Since the weather is slowly warming up and, despite the thunderstorms, we’re already sweltering in the city, now is the time to take a moment to catalog Montrealers’ favorite ice cream shops and make a little list to pull out during those long, scorching summer afternoons.
The weather in June 2026 is chaotic, but we don’t really need to wait for the soles of our Sambas to melt from the heat of the asphalt to enjoy an ice cream. The more poetic among us prefer soft-serve ice cream in the rain…
We asked the coolest Montrealers we know about their favorite ice cream spots, and we made a list to keep pinned in our jean shorts pocket for when the oppressive heat of a typical Montreal summer suddenly hits us…
I should point out, though, that a good Mr. Freeze or a Tim Hortons Iced Cap is fine too—but here, we want to be a little more specific.
The most iconic: Crémerie Meu Meu
Meu-Meu has been on Saint-Denis Street since the summer of 1989, servingold-fashioned frozen custard— but with sophisticated flavors. Everything is natural, artisanal, and made with love.
Black cherry and rosemary, cardamom, tamarind, orange “creamsicle”… and their famous (and limited-edition) lemon ice cream with meringue, reminiscent of lemon meringue pie, which we hope to try this summer.
The trend iest: Dalmata
The ice cream shop opened last year in Mile End, and ever since, there’s always a line. It serves up nostalgic classics— sundaes topped with maraschino cherries—and the best ice cream to share at the end of a date.
It’s an old-school “milk bar” with impeccable aesthetics and a very chic simplicity.
The cleanest one, Ca Lem
This year marks the 10th anniversary of this vegan ice cream shop, and all the ice creams are artisanal and lactose-free, with flavors ranging from classic chocolate to fruits (dragon fruit, for example) and even delicate floral notes.
Our favorite is a scoop of s’mores ice cream in a little cup, to be eaten while strolling through the Old Port like a very happy tourist.
The fan favorite, Iconoglace
Ice cream sundaes, two-tone soft-serve, and ice cream sandwiches are Montreal’s most nostalgic treats—and the city’s most beloved. There’s always a line at Iconoglace—though a new branch of the ice cream shop has just opened right in downtown.
Kombucha ice cream floats , vegan ice cream, homemade slushies , and “hurricanes” (a trendier take on Dairy Queen’s “blizzard”) with gluten-free Oreos… Check out the menu here.
The mosthometown-y, Wild Willy’s
Ah! Eating avanilla-chocolate-sprinkles “zigamazoo” with your feet in the freshly mowed grass…
Wild Willy’s is the kind of ice cream shop that reminds us of the one in the village where we spent our summers as kids—with the warmth of a family-run institution, the richness of classic and less-classic flavors, and the zebra-striped ice cream truck .
Those with summer birthdays can also order an ice cream cake—a true classic.
