The best places for ice cream in Edinburgh

Have you ever walked through the Grassmarket on a sunny day and wondered what the huge queue opposite Granny Green’s Steps was all about? Mary’s Milk Bar has iconic status in the city as one of the places to go for a quality ice. Made daily by Mary herself, the retro-styled shop has different flavours each day, so not wanting to miss out on a unique taste sensation, the only way to ensure you get to try the daily specials, is to get in there before they’re gone. Because they may never return. Previous gelatos spotted have included goat’s cheese and honey, elderflower sherbet lemon and saffron with nutmeg. And after all, it’s no chore to linger in what is one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city on a nice day, especially if it rewards you with a one-off treat.

This family-friendly restaurant lends itself to every type of gathering. And, as you’ll see if you pass by the restaurant’s gelato kiosk on a warm evening, the range of ice creams is available to both takeaway and eat-in. The authentic Italian eatery sources its ingredients directly from the best artisan suppliers in Italy and goes all out when it comes to sundaes. Best enjoyed after a full meal at the venue, order one of the whopping creations, like a Chocolate Honeycomb Vesuvius (Madagascan vanilla and chocolate ice cream with warmed chocolate sauce, marshmallows, honeycomb pieces, fresh whipped cream and a wafer); or the Coppa Rocher (chocolate and pistachio ice cream drizzled with Nutella and topped with whipped cream, nibbed nuts and crumbled wafer). Or opt for any number of scoops of sorbet or ice cream.

Tucked alongside the indie boutiques and cafes of winding Cockburn Street is Artisan Gelato. Open daily 8am to 8pm, it serves a regular selection of flavours as well as weekly specials. Order a Blueberry Cheesecake, Green Tea, Pistachio Bronte, Hazelnut Piedmont, Pineapple Chocolate Crunch, or a Lime Sorbet (if you can’t decide, simply layer up a few scoops and get licking). Or if you prefer your ice creams in liquid form, opt for a shake, such as the strawberry sorbet or Lotus Biscoff.

Ice cream and the beach go together. So if you’re popping down to Portobello and need something to cool you down, nip into The Beach House. You can grab and go, take a pew outside at its tables on the prom, or order a dish of gelato to enjoy inside. There are dairy-free and gluten-free options, like a decadently rich chocolate sorbet and unusual varieties made from locally spruced items, such as sea-buckthorn. The ice cream is all bespoke, made in-house from organic milk. And there’s a special sundae for kids, which comes with a seaside-style windmill. 

This one’s a little different, in that its ice cream comes in boozy form. A bar may not be the first place you think of when heading out for gelato, but then Hoot the Redeemer is all about the unexpected — from its mystical entrance, to the bathroom walls lined with pages from risque Victorian literature. Sample sweet ices include the vegan Peachy Bucky Bru Sorbet (Buckfast, Reyka Vodka, Irn Bru and peaches); Bourbon Berry Pie (Bourbon, short crust and cherries); and a Raspberry Cosmo Sorbet (vodka, cranberry juice, raspberries and triple sec).