The 5 Best Ice Cream Stores in Sydney to Melt Your Monday Blues
Sunny harbour walks and warm city afternoons call for a frozen treat. You might be planning to explore bustling shopping precincts near local toy stores or grab dinner at popular pizza stores, but we all know dessert brings the day together.
Finding the best ice cream store in Sydney means discovering rich textures and playful flavour combinations. The good news: we’ve hunted down the ultimate frozen treats across town, so you don’t have to melt while deciding where to go.
Grab a spoon and let’s dive into these incredible local shops that’ll keep you cool and completely satisfied!
How much does ice cream cost in Sydney?
Buying a scoop of ice cream or artisan gelato in Sydney generally costs between $6.50 and $9.50 AUD, while take-home tubs range from $17.00 to $35.00 AUD.
| Size / Item | Average Price Range (AUD) | Notes |
| 1 Scoop (Cup or Cone) | $6.50–$7.00 | Standard pricing at major shops |
| 2 Scoops | $8.50–$9.50 | Better value per scoop |
| 3 Scoops | $11.00–$13.50 | Large serving size |
| 0.5L Takeaway Tub | $17.00–$22.00 | Packed fresh from the display cabinet |
| 1L Takeaway Tub | $32.00–$35.00 | Standard bulk family size |
1. Gelato Messina Circular Quay
Website: https://gelatomessina.com/
Address: Shop G-10, Gateway Plaza, 1 Macquarie Place
Contact: 0485 982 519
Hours: Monday–Thursday, Sunday, 11:00 AM–10:30 PM; Friday–Saturday, 11:00 AM–11:00 PM
Making every recipe from scratch without pre-made bases, Gelato Messina Circular Quay relies on an in-house pastry team for the brownies, pralines, pastries, fudges, and other treats folded into their gelato.
They even make their own chocolate using single-origin Ecuadorian cacao and Australian Jersey milk.
We spoke with a client who stopped by after an afternoon stroll by the quay, and they told us the salted caramel scoop had a silky texture and hit the spot with its salty-sweet flavour.
For more options, the menu also includes fully vegan sorbets and vegan standard cones. Plus, you can order their cakes online for pickup from the Circular Quay store.
Just keep the allergen information in mind. Every flavour here may contain traces of nuts, while the chocolate flavours contain a small amount of nuts.
Customer Reviews
The better places to get gelato and ice cream in Circular Quay
I enjoyed getting and eating gelato from here. My friend and I ordered double scoops in a waffle cone. The gelato was smooth, creamy and well churned. Each scoop had its own distinct flavour and wasn’t overly sweet. I thought they were a good size for the price.
Service was very good. It was busy with a line out the door. We didn’t have to wait for long to be served though. Staff were efficient, helpful patient, friendly and courteous.
I think Messina is one of the better places to get gelato and ice cream in Circular Quay.
— Map Roy | Google Review
Best place to get an ice cream in Sydney
Best place to get an ice cream in Sydney. The flavours are amazing, tasty and not too sweet. You will ba astonished by the specials released every week.
The service was quick, efficient and nice.
A large choices of flavours that will make everyone happy.
— Valerie Jacquard | Google Review
2. Gelatissimo Darling Harbour
Website: https://gelatissimo.com.au/
Address: Shop 4, Ground Level/35 Wheat Road
Contact: (02) 7233 4277
Hours: Monday–Thursday, Sunday, 8:30 AM–12:00 AM; Friday–Saturday, 8:30 AM–12:30 AM
Making fresh artisan batches in-store every day, Gelatissimo Darling Harbour offers a store-specific flavour cabinet with clear dietary labels.
This lets you easily check whether a flavour is vegan-friendly, reduced-sugar, halal-certified, or made with specific allergens before ordering.
Their reduced-sugar choices include 95% Sugar Free Chocolate and Strawberry. You can even design a gelato cake using available in-store flavours, toppings, and a personalised message, which makes celebrations easier to plan.
Their location near IMAX and the W Hotel makes them an easy dessert stop after a Darling Harbour outing. Plus, the shop stays open until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 12:30 AM on Friday and Saturday.
However, keep cross-contact in mind since they use shared equipment. This means every flavour may contain traces of gluten, milk, peanuts, and more.
Customer Reviews
Best ice cream shop in town
5 stars all the way ❤️The shop is spotless and has a great vibe. Even though there was a long line, the team worked efficiently and with a smile. My fave flavour is candy wonderland ! Best ice cream shop in town 🫶🏻
— Ken W | Google Review
You can really taste the quality
I absolutely loved my visit to this ice cream shop! From the moment I walked in, the place had such a cheerful and welcoming vibe. The variety of flavors is incredible classic favorites alongside unique, creative ones that you won’t find anywhere else. Each scoop is rich, creamy, and made with so much love you can really taste the quality. The staff are super friendly and patient, always ready with great recommendations (which was a lifesaver because it was so hard to choose!).
— Deepa Paalpare | Google Review
3. Andersen’s of Denmark Ice Cream
Website: https://andersensicecream.com/
Address: Shop E07, International Convention Centre (ICC), 14 Darling Drive
Contact: (02) 9212 4270 | (02) 9281 8730
Hours: Monday–Thursday, Sunday, 10:00 AM–11:00 PM; Friday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–12:00 AM
Rooted in Danish cone-making traditions that span more than three generations, Andersen’s of Denmark Ice Cream makes their ice cream fresh on the premises every day using pure fresh cream.
The sweet smell of freshly made waffle cones hits you right at the door, adding to the old-school ice cream shop feel. The range features ingredients like Madagascan vanilla bean, caramelised almonds, Belgian chocolate, and real strawberries.
Plus, they use no artificial flavours or colours. There’s also a non-dairy raspberry sorbet for those avoiding dairy.
But keep in mind that the selection changes with seasonal supplies, so your favourite flavour might not be available every time you visit.
Customer Reviews
BEST ICE CREAM IN SYDNEY
BEST ICE CREAM IN SYDNEY. Every time I go to the city I look forward to eating ice cream here. It’s always so fresh and has the perfect amount of flavour and sweetness. The staff is also sweet and helpful! My favourite flavour is their lychee and dragonfruit! It’s so unique and has an amazing test, lol every time I go I take the same flavour😭 highly recommended and is a must try!!!
— Ahana Agarwal | Google Review
You can really taste the quality in every scoop
This ice cream shop is my absolute favorite spot for a sweet treat! The flavors are always rich, creamy, and full of freshness, you can really taste the quality in every scoop. The staff are super friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere makes you want to stay a little longer just to enjoy the vibe.
— Muskan Karki Rana | Google Review
4. Venchi – The Galeries Sydney
Website: https://au.venchi.com/gelato
Address: RG014, The Galeries, 500 George Street
Contact: 0475 720 114 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Wednesday, Friday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–7:00 PM; Thursday, 10:00 AM–9:00 PM; Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Combining Italian gelato with Venchi chocolate, Venchi – The Galeries Sydney is the brand’s first Australian boutique and operates as a ChocoGelateria rather than a gelato-only counter.
They make their gelato fresh on-site every day, following traditional Italian methods. Meanwhile, their wider range uses ingredients like single-origin chocolate from Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru, and Green Pistachio from Bronte.
The pistachio recipe also contains no artificial colourants, artificial flavours, thickeners, or palm oil. For more options, vegan-friendly choices include Azteco, mango, and lychee, although availability can vary at the counter.
Sadly, the shop closes at 6:00 PM on Sunday and 7:00 PM on most other days, except Thursday when it stays open until 9:00 PM.
Customer Reviews
The texture was smooth and creamy
I went here for a ice cream today and it was a solid experience. I tried the pistachio and banana chocolate flavours – both were delicious, with rich flavour and a nice balance of sweetness that wasn’t overwhelming. The portion size was a little on the smaller side compared to other places, but the quality of the ice cream made up for it. The texture was smooth and creamy, and you can tell they focus on flavour over just being overly sweet. Overall, a great spot if you’re after something tasty and not too heavy
— Seulki Chung | Google Review
Their customer service was 100/10!
The girls at the counter were amazing! Their customer service was 100/10! I would give 10 stars to those girls for handling the whole store with such poise and elegance!
The ice cream and chocolates were fantastic!! I grabbed as many as I could in my first visit and will keep coming back for more 😄
— Palak Gathania | Google Review
5. SMiZE & DREAM
Website: https://smize.com/
Address: Shop 9, 31–33 Wheat Road
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Friday, 12:00 PM–10:00 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM–11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
Setting up shop at Darling Harbour, SMiZE & DREAM combines small-batch ice cream made on-site in their Flavour Studio with a theatrical, fashion-inspired shop design.
Their SMiZE SURPRiZES can top your scoops or be hidden at the bottom of hand-packed pints, adding a fun twist to each treat.
The menu is split into three collections: Comfy for familiar classics, Yummy for playful swirls and chunks, and Dreamy for richer combinations. For plant-based options, their Mango Glow Up is vegan on the current menu.
You can also order hand-packed pints for delivery around Sydney through Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Just keep in mind the flagship opens at noon, Monday to Friday, so morning and early-lunch visits aren’t an option on weekdays.
Customer Reviews
The best ice-cream I have ever had
The best ice-cream I have ever had. The texture was so gooey and icy and unique, and the flavours were so generously packed with add ins. Absolutely worth the higher price point. The staff were also so nice and helpful, and encouraged me to try tons of flavours to find the right one for me. Couldn’t recommend more highly
— Google reviewer | Google Review
Super creamy and rich and thick
We stopped in here after dinner on Friday night for a sweet treat. The staff were so friendly and let us try a few different flavours. I chose the chocolate cookie one and it was INCREDIBLE. I’m still thinking about it days later. Super creamy and rich and thick – very different to other ice cream / gelato places around the area. My husband got the cherry cola sorbet which was so fresh and light – I wanted to get a pint to take home but I guess they were sold out. Highly recommend!
— Belinda Mckeon | Google Review