Season: Seasonal, closed for winter

Piccolo Grande is an artisan gelateria and espresso bar that says it has handcrafted gelato in Ottawa for more than 30 years. Its website describes small-batch gelato made fresh daily from locally sourced and imported ingredients, in a shop in the heart of the ByWard Market.

The shop posts late hours, which makes it a good after-dinner stop: Sunday to Wednesday from 1 pm to 9:30 pm, and Thursday to Saturday from 1 pm to 10 pm. The gelato shop runs on a seasonal schedule (a note on its Facebook page marked the end of the 2025 season and promised a return in 2026), so confirm it is open before you make the trip in the colder months.

What to Order:

• Pistachio, stracciatella, hazelnut and raspberry are among the regular flavours CAA North & East Ontario lists in its 2026 guide
• Vegan sorbet is made daily alongside the gelato
• An affogato (espresso over gelato) pairs well with the espresso bar

Lois 'N' Frima's - Soft Serve and Scoops in the Market

Location: 71 George Street, ByWard Market (a walk-up kiosk), plus 1626 Stittsville Main Street, Stittsville Style: Soft serve and hard ice cream

Lois 'N' Frima's is one of Ottawa's longest-running ice cream names. CAA North & East Ontario's 2026 guide says the ByWard Market location operates as a walk-up kiosk, which suits a cone on the go while you explore downtown, and that the wall menu covers soft-serve cones and hard scoops, including vegan and sorbet options.

613today's 2026 guide adds that the shop makes its ice cream with Ontario milk and cream and offers dairy-free and sugar-free choices. Hours vary by season, so check the shop's own channels before you go.

Best For:

• A quick soft-serve cone while walking through the ByWard Market
• Groups who want both soft serve and hard scoops
• Anyone who needs a dairy-free or sorbet option

Haven's Creamery - Glebe Small-Batch Scoops

Location: 755 Bank Street, the Glebe Style: Small-batch ice cream with fresh waffle cones

Haven's Creamery hand-crafts its ice cream in small batches with natural ingredients, and it makes its waffle cones fresh. The menu leans creative: London Fog, raspberry brownie cheesecake and mango sticky rice show up in CAA North & East Ontario's 2026 guide, and 613today's 2026 guide also mentions Baklava and a Cereal Milk flavour, plus sorbets and vegan options.

The shop sits on Bank Street, so it fits easily into a stroll through the Glebe or a visit before or after an event at Lansdowne. The angel wings mural on the wall is a popular photo stop. 613today lists Haven's as open year-round.

Best For:

• Adventurous scoops with a regular rotation
• A Glebe stop along Bank Street
• Anyone who wants a fresh waffle cone

Merry Dairy - Vegan and Dairy Scoops Side by Side

Location: 102 Fairmont Avenue, Hintonburg Style: Premium ice cream, frozen custard and soft serve Season: Open most of the year, closed in January

The Merry Dairy started as a retro ice cream truck in 2012 and now runs a shop at 102 Fairmont Avenue. It makes premium ice cream and Midwest-style frozen custard, and 613today's 2026 guide says it also serves Jersey-style soft serve custard from a nut-free facility. Its own website lists the shop open noon to 8 pm Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, noon to 9 pm Friday and Saturday, and closed Mondays.

For anyone avoiding dairy, the useful part is the labelling. The "Today's Scoops" board on the website tags each flavour as dairy, vegan, gluten-free or soy-free, and in October 2026 the vegan list included Salted Caramel, Mint Chip, Chocolate Oreo and Dark Chocolate Espresso. A group that is split between dairy and vegan can order from one counter.

Why It's the Dairy-Free Destination: Because the vegan scoops are listed alongside the dairy ones, vegan eaters get a real choice of flavours, not just a single sorbet.

Pro Tips:

• Check the "Today's Scoops" page on the website before you go, since the flavours change
• Winter hours are shorter (613today lists Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 6 pm), and the shop closes in January
• Pints, ice cream cakes and ice cream pies can be ordered online for pickup or delivery

Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana - Little Italy Gelato Since 1979

Location: 200 Preston Street, Little Italy Style: Italian pastry shop with gelato and sorbet

Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana, also known as the Italian Pastry Shop, says on its website that it opened in 1979 in the heart of Little Italy and makes everything fresh in-house. CAA North & East Ontario's 2026 guide notes a long gelato list that includes Black Forest brownie, pistachio, hazelnut, tiramisu and mango, with sorbet for vegan visitors and the option of gelato blended into a milkshake.

Because it is a pastry shop first, you can pair a scoop with cake, cookies or other Italian pastries. That makes it a good choice when part of your group wants something other than ice cream.

Best For:

• A scoop with an Italian pastry or coffee
• Visitors exploring Preston Street
• Vegan guests who want a sorbet

Farinella - Gelato Beside the Pizza

Location: 492 Rochester Street, Little Italy (also 344 Preston Street and 806 March Road, Kanata) Style: Italian bakery, pizzeria and gelateria

Farinella is better known for its metre-long pizzas, but its website describes it as a pizza, gelato, pastry and coffee shop. CAA North & East Ontario's 2026 guide says all three locations serve handcrafted gelato and that the Preston Street snack bar is a scooping counter for people who only want something sweet.

Flavours change, but the CAA guide names Oreo custard, Ferrero Rocher, Espresso Caramel Cheesecake, mango and amarena among them. Check the Farinella website for current hours at each location.

Best For:

• A dessert stop after a pizza dinner
• Little Italy walks along Preston Street
• Taking a pint of gelato home

Neighbourhood Guide: Where to Find Your Perfect Scoop

Hintonburg

The Destination: Asian-inspired scoops and vegan-friendly options

Two well-known independent ice cream shops sit in Hintonburg: Moo Shu on Wellington Street West and The Merry Dairy on Fairmont Avenue. They are separate stops rather than next-door neighbours, so plan a short trip between them.

Must-Visit:

• Moo Shu Ice Cream - Rotating Asian-inspired flavours and several vegan scoops
• Merry Dairy - Dairy and vegan flavours, frozen custard and soft serve

Best Strategy: Pick a weekday afternoon for Moo Shu, which is closed on Tuesdays, and check Merry Dairy's hours first because it closes on Mondays.

ByWard Market

The Destination: Gelato and soft serve a short walk apart

The Market offers convenience and variety, with Piccolo Grande's gelato on Murray Street and Lois 'N' Frima's walk-up kiosk on George Street within a few blocks of each other.

Must-Visit:

• Piccolo Grande - Small-batch gelato and late hours, seasonal
• Lois 'N' Frima's - Soft-serve cones and hard scoops from a walk-up kiosk

Old Ottawa South

The Destination: Year-round gelato excellence

Stella Luna anchors this stretch of Bank Street, offering a cafe menu and long hours through the year, with a short closure over the holidays. The cafe atmosphere makes it particularly suitable for leisurely visits and date nights.

Must-Visit:

• Stella Luna Gelato Cafe

Little Italy

The Destination: Gelato with an Italian pastry or a pizza

Preston Street and Rochester Street are the home of two long-running Italian food shops that also scoop gelato.

Must-Visit:

• Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana - Gelato and pastries since 1979
• Farinella - Gelato beside the metre-long pizzas

Glebe

The Destination: Creative small-batch scoops along Bank Street

Haven's Creamery serves the Glebe from 755 Bank Street, close to Lansdowne for a pre- or post-event treat.

Must-Visit:

• Haven's Creamery

Best Ice Cream for Every Occasion

Best for Date Night

Winner: Stella Luna Gelato Cafe

The cafe atmosphere, long evening hours (it stays open until 10 pm every day) and a menu that includes gelato cocktails make Stella Luna a natural fit for romantic outings. Comfortable seating allows for extended conversations over gelato.

Runner-Up: Piccolo Grande, which keeps late hours in the ByWard Market during its season, for an after-dinner stroll with a scoop.

Best for Adventurous Eaters

Winner: Moo Shu Ice Cream

If you're seeking flavours you won't find in a standard scoop shop, Moo Shu is the stop. Hong Kong Milk Tea, Lime Leaf & Fresh Mint and Vegan Mango Sticky Rice challenge palates used to vanilla and chocolate, and the rotating flavours change about once a month.

Must-Try: Start with Hong Kong Milk Tea, which sits on the regular menu rather than the rotating list.

Best for Families with Children

Winner: Lois 'N' Frima's

Soft-serve cones and hard scoops from a walk-up kiosk keep things simple in the ByWard Market, and the wall menu includes vegan and sorbet options for anyone who cannot have dairy. It is an easy stop between sights downtown.

Runner-Up: Haven's Creamery, where the waffle cones are made fresh and the flavours are fun enough for kids to pick from.

Best for Dietary Restrictions

Winner: Merry Dairy

The Merry Dairy tags each flavour as dairy, vegan, gluten-free or soy-free on its website, so people with dietary needs can see their options before they arrive. The shop also notes that it is a nut-free facility, according to 613today's 2026 guide.

Additional Options:

• Moo Shu offers several vegan flavours, such as Dalgona & Coffee and Mango Sticky Rice
• Piccolo Grande makes vegan sorbet daily, and Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana offers sorbet for vegan visitors

Best for Instagram

Winner: Haven's Creamery

The angel wings mural on the wall is a popular photo stop, and flavours like London Fog, raspberry brownie cheesecake and mango sticky rice photograph well in a fresh waffle cone.

Best Year-Round Option

Winner: Stella Luna Gelato Cafe

Most Ottawa ice cream shops are seasonal or cut their hours in winter. Stella Luna serves gelato through the year, apart from a short holiday closure, which makes it a reliable choice during Ottawa's cold winters. Moo Shu and Haven's Creamery are also listed as year-round by 613today.

Unique Flavours Worth Seeking Out

Asian-Inspired Flavours

Ottawa's Asian ice cream offerings have expanded dramatically, with flavours that were exotic curiosities becoming mainstream favourites:

Ube (Purple Yam) The Filipino purple yam creates a distinctive purple colour and subtly sweet, slightly earthy flavour. It is not on Moo Shu's current scooping menu, so watch the rotating list or ask at Asian-inspired shops whether it is in the case.

Black Sesame Rich, nutty, and deeply satisfying, black sesame ice cream offers complexity that surprises first-time tasters. The flavour builds gradually, revealing new dimensions with each bite.

Matcha (Green Tea) Quality matcha ice cream balances sweetness with appropriate bitterness, avoiding the overly sugary versions common in mass-market products. Look for genuine green colour rather than artificial brightness.

Taro Similar to ube but with its own distinct personality, taro provides subtle sweetness and beautiful purple colouring.

Pandan The "vanilla of Southeast Asia" offers a unique aromatic quality that suits adventurous eaters.

Lychee Fragrant and refreshing, lychee flavours capture the essence of this beloved tropical fruit.

Hong Kong Milk Tea Sweet, aromatic, and reminiscent of the popular beverage, this flavour bridges familiar tea experiences with frozen dessert format. It is a regular on Moo Shu's scooping menu.

Italian Classics

Traditional Italian gelato flavours remain beloved for good reason:

Stracciatella The Italian answer to chocolate chip, featuring fine chocolate shards suspended in creamy base.

Pistachio Authentic pistachio gelato uses real nuts, creating a flavour far removed from artificial green versions.

Tiramisu Coffee-soaked ladyfingers translated into frozen form, capturing the essence of the classic dessert.

Creative Local Innovations

Ottawa shops continue experimenting with unique combinations:

Lavender Honey Floral and sweet, this sophisticated flavour appeals to those seeking something beyond traditional options.

Earl Grey Tea-infused ice cream that captures bergamot's distinctive aromatics.

Maple Celebrating Canadian heritage with the country's signature sweetener.

The Vegan and Dairy-Free Guide

Finding excellent vegan and dairy-free ice cream in Ottawa has become significantly easier as shops recognize the growing demand for alternatives.

Best Overall Dairy-Free: Merry Dairy

The Merry Dairy marks each flavour on its website as dairy, vegan, gluten-free or soy-free, and the vegan list runs well beyond a single sorbet. In October 2026 it included Salted Caramel, Mint Chip, Chocolate Oreo, Dark Chocolate Espresso, Sunbutter Crunch and Roasted Banana. That makes it the easiest stop for a group that mixes dairy and vegan eaters.

Moo Shu's Vegan Options

Moo Shu's scooping menu labels several flavours as vegan. In October 2026 these were Dalgona & Coffee and Mango Sticky Rice, plus rotating vegan flavours such as Kabocha Pumpkin Pie and Sea Buckthorn Creamsicle. Check the menu page before you go, because the rotating flavours change about monthly.

Sorbet at the Gelato Shops

Gelato shops tend to make sorbet that is dairy-free. Piccolo Grande says it makes vegan sorbet daily, Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana offers sorbet for vegan visitors, and Lois 'N' Frima's lists vegan and sorbet options on its wall menu. Well-made sorbets can be exceptional desserts in their own right, particularly during hot summer months.

Tips for Dairy-Free Seekers

1. Call ahead to confirm current dairy-free offerings
2. Ask about cross-contamination if you have severe allergies (Merry Dairy is a nut-free facility, according to 613today)
3. Sorbets are a reliable option at most gelato shops
4. Merry Dairy is the easiest place to compare dairy and vegan flavours on one board

Seasonal Considerations and Best Times to Visit

Summer (June-August)

Expect:

• Peak crowds and the longest queues, especially on hot weekends
• Seasonal shops such as Piccolo Grande open
• Outdoor seating in demand

Strategy:

• Visit weekday afternoons for shortest waits
• Arrive early on sunny weekends
• Consider less popular shops during peak times
• Have a backup plan if lines are excessive

Spring and Fall (April-May, September-October)

Expect:

• Moderate crowds
• Most seasonal shops open (spring) or closing (fall)
• Pleasant weather for enjoying ice cream outdoors
• More manageable wait times

Strategy:

• Ideal time for first visits to popular spots
• Check seasonal shops' opening/closing dates
• Enjoy the best balance of weather and crowds

Winter (November-March)

Expect:

• Seasonal shops such as Piccolo Grande closed, and shorter hours elsewhere
• Stella Luna, Moo Shu and Haven's Creamery open through the winter (Stella Luna closes December 24 to January 2)
• The Merry Dairy open on winter hours, but closed in January
• Significantly reduced crowds at open locations

Strategy:

• Stella Luna becomes the default destination
• Indoor seating becomes essential
• Embrace the contrast of cold treat in cold weather

Money-Saving Tips and Local Secrets

Beat the Crowds

1. Weekday afternoons offer the shortest waits at popular locations
2. Arrive early on sunny weekends before lines build
3. Check a shop's social pages or website for current hours before you head out
4. Explore alternatives when your first choice has excessive waits

Maximize Value

1. Ask for a sample - Some shops will offer tastes of unfamiliar flavours
2. Single scoops satisfy - The intense flavours mean less is often more
3. Share unusual flavours - Try multiple options by sharing with companions
4. Skip toppings - Quality ice cream doesn't need additions

Local Knowledge

1. Check the flavour board online at shops like Merry Dairy and Moo Shu, since both rotate scoops
2. Combine visits - Piccolo Grande and Lois 'N' Frima's are both in the ByWard Market
3. Ask staff for recommendations - They know what's particularly good today
4. Return visits reveal different experiences - Rotating flavours mean new discoveries

FAQ

Q: What is the best ice cream shop in Ottawa?

Moo Shu Ice Cream on Wellington Street West is a favourite for inventive Asian-inspired flavours like Hong Kong Milk Tea. Stella Luna on Bank Street is the most awarded gelato shop, with Best Gelato in Canada at the 2016 Gelato World Tour. Merry Dairy labels its vegan flavours. The "best" depends on what you want.

Q: When is Moo Shu open?

Moo Shu, at 1130 Wellington Street West, is open Monday and Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 10 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm. It is closed Tuesdays, and holiday hours differ, as the Thanksgiving weekend notice on its website shows. Check the site before you go.

Q: Where can I find dairy-free ice cream in Ottawa?

Merry Dairy in Hintonburg tags each flavour as dairy or vegan on its website and offers a long vegan list. Moo Shu also labels several vegan flavours. Gelato shops such as Piccolo Grande make vegan sorbet, so you rarely have to skip dessert.

Q: Which Ottawa ice cream shops are open year-round?

Stella Luna Gelato Cafe stays open through the year except a holiday break from December 24 to January 2. 613today also lists Moo Shu and Haven's Creamery as year-round. Merry Dairy is open on winter hours but closes in January, while Piccolo Grande closes for winter.

Q: What are the most unique ice cream flavours available in Ottawa?

Moo Shu's scooping menu lists Hong Kong Milk Tea, White Rabbit, Calico Chocolate, Lime Leaf & Fresh Mint and vegan Mango Sticky Rice, plus monthly rotating flavours. Haven's Creamery serves London Fog and raspberry brownie cheesecake. Merry Dairy also rotates creative flavours, so check each shop's menu before you go.

Q: What's a good ice cream stop for families with kids in Ottawa?

Lois 'N' Frima's walk-up kiosk at 71 George Street in the ByWard Market sells soft-serve cones and hard scoops, with vegan and sorbet options on the wall menu. Haven's Creamery on Bank Street makes its waffle cones fresh, which many kids enjoy as part of the treat.

Q: How much does ice cream cost in Ottawa?

613today's 2026 guide says to expect about $5 to $8 for a single scoop at most artisan shops. Sundaes, cones with extras, pints and cakes cost more. Prices change, so check the shop's menu for today's numbers, and ask whether tax is included at the till.

Q: What neighbourhoods have the best ice cream in Ottawa?

Hintonburg has Moo Shu and Merry Dairy, and the ByWard Market has Piccolo Grande and Lois 'N' Frima's. Old Ottawa South has Stella Luna, the Glebe has Haven's Creamery, and Little Italy has Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana and Farinella. Each area suits a different stroll.

Final Thoughts

Ottawa's ice cream scene offers experiences that stand alongside any major Canadian city. From Moo Shu's Asian-inspired flavours to Stella Luna's award-winning gelato, the capital rewards those willing to explore beyond chain stores and generic options.

Shops open, move and close, as Moo Shu's move from Bank Street to Wellington Street West shows, so check a shop's website or social pages before you travel. Start with Moo Shu for a local favourite, use Stella Luna for year-round reliability, and look to Merry Dairy if dietary restrictions have limited your options in the past.

The only question remaining: which flavour will you try first?

Sources: Moo Shu Ice Cream & Kitchen, Stella Luna Gelato, Piccolo Grande, The Merry Dairy, Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana, Farinella. Also checked: 613today's 2026 ice cream guide and CAA North & East Ontario's 2026 ice cream guide.