Montreal’s summer streets are lined with foodies chasing that next unforgettable scoop—and for good reason. This city doesn’t play it safe when it comes to ice cream. From soft-serve swirls that break the internet to creamy, small-batch gelato infused with local flavors, Montreal offers a frozen treat for every taste and mood. Whether you’re a longtime local or just visiting for the season, exploring the city through its ice cream shops is a delicious way to experience its creativity, culture, and community.
What you’ll find below is a curated list of standout spots that are defining what the best ice cream in Montreal looks (and tastes) like in 2025. Some are colorful and quirky, others minimal and artisanal—but all are worth the trip. Keep this list handy, because once you start tasting your way through Montreal, one scoop just won’t be enough.
If there's one ice cream shop that screams summer in Montreal, it's Kem Coba. This cheerful pink corner spot in Mile End has become a warm-weather tradition for locals and visitors alike. Known for its lineups as much as its wildly creative soft-serve twists, Kem Coba brings French-Asian influence into every scoop. Their flavor pairings are anything but ordinary—think mango-pandan, lychee-raspberry, and other unexpected combinations that rotate weekly.
What to Try
Start with their seasonal soft-serve twist—it's what keeps fans lining up year after year. Flavors change often, but if you see pandan, lychee, or coconut on the board, don’t hesitate. Their artisanal sorbets, like passionfruit or salted pineapple, are bright and refreshing on a hot day.
Ambiance & Experience
Bright, casual, and full of energy. You order at the window, grab your cone, and head into Mile End’s charming streets for a walk. The vibe is vibrant but low-key, with families, couples, and solo dessert lovers all soaking up the sun and the sweetness.
Quick Info
Price Range: $ – $$
Dietary: Vegan options available
Location: 60 Av. Fairmount O, Montréal, QC H2T 2M2
Best For: Creative soft serve, summer hangouts, neighborhood charm
If you’ve seen a purple swirl on Instagram with a taiyaki cone and edible flowers, chances are it came from Ca Lem. With multiple locations across Montreal, Ca Lem has made a name for itself with its playful presentation, bold color palettes, and Asian-inspired flavors that push beyond the basics. From black sesame-charcoal to ube, coconut pandan, and yuzu cream, each visit feels like a new experience.
What to Try
Go for the soft serve swirl—especially the ube + coconut pandan combo or their matcha + yuzu twist. Their seasonal vegan sorbets are also strong contenders, especially in the summer heat. And if you’ve never had your ice cream in a warm taiyaki fish-shaped cone, now’s the time.
Ambiance & Experience
Each Ca Lem shop is like stepping into a pastel dream. Bright walls, friendly staff, and always a lineup of people snapping photos of their cones before that first bite. It’s casual, energetic, and family-friendly, with a design-forward interior that’s just as sweet as the ice cream.
Quick Info
Price Range: $ – $$
Dietary: Vegan and dairy-free options available
Location: Multiple across Montreal
Best For: Instagram-worthy desserts, Asian-inspired flavors, casual meetups
If you're looking for ice cream that breaks all the rules—in the best way possible—Iconoglace is your spot. This Rosemont-based creamery is proudly queer-owned, community-driven, and creatively fearless. It’s one of the few places in Montreal offering 100% plant-based soft serve with house-made gluten-free cones, inventive toppings, and bold flavors that change frequently. Think tahini swirls, miso caramel, roasted peach, or slush-based floats with local kombucha.
What to Try
Don’t skip their kombucha float—it’s a refreshing twist you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re in the mood to indulge, go for one of their towering vegan sundaes or the hurricane-style soft serve loaded with crushed cookies and peanut butter drizzle.
Ambiance & Experience
Iconoglace feels like your favorite friend’s backyard mixed with a pop-up art gallery. It’s casual and colorful, with creative flair at every corner—from the flavors to the branding. The staff are welcoming, and the space is often decorated with local artwork and playful chalkboard menus.
Quick Info
Price Range: $ – $$
Dietary: 100% Vegan, gluten-free options
Location: 1320 Rue Bélanger, Montréal, QC H2G 1A1
Best For: Plant-based indulgence, bold flavors, inclusive community vibe
Tucked away in the heart of Saint-Henri, Dalla Rose is known for slow-churned, small-batch ice cream made from local, seasonal ingredients. Their menu leans toward classic flavors with a sophisticated twist—like brown butter, maple taffy, or dark chocolate sea salt. The presentation is simple, but the flavor is anything but.
What to Try
Start with their famous ice cream sandwiches—they’re oversized, gooey, and unforgettable. Their pints are packaged in reusable glass jars (with a discount for returns), so take home a pint of cinnamon bun or Quebec strawberry if it's in season.
Ambiance & Experience
The space is minimal and cool, echoing the neighborhood’s industrial-meets-artsy vibe. Expect friendly service, a steady flow of regulars, and a strong community feel. There’s limited seating, but the nearby canal is perfect for walking with a cone.
Quick Info
Price Range: $$
Dietary: Vegan, nut-free, dairy-free options
Location: 4609 Notre-Dame St W Suite 1, Montreal, Quebec H4C 1S5
Best For: Local flavors, sustainable packaging, neighborhood chill
If your dessert goals include jaw-dropping presentation and over-the-top toppings, Le Blueboy delivers on every level. This creative spot is all about bold flavor combos and playful servings—like ice cream inside a pineapple, on deep-fried plantains, or decked out in cotton candy.
What to Try
Their Thai milk tea soft serve is a crowd favorite, especially when served in a watermelon bowl or taiyaki cone. Keep an eye out for weekend specials—they go big on limited-time creations.
Ambiance & Experience
It’s a full experience. The space is retro-inspired with pops of blue and pink, making it perfect for snapping pics before the first bite. It gets busy in the evening, especially during the summer, but the energy is part of the fun.
Quick Info
Price Range: $$
Dietary: Some vegan options
Location: 150 Mont-Royal Ave E, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1P1
Best For: Instagram-worthy desserts, wild creations, group outings
Unicone brings an international spin to Montreal’s ice cream scene, offering rotating flavors inspired by global desserts. From Turkish baklava soft serve to Slovenian gibanica, their flavor concepts are creative, cultural, and beautifully executed.
What to Try
The pandan-orange blossom swirl is uniquely fragrant and refreshing, while the baklava soft serve with honey-pistachio drizzle feels like a dessert vacation. Lactose-free and vegan options rotate weekly.
Ambiance & Experience
Clean, modern, and playful with pastel tones and neon signs. It’s a stylish grab-and-go environment that’s very popular with the foodie crowd and students from the Plateau.
Quick Info
Price Range: $ – $$
Dietary: Vegan and lactose-free options
Location: 3873 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec H2W 2M4
Best For: Cultural dessert lovers, design-conscious eaters, creative flavors
Upstairs from a pastry kitchen in Ville-Marie, Sachère Desserts is one of Montreal’s best-kept vegan secrets. This quiet dessert bar offers refined, plant-based soft serve in flavors you don’t see every day—like hibiscus-matcha, earl grey blueberry, or guava lime leaf.
What to Try
Their matcha dark chocolate swirl topped with candied citrus or their guava-sorbet creations are both hits. The menu changes often, so every visit feels new.
Ambiance & Experience
Elegant, quiet, and intentionally simple. Think minimal seating, soft lighting, and peaceful energy. It's ideal for solo indulgence, dessert after dinner, or winding down with something sweet.
Quick Info
Price Range: $$
Dietary: 100% Vegan
Location: 5333 Casgrain Ave #311, Montreal, Quebec H2L 2A3
Best For: Refined flavors, minimalist ambiance, quiet moments
Hoche Glacé is a cozy vegan ice cream shop with a big heart and bold menu. Located near Marché Maisonneuve, it offers soft-serve twists, floats, ice cream sandwiches—even dog-friendly treats. It’s fully plant-based and locally loved for its inclusivity and creativity.
What to Try
The raspberry-Oreo soft serve is a local favorite. They also serve house-made frozen sandwiches and a rotating selection of slush-based drinks that beat the heat.
Ambiance & Experience
Bright, welcoming, and full of community energy. The shop is small but lively, and you’ll often see families, market shoppers, and locals stopping in with their dogs.
Quick Info
Price Range: $ – $$
Dietary: 100% Vegan
Location: 2225 Av. Bennett, Montréal, QC H1V 2T4
Best For: Dairy-free indulgence, neighborhood feel, pet-friendly treats
For those craving old-school charm with a side of nostalgia, Wild Willy’s in Pointe-Claire is a West Island favorite. This classic creamery offers 40+ rotating flavors of hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, and epic sundaes.
What to Try
Go big with the Zigamazoo—a wild mix of soft serve, hard scoop, chocolate fudge, and whipped cream. Or try a banana split with house-made sauces for a throwback experience.
Ambiance & Experience
It’s family-friendly, pet-welcoming, and packed on warm evenings. The lakeside location and picnic tables give off timeless summer vibes.
Quick Info
Price Range: $ – $$
Dietary: Vegan and gluten-free options
Location: 20 Cartier Ave, Pointe-Claire, Quebec H9S 4K9
Best For: Family outings, nostalgic desserts, weekend drives
Meetha means “sweet” in Hindi, and this family-run shop delivers just that with South Asian flair. Expect bold, aromatic scoops featuring ingredients like rose, cardamom, mango-chili, and saffron. Their kulfi-style ice creams are rich, spiced, and unforgettable.
What to Try
Mango-chili sorbet with tajin, rose-pistachio kulfi, or their rotating specials like masala chai or jaggery almond crunch. Flavors rotate based on fresh ingredients and family recipes.
Ambiance & Experience
Bright and unpretentious, with a warm neighborhood vibe. Service is personal, and every flavor comes with a story.
Quick Info
Price Range: $ – $$
Dietary: Vegetarian (mostly dairy-based)
Location: 787A Rue de Liège O, Montréal, QC H3N 1B1
Best For: Unique flavors, Indian fusion desserts, small-batch creations
From soft-serve swirl legends to vegan innovators and globally inspired flavor labs, Montreal’s ice cream scene in 2025 is cooler, creamier, and more creative than ever. Whether you’re in the mood for a nostalgic scoop by the lake or a taiyaki cone loaded with matcha soft serve, there’s something in this city to satisfy every kind of craving.
As with most things in Montreal, these spots offer more than dessert—they’re part of the city’s summer rhythm. So next time you’re out on a warm afternoon, skip the supermarket pint and treat yourself to something that’s handmade, hyperlocal, and worth the trip.
Don’t forget to bookmark this guide—we’ll keep it updated as new flavors, shops, and experiences pop up across the city.
| Category | Recommended Spot |
|---|---|
| Best Vegan Ice Cream | Iconoglace, Hoche Glacé, Sachère Desserts |
| Most Instagrammable | Ca Lem, Le Blueboy, Unicone |
| Best for Families | Wild Willy’s, Dalla Rose |
| Creative Flavors | Crèmerie Meetha, Unicone, Kem Coba |
| Old-School Charm | Wild Willy’s |
| Late-Night Sweet Fix | Ca Lem (some locations open late) |
| Best for Hot Days | Kem Coba (sorbet), Iconoglace (slush & floats) |
Montreal has a vibrant and diverse ice cream scene. Popular favorites include Kem Coba for seasonal soft serve, Ca Lem for colorful Asian-inspired swirls, Iconoglace for vegan creativity, and Wild Willy’s for classic scoops by the lake. Each spot offers a unique experience—from plant-based innovation to nostalgic sundaes.
Yes, plenty. Montreal has a strong vegan ice cream scene. Iconoglace, Hoche Glacé, Ca Lem, and Sachère Desserts offer 100% plant-based options. Even traditional shops like Kem Coba and Dalla Rose offer vegan sorbets and dairy-free pints.
Ca Lem and Le Blueboy are known for their eye-catching cones and bold color combinations. Unicone and Kem Coba also serve highly photogenic soft serves in taiyaki or pastel cones.
Several places, like Iconoglace and Dalla Rose, offer gluten-free, nut-free, or dairy-free options. Always ask the staff, as many use small-batch kitchens where cross-contamination may be possible.
Some standouts include mango-chili sorbet from Crèmerie Meetha, kombucha floats at Iconoglace, pandan soft serve at Ca Lem, and baklava-inspired swirls from Unicone. Montreal’s ice cream shops thrive on experimentation.
