When the temperature begins to tick higher and higher, nothing hits the spot quite like an a creamy scoop of delicious ice cream. The usual suspects like Hรคagen-Dazs, Drumstick, and Mรถvenpick are easy to find at your local 7-11, but sometimes you crave hand-churned gelato, decadent soft serve, or an oh-so indulgent ice cream cookie sandwich. While the 852 may be notorious for its heat and humidity, we’re shouting out its especially chilly corners โ helping you tackle all the delicious ice cream shops that Hong Kong has to offer!
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Snack Baby
Your lactose-intolerant buddy won’t have to miss out on ice cream night when visiting Snack Baby’s chic gelateria. With plenty of lactose and dairy-free optionsย in its revolving array of 14 flavours, this premium gelato is decadent yet never heavy. Made in-store daily with fresh ingredients, the pistachio flavour in particular is extra salty, crunchy, and nutty. In the mood for something stronger? Snack Baby also features a menu of cocktails like the Negroni or โ if you just can’t stay away from that icy goodness โ the Affogato Baby.
Snack Baby, 93-95 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, www.snack-baby.com
Yonna Yonna Gelato
Hankering for a taste of Okinawa? Skip the plane ticket and head over to Yonna Yonna Gelato in Kai Tak instead. The first global offshoot of the award-winning Okinawan brand Yanbaru Gelato, this laid-back spot serves scoops made from seasonal fruits flown in straight from Okinawa. Here, you can you grab a lick of flavours like premium Hokkaido milk, but also a range of vegan choices โ certified by the Japan Vegan Association.
Yonna Yonna Gelato, Shop G16, G/F, Tower II, The Twins, 12 Muk Chui Street, Kai Tak, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 5910 8190, Instagram: @yonnayonnagelato
L’antico Gelato
Combining Italian flair with Hong Kong vibrancy, L’antico Gelato is a cross-cultural exchange of passion, taste, and tradition. This artisan gelateria crafts 30 flavours of silky-smooth gelato in three tempting categories: Signature Flavour, Afternoon Tea or Coffee, and Fruity Fruit. From indulgence to zest, L’antico Gelato has the slow-churned answer to your icy-sweet desires โ with less sugar and fat than your typical offerings (earning you that second scoop!).
L’antico Gelato, G/F, 19 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, 5166 4808, www.lantico-gelato.com
The Ice Cream & Cookie Co.
As its name suggests, The Ice Cream & Cookie Co. celebrates not one, but two of your favourite sweet treats. As the first overseas expansion of this beloved Singapore brand, this concept ice creamery is more than meets the eye. Far from simple overindulgence, ICCโs Asian-inspired ice cream is made using high quality, fresh ingredients and comes with added prebiotic fibre and reduced sugar. That isnโt to say you won’t get your fair share of decadenceย at this bistro-style spot โ just ask the gourmet ice cream sandwich, with its scoop of joy nestled between freshly baked cookies.
The Ice Cream & Cookie Co., 18 Gough Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, Instagram: @icecreamcookieco.hk
Milk & Cream
Boasting its โhonest ice cream,โ Milk & Creamโs all-natural goodness is crafted fresh daily with Australian whole milk. From the classic creamy Vanilla to the zingy and juicy Lemon Crรจme Fraรฎche, the flavours here are simple and nostalgic while still offering a few surprises. Located just a skip away from the TST waterfront, Milk & Cream is the perfect spot to get your licks in before a gorgeous Hong Kong sunset.
Milk & Cream, G/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 3500 5581, www.milkandcream.com.hk
Messina
A heavy-hitter from down under, Messina serves artisanal Italian-style gelato in a range of flavours โ with 30 classics, five HK exclusives, and five rotating specials. This creamy local favourite churns fresh batches daily with premium raw ingredients, blending tradition with innovation in everyย scoop. We’d challenge you to find another joint in the city that slings scoops of Dragonโs Back and Black Sesame Tong Yuen as smoothly as Messina.
Messina, various locations across Hong Kong, www.gelatomessina.com.hk
Gelato-Go
Luckily for Hong Kong’s ice cream enthusiasts, US-based Gelato-Goโs first Asia flagship is perched right on Nathan Road in TST! The fresh ice cream tasted here is all-naturalย without the hefty price tag โ with imported ingredients and the creamiest milk free of any artificial hormones or antibiotics. With a diverse range of flavours in both gelato and sorbet options, Gelato-Go ensures that even your lactose-intolerant friends can join in on the frostyย fun.
Gelato-Go, G/F, The Nate, 174 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 2383 9118, www.gelatogohongkong.com
Via Tokyo
This Japanese soft-serve gem is ideal for those who prefer to enjoy their matcha in swirl form. Via Tokyo serves up signature flavours like velvety Hokkaido milk and toasty hojicha, complete with premium toppings โ think chewy mochi and nutty warabi – for added texture. These sweetly-smooth chills can also be enjoyed with other comforts from Japan like roll-cakes, mont blanc cheesecakes, and quality Japanese tea.
Via Tokyo, Shop 1A-1B, G/F, Leishun Court, 106-126 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2895 1116, Instagram: @viatokyocafe
Mobile Softee (Mister Softee)
One of the sweetest icons of Hong Kong (literally), the nostalgic Mister Softee ice cream trucks may have rebranded as Mobile Softee in 2010 but still dish out the same simple yet delicious sweet treats. While you won’t find much of a concrete schedule when it comes to these elusive red, white, and blue vans, a safe bet is to hit up sunny and crowded spots like Central Pier โ while keeping an ear out for that โBlue Danubeโ jingle. If you’re lucky enough to spot one of these local treasures, do try their soft serve or nutty drumstick (we’re jealous already!).
Mobile Softeeย vans can be found across Hong Kong
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
