The best ice cream in Manchester

A viral sensation with their own sweet spreads, Black Milk have taken the idea of an ice-cream parlour and pushed it to its limits. Located in the Northern Quarter’s bustling Oldham Street, they serve ice cream and gelato in indulgent flavours like pistachio, hazelnut and white chocolate, as well as sundaes, pancake stacks and cheesecakes. No-one need to miss out on the candy-coloured fun, as they have loads of vegan and gluten free options too.

A miniature emporium of oriental groceries with its own bubble tea bar, Chi Yip Market serve some of the most interesting flavours of ice cream around. There’s nothing vanilla about their ice cream counter, instead they serve up flavours like peach mochi, tonka bean, matcha oreo and taro – which is a root vegetable that (honestly) tastes like birthday cake and turns the ice cream a bright lilac shade.

Deliberately eccentric in all things they do, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium have an ice cream bar on the first floor of bohemian paradise, Afflecks, where you can enjoy sundaes, french toast, affogatos and more. They’re probably better known for their on-the-road endeavours, however, as their retro burgundy ice cream van is a familiar site at festivals, markets and other outdoor events across the North West. Scoops come in fantastically refined flavour combinations like Guinness and gingerbread or fig leaf and apple – one for the discerning ice cream buff.

Founded in Salford in the 1920s by Mr Greene himself, who used to make ice cream by hand out the back of his corner shop, the Grandpa Greene’s operation is now much slicker, but no less authentic. From their stylish bistro and ice cream parlour in Uppermill you can enjoy ice cream in indulgent, nostalgic flavours by the cone or sundae, as well as brunch dishes and perfectly poured coffee, plus it is located in the middle of a park – a ready-made sunny Sunday afternoon, if you ask us.

Inspired by co-founder Joe’s experience of the ice cream scene in the States, The Mobberely Ice Cream Co are all about fresh, hyperlocal ingredients. They started selling pots of homemade ice cream from their home during lockdown, using ingredients from a tiny dairy just a mile up the road. Their recipes were a huge hit, and they’ve since expanded into a parlour and kitchen, where you can enjoy coffees, sandwiches and afternoon teas out in the stunning Cheshire countryside.

Out in the picturesque village of Dunham Massey, just on the other side of the Greater Manchester/Cheshire border, there’s a red brick ice cream shop where you can enjoy scoops of ice cream handmade on the farm to a secret recipe. Flavours are inspired by treat-cupboard favourites like Flake, Ferrerro Rocher and Custard Cream, and there’s a huge teepee for covered seating, should the weather turn inevitably inclement. There’s also savoury treats like sandwiches and pizza too. In all, it’s a perfect pit stop for a day spent stomping around parks and looking at big houses.

Not found in an ice cream parlour or kiosk, but a ‘Persian bread kitchen’ in the trendy food hall Exhibition – yes, we bravely search even the most unexpected spot for the best ice cream in this city. Alongside their savoury snacks and mains, Jaan offer a dessert menu consisting exclusively of ‘bastani’, a Persian type of ice cream which is super-soft. Jaan’s approach to flavour combinations is, we think, genius – with drunken prune, pineapple and pink peppercorn being favourites, closely followed by pine, cherry and chocolate.

Visit for the farm animals, stay for the ice cream. This urban farm-turned-artisan ice creamery out in Bury create delicious treats from its own high cream Jersey cattle herd. With the motto ‘from cow to cone’, everything about Jersey Girls’ operation is local and small-scale. Flavours, on the other hand, are big and fun, inspired by childhood favourites like popcorn, Party Rings and Drumstick lollies. Well worth making the day trip for.

Specialising in ice cream and boba tea in the Northern Quarter and the Arndale, we think Lazy Sundae is possibly the most aesthetically appealing of the lot (and this is a particularly crowded field). Their peachy-pink shop on Tib Street is home to all sorts of quite frankly adorable scoops and beverages, with ice cream flavours like cereal milk, Vietnamese coffee and malty Antipodean favourite, milo. They’ve even created a vegan matcha option. There is of course a whole host of boba and matcha drinks too.

Macari’s in Heaton Mersey can rightly claim some serious Italian gelato heritage. Owner Michele’s family came over from Italy to the UK a century ago and have been creating gelato to the exact same recipe ever since, made using equipment imported from Bologna, arguably the ice cream capital of the world. They’ve got a gorgeous shop on Didsbury Road, painted fittingly in pistachio green, where you can pop in and enjoy classic flavours like raspberry ripple and strawberry as well as lesser-spotted ones like tiramisu and blueberry. There are always a couple of vegan options on rotation too.

These guys do exactly what it says on the tin (or perhaps more accurately, the tub). Based on one of Knutsford town centre’s pretty winding streets, The Real Fruit Creamery make sorbet and gelato in small batches, proudly using locally sourced fruit to create their enticing flavours like lemon curd and port and orange soaked cranberry ripple. Be sure to check their opening ours, which change seasonally.

Scoop! is the Ancoats waffle and sundae house with a childish sense of fun. Head down to their bubblegum pink-fronted shop for cones, cakes and shakes liberally drizzled with sauces and sprinkled. Think: all your ice cream van favourites but more colourful and over-the-top. Plus, all the ice creams come with a special Scoop! waffle, for added nostalgia points.

Hidden Sicilian eatery Sicilian NQ is much-loved for its arancini, fresh pasta and heaps of vegan options, but their deserts don’t let the side down either. With a dedicated gelato serving point at the front of the restaurant, you can enjoy these treats whether you’re dining in or just happen to be strolling past. Their speciality is a sweet brioche bun filled with pistachio, chocolate and custard gelato.

Yee Kwan is the ice cream spot within Hello Oriental, the multi-floored food hall where you experience a vast array of different South East Asian cuisines all under one roof. Yee Kwan specialise in East Asian inspired ice creams and sorbets, and the flavours are suitably technicolour: ranging from earthy flavours like black sesame seed and toasted coconut to vibrant, fruity flavours like pink guava passion fruit and matcha green tea. For the brave, they even occasionally serve up durian flavour, the divisive fruit variously described as smelling of vomit, but which is craved by its dedicated fans. You can even grab a tub to take home with you, or ask for you scoop to be served in a warm waffle, shaped like a fish or a teddy bear. Novel.