The Best Ice Cream Spots in North Adelaide for Satisfying Your Sweetest Desires
Indulgence might be our greatest fault. Any diet plan melts away every time ice cream comes into our sights.
Can you blame us, though? Spots like Cafe Fellini and Chocolatree whip up cups and cones of pure bliss, whether it’s velvety vanilla bean, rich chocolate fudge, or exotic matcha green tea.
The cherry on top is North Adelaide has a whole tub’s worth of stellar ice cream joints. You’ll know the names of these sweet spots below!
St Louis House of Fine Ice Cream and Desserts
Address: Brougham Plaza, 20 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 8361 7368
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 9 am to 10:30 am
- Fri to Sat – 9 am to 11:30 pm
- Sun – 9:30 am to 10:30 am
St Louis is known for desserts that laugh in the face of your calorie count. This decade-old company of slightly guilt-free desserts only uses pasteurized milk to craft their indulgent European-inspired treats.
Gelato is their main thing, with temptations ranging from chocolate, white chocolate, pistachio, and salted caramel. The main diet-breaker, though, is the French vanilla gelato with an espresso coating and a splash of Frangelico liqueur.
The sundaes are also decadent masterpieces, especially the Eton mess sundae with its medley of fresh and freeze-dried berries, vanilla gelato, and meringue.
Tip: Cool down without doing too much by booking St Louis’ gelato cart deal. They’ll bring the sweets right to your doorstep—even if you’re throwing a shindig with over 500, gelato-hungry guests!
Enjoy Paan House
Address: 4/160 Hampstead Rd, Broadview
Contact Details: 0433 301 059
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 6 pm to 11 pm
Facebook
Skip Enjoy Paan House’s Indian-style ice cream, and you’re basically saying no to one of North Adelaide’s best-kept secrets. Lucky for us, we gave them a go.
We instantly fell in love with their rajbhog scoops. It’s an ice cream loaded with saffron, so you can expect distinct floral notes that perfectly complement the delicate flavors of its dried fruit bits.
Not to be outdone, the kaju anjeer is a balanced treat with caramel-like depth. Each scoop bursts with nutty, tart, and sweet flavors, thanks to its figs and cashews.
Tip: Head to their Instagram to see their latest desserts and ice cream flavors!
Gelista
Address: 18/20 Forster St, Ridleyton
Contact Details: (08) 8346 5195
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
Website
It would be a crime to all ice cream lovers if we left out Gelista from this list. After all, the company has award-winning tubs that can blow away the blues with a single scoop.
Their range might overwhelm you, though, so we suggest starting with their iconic peanut butter with chocolate and caramel swirl. But if you want to play it safe, the Madagascar vanilla bean and caramel macadamia are your best bets.
For the lactose-free crowd, you can’t go wrong with choices like lemon, mango with passionfruit swirl, and dairy-free vanilla bean. Just prepare to shell out extra for these.
Tip: Looking for new ways to enjoy gelato? Bring out your apron, and try Gelista’s mouthwatering recipes!
Freesia Ice Cream
Address: 18/20 Forster St, Ridleyton
Contact Details: (08) 8346 5195
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
Website
Freesia, a revived ice cream brand, is like a time machine for your taste buds. Dessert aficionados from the 80s know what we’re hinting at.
For their comeback, they’ve swirled flavors like Death by Chocolate, Bee’s Sneeze Honey Crunch, and Josephine’s French Vanilla.
Yeah, it’s only a short list as of July 2024, but you can expect more nostalgic flavors in the future that might remind you of your Walkman-wearing glory days.
Tip: If you can’t make it to the main shop, there are other stores that stock up on Freesia Ice Cream.
Popsicool
Address: 18/20 Forster St, Ridleyton
Contact Details: (08) 8346 5195
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
Website
Popsicool gets a gold star for its brilliant name and an even more brilliant star for sourcing real fruit from local South Australian farmers. Oh, and you’ll certainly taste the extremely fruity flavors. They aren’t just for branding shenanigans.
For the premium pick, we believe the raspberry lemonade stick is their finest palate-pleaser. The combination of bold berry essence and sharp citrusy flavors is too good to resist.
But, hey, if it isn’t your preferred popsicle, you can still indulge in flavors like pineapple coconut, strawberry, choc banana, and mango smoothie!
Tip: If their single-servings can’t satisfy you, consider snagging Popsicool’s multipacks.
Chocolatree
Address: 25 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 8367 0443
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 5 pm to 11 pm
- Tue to Thu – 10 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 10 am to 12 am
- Sun – 10 am to 11 pm
Kiss your diet goodbye if you ever pass by Chocolatree, a dessert shop that attracts those with sugary, creamy cravings no matter the hour.
They whip up ice creams, waffles, and fondues, blending them into irresistible mash-ups that would make Willy Wonka proud. Take their Mudslide, a decadent Belgian chocolate cake jazzed up with whipped cream, strawberries, and vanilla ice cream.
Even their drinks are in on the scoop, like the O’Rio, a smoothie-sundae fusion with cookies, chocolate, and—you guessed it—ice cream.
Tip: University students can sweeten their Wednesday evenings from 6 pm to 10 pm with Chocolatree’s 25% discount. Just remember to present your ID.
Cafe Fellini
Address: 102 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 8239 2235
Operating Hours: Daily – 8 am to 10 pm
Website
Pizza might be their main gig, but Cafe Fellini’s ice cream is a showstopper too. For starters, their gelato fridge is a dessert lover’s dream, with seasonal scoops worth splurging for.
What’s even better is their vanilla gelato servings can be paired with more delights like chocolate sauce, strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, and waffles.
If you’re loose with labels, their affogato is also a must-try. For just $9, you get vanilla gelato drowned in espresso—a final course and energy booster in a single glass.
Tip: Fancy their sleek floor-to-ceiling venue? Hire it for your next party!
Pellegrini Cafe
Address: 179 O’Connell St
Contact Details: (08) 8361 7133
Operating Hours: Daily – 7 am to 11 pm
Website
At Pellegrini Cafe, ice cream is not just for dessert; it’s also for breakfast.
Whenever we’re here, we go hard on their banana caramel waffle crowned with a luscious scoop (or scoops) of ice cream. The flavors might switch daily but expect classic ones like vanilla and chocolate to be always in the mix.
Speaking of chocolate, the cafe serves chocolate hazelnut waffles, aka our chocoholics’ greatest guilty pleasure. This one is topped with a generous amount of ice cream, sprinkled with chocolate shards, and finished with a dollop of whipped cream.
Tip: Their menu is living proof that change is the only thing that’s constant. Check it regularly, or you’ll miss out on the latest scoop.
Gelato Meccanica
Address: 2 Hawker St, Bowden
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Thu – 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 2:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Turning down Gelato Meccanica’s homemade decadence? That would be a miracle for our team.
The first flavor that hooked us is vanilla bean, a smooth and subtly sweet variant that’s perfect for post-work unwinding. What made us regulars, though, is the strawberry + cookie combo; it’s tart, buttery, and has the right amount of fruit chunks and cookie pieces.
Other noteworthy flavors that boosted Bowden’s popularity among our teammates include pistachio, lemon, salted macadamia, and panna cotta.
Tip: Their minimalist setup is part of the appeal. But if a trip to Bowden isn’t part of your plans, you can always order their gelato tubs online.
Live a Little Gelato
Address: 5 Third St, Bowden
Contact Details: 0412 932 230
Operating Hours:
- Wed and Fri – 5 pm to 9 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 2:30 pm
The only thing we hate about Live a Little Gelato is how hard it is to pick a flavor. Seriously, they have scoops for days, from tiramisu and mint chocolate to fig and salted caramel.
To sweeten the deal, they’re all about trying new things. For instance, they make a mean cookie gelato set that could feed a group of 15.
Oh, and their products are also organic and vegan. You can savor every lick without a shred of guilt or compromising your eco-cred.
Tip: Prefer your gelato with a side of other desserts? Check Live a Little Gelato’s website to see the other sugary wonders they sling.
Bottega Gelateria
Address: 128 Prospect Rd
Contact Details: +61466962123
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 1:30 pm to 10 pm
- Fri – 1:30 pm to 11 pm
- Sat – 12:30 pm to 11 pm
- Sun – 12:30 pm to 10 pm
Anybody who’s having trouble choosing between vegan or classic gelato should hit up Bottega Gelateria. They have two separate menus to handle your indecision.
For the classic one, affogato, Dutch chocolate, and salted pecan are the flavors that sell like ice cream on a summer day. For us, however, hazelnut Piemonte is the cream of the crop.
On the vegan front, choices like chocolate, hazelnut (which does contain gluten), and lemon sorbet are solid picks. Yet, it’s the seasonal blood orange that really shines with its vibrant, mouth-puckering flavor.
Tip: Stay in the loop of their rotating specials by stalking their Instagram or Facebook. You may also give them a ring.
Golden North Ice Cream
Address: 171 Main N Rd, Nailsworth
Contact Details: (08) 8292 3500
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 4:30 pm
Website
Golden North Ice Cream’s approach is all about keeping things nut-free and using only the freshest Aussie milk and cream. The result is simple, safe, and outrageously luscious delights that come in 1-liter and 5-liter tubs.
Their range is also impressive, with usual flavors like vanilla, mango, coconut, raspberry, and honeycomb. Rare flavors are also available, like peach melba and rum and raisin.
Tip: To get the most bang for your buck, buy from their main stores rather than supermarkets; the prices are better.
