Best Ice Cream in York 2025 and a fun fab place to go in the sun for a 99 flake and a lolly.
A Local's guide to the top places to go for your ice cream fix.
Let’s talk about the best way to ruin your kids’ dinner plans and your dentist’s year – ice cream. Whether it’s sunny (rare), drizzly (frequent), or somewhere confusing in between (welcome to York), there’s never a bad time to treat yourself to a scoop (or four).
York, it turns out, is absolutely packed with frozen deliciousness. So I’ve done the hard work for you – by which I mean I’ve eaten a frankly heroic amount of ice cream – to bring you this completely biased and genuinely tasty guide to the best places to cool down in the city.
Trinacria – The Sicilian Wonder
Tucked away on Bishopthorpe Road, Trinacria isn’t just an ice cream shop – it’s a little scoop of Sicily. They make their gelato fresh every single day, and it shows. This is the kind of ice cream that makes you involuntarily close your eyes and whisper “Mamma mia.”
They’ve got classics like pistachio and Sorbetto al Limone, but the proper win is the Donnatella.
Best For: Pretending you’re in Palermo but with less sunburn and more Yorkshire accents.
Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato – Church Street
You know how some places say “authentic Italian gelato” and then serve you something that tastes like frozen UHT milk? This is not that place.
Roberto’s is the real deal – handmade every day, creamy as anything, and served up by people who look like they know what they’re doing (and probably could make a decent lasagne too).
My favourite is The hazelnut gelato. It’s like Nutella, but better. I know – big claim.
Luxury Ice Cream Company, The Hidden Rainbow on Swinegate
Luxury Ice Cream Company is a York institution, and not just because it’s managed to cram 36 flavours into a space the size of your nan’s utility room.
Their waffle cones are brilliant, their flavours are wild (bubblegum, Turkish delight, and peanut butter cup all make appearances), and they have vegan and gluten-free options that actually taste like treats, not chores.
The “small” portion is still basically a meal. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Plush Café – Ice Cream, But Make It Aesthetic
If Barbie had an ice cream parlour, it would be Plush Café. It’s all velvet sofas, pastel everything, and swings for chairs – yes, actual swings, though maybe don’t try them mid-sundae.
The ice cream offering is just as delightful: colourful, creamy, and the kind of thing you take a photo of before eating (unlike that sad Cornetto you smashed in your glovebox last week).
They’ve got sundaes, scoops, and dreamy desserts with toppings that would make your inner child squeal. Bonus points for serving it all in a setting that looks like someone Pinterest-ed their entire brain.
Lastly a fun and sunny place for an ice cream in York: Two Hoots Ice Cream Boat
Yes, it’s a boat. A boat that serves ice cream. What’s not to love?
Moored just along the river Two Hoots is a quirky little gem with traditional British scoops of ice cream, 99 flakes and lollies that threatens to cause a queue the length of the Ouse.
It’s family-run, delightfully old-school, and worth the detour just to say you got a 99 while afloat.
Final Scoop
There you go – York’s finest frozen offerings, lovingly tested by someone who definitely didn’t need to try them all in one day (but did anyway). From gelato to 99 flakes from riverside boats, York’s ice cream scene is cooler than ever.
Go forth, grab a cone, and remember: if it’s not dripping down your wrist, you’re doing it wrong and as always if you are coming to York to munch on an ice cream and need a place to stay then check out our 3 holiday homes at www.houseofyork.org
Want to read more for your next visit to York?
Then download a free copy of our book York Local Knowledge Must-do Top Tens & the vouchers to get them for less where you will discover the historic UK city of York like a local with tips, top tens, and guidance on where to find the best discounts and vouchers, so you can experience it all without breaking the bank!
You can download it for free from the Apple iBooks Store here
You can download it for free from the Google Play Books Store here
This isn’t your average guidebook—it’s a laugh-out-loud, down-to-earth companion, packed with top-ten lists covering everything from essential attractions and hidden gems to entertainment, dining spots, walks, tours, festivals, and shopping, all enriched with a local’s insider knowledge.
With insights, amusing anecdotes, and a sprinkling of puns and dad jokes, Alistair’s love letter to York will help you see the city in a whole new way. Grab a copy and start planning the York adventure you didn’t know you were missing!
With over 240 pages, this guide is ideal for families and groups of friends planning a trip to York and includes:
Up-to-date information on everything in the ever-changing city of York—this is the 2025 edition.
Top ten lists of York’s best tourist attractions, entertainment spots, food and drink, walks, tours, festivals, and independent shops.
Beautiful photography accompanying every recommendation.
Answers to visitors’ top questions, from “Where’s the best place for ice cream?” to “Where can I find a great takeaway curry?”
Recommendations on where locals go for up-to-date information about York.
The best places to stay, from five-star hotels to holiday homes and houseboats.
Details on where to find discounts and vouchers for York restaurants, attractions, and experiences.
Want to hear a great podcast about York?
A fab podcast for tourists and locals looking to find out more about York History, must do York Top 10's and money saving tips to do it all for less.
Just search your podcast app for York Must Do Top 10s or click on this link for the show on apple podcast here
Book one of our Holiday Homes for your next trip to York
Are you looking for a great place to stay for your next trip to York. All 3 of our holiday homes are next door to each other which means you can hire them individually for up to 6 people or together for up to 12 (107 & 109 together) or even 18 people (Spencer House & 107 & 109 together).
To check availability and book just visit www.houseofyork.org
We pride ourselves on being couples and family friendly and we try to take any of the stress out of your stay so you can focus on enjoying yourselves and magnificent York.