Even though it’s already autumn there are certain summer things that are hard to let go of. Gelato has been my obsession this summer as evident on my Instagram page. Why you may ask? Arguably it’s because it is not only delicious but also very refreshing. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some awesome gelato places this summer. I’m delighted to share these stand out Toronto gelato places with you. They offer you yummy flavors in a welcoming atmosphere. So without further ado and in no particular order here are my favorite gelato places in Toronto.

6 Terrific Toronto Gelato Places That Really Stand Out

First Things First – What is Gelato?

An Italian type of ice cream made with milk instead of cream is what makes Gelato. It is denser than regular ice cream and contains less fat. In other words gelato is healthier and I believe tastier version of ice cream. Whipping less air into the gelato gives it that unique intense flavor. On the other hand a Sorbetto is a fruit version of gelato. It’s made with water instead of milk.

G for Gelato

Location: 75 Jarvis St. at the intersection of Jarvis and Adelaide St. E.

G for Gelato is a gelateria and a cafe. They serve coffee, espresso and gourmet thin crust pizzas with house made dough. In addition you can get breakfast foccacias and frittatas, paninis and salads. They have a big selection of gelatos and sorbettos. Accordingly you can find such flavors as: hazelnut, pistachio, coconut, mango, lemon, espresso and dark chocolate. They also serve an array of fruit flavors.

I discovered G for Gelato a few years ago while working in the area. And I’ve been visiting ever since. Their gelato is perfectly blended and really well made. Its flavors pack a powerful punch. This great family owned small business serves up delicious food and friendly service. I highly recommend you visit this Toronto gelato establishment next time you’re in the neighborhood. It’s conveniently located close to Toronto’s best attractions. These include: St. Lawrence Market, Union Station, flat-iron building, CN Tower, Rogers Centre and Air Canada Centre.

Chocolate and Hazelnut gelato

Arte Gelato

Location: 946 Bloor Street W at the intersection of Bloor and Delaware Ave.

Here is another great Toronto gelato and cafe. They also serve delicious sandwiches, thin cut pizzas and paninis. This family run business has been around Toronto since 2011. At any given time you can try one of their 45 flavors of house-made gelato. They include: hazelnut, pistachio, lemon, raspberry and tiramisu. Or try such kid-friendly flavors as bubble gum and Skor. Arte Gelato also offers vegan-friendly, sugar-free, and gluten-free gelato. You can enjoy these inside or on a quiet and cozy outdoor patio.

My boyfriend introduced me to this Toronto gelato place a few years ago. And I’ve loved the flavors ever since then. Some of the gelatos I’ve tried have been hazelnut, watermelon, pistachio and Skor. Recently I had a chance to try the charcoal gelato. Arte Gelato serves quality and tasty gelato with great ingredients and a welcoming service. Their flavorful sandwiches are made with love. No summer would be complete without stopping by this great restaurant. It’s perfect for a bite or to get your fix of summer’s best gelato treats.

Hazelnut and Skor gelato

Kekou Gelato

Location #1: 394 Queen St. West (open all year round) at the intersection of Queen and Spadina Ave.

Location #2: 13 Baldwin Street (open seasonally) at the intersection of Baldwin and McCaul St. in Baldwin Village.

Kekou gelato is not your typical Italian style gelato place. This Toronto gelato place is Asian inspired. Even though the gelato making process is the same the unique flavors are what makes this place different. Here you’ll find unusual flavor combinations unlike anywhere else in Toronto. This family owned business became successful with their first location at Baldwin Village. Therefore they opened a second location right in the heart of Queen Street West. At their Queen West location they also offer sweet and savory pies, various tea, Vietnamese coffee and milk drinks. Kekou stands out from other gelato places because they use natural fruits and tea leaves in their gelato base. Their gelato is also stabilizer free.

I first stumbled upon Kekou Gelato while walking around Baldwin Village. The exotic flavors they offer were very intriguing. Their unique flavor combinations include: Vietnamese coffee, whiskey green tea, roasted oolong tea, green bean coconut, black sesame, tsing tao peach and others. Here you can also try durian gelato. Durian is a beloved South Asian fruit. It has custard like texture with a rich almond taste. It also has a distinctive often-offending aroma. Unfortunately, some people are not very fond of its smell. I tried this flavor gelato and while it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

But I do have two favorite flavors. They keep me coming back to this popular Toronto gelato place again and again. The Whisky Green Tea contains real whisky and has a subtle and refreshing green tea flavor. The Vietnamese coffee has a strong and velvety coffee flavor. I’ve even combined these two flavors and they complimented each other well.

Whisky Green Tea and Vietnamese Coffee gelato

Soma Chocolatemaker

Location #1: 443 King Street West at the intersection of King Street West and Spadina Ave.

Location #2: 32 Tank House Lane in the Distillery District.

I visited Soma Chocolatemaker King Street and discovered they also made gelato. Soma has been around Toronto since 2003. Its reputation as a favorite chocolate maker has grown ever since. Today Soma Chocolatemaker has two locations, a small factory that makes their gourmet chocolate and a bunch of wholesalers.

At their store locations they offer a variety of chocolate favorites. These include: micro-batch, truffles, cookies, toffee and drinking chocolate. Their chocolates are beautiful works of art. Many come infused with a variety of different flavors and spices. Soma Chocolatemaker sources their beans from farms and plantations in Central America, the Caribbean, Madagascar and the South Pacific. Their chocolates are free from artificial flavors, chemicals or preservatives. The Soma gelato flavors range from 12 different varieties. Some of them are: dark chocolate, Madagascar vanilla, roasted hazelnut, pistachio, Sicilian lemon sour cream, roasted almond, salted caramel, dulce de Leche and others.

Soma Chocolatemaker is a great place to visit if you’re a chocolate lover. Their chocolates are made with so much care and artistry they’re almost too pretty to eat! And you must try the gelato while you’re there because it’s very flavorful and rich tasting as well.

Hazelnut gelato

00 Gelato

Location: 370 King Street West at the intersection of King Street West and Blue Jays Way.

This small Toronto gelato place only stays open seasonally. Just make sure you don’t blink too fast or you might miss it. It’s just a little door with a cooler that’s super small and cozy. It’s perfectly located on a stretch of busy King Street West right between John Street and Blue Jays Way. Conveniently TIFF Bell Lightbox is nearby and only a few steps away. This makes it a perfect spot to visit during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Ever been to the Fest? If you’ve always wanted to go but aren’t sure how to navigate it all check out my Smart TIFF Tips: Your Survival Guide To The Festival here.

00 Gelato serves a variety of flavors ranging from: pistachio, chocolate mint, white chocolate fudge, orange creamsicle, mixed berry and others. Their most popular flavor is Fererro Rocher. I can attest that it definitely represents the tasty and hazelnut rich flavor.

Mixed Berry and Ferrero Rocher gelato

Dolce Gelato

Location #1: 234 Agusta Ave. in Kensington Market at the intersection of Dundas Street West and Kensington Ave.

Location #2: 414 Danforth Ave. at the intersection of Danforth Ave. and Arundel Ave. right in the heart of Greektown.

and

Location #3: 697 College Street at the intersection of College Street and Montrose Ave. in Little Italy.

Since I live very close to Kensington Market I’m frequently in that area. As as consequence that’s how I found Dolce Gelato. Furthermore this Toronto gelato place also serves food items such as coffee, cakes, waffles and crepes. The Kensington Market location is cozy and at the same time pretty roomy. This is oftentimes hard to find at the busy and otherwise cramped street market.

Dolce serves a variety of 62 different gelato flavors including some vegan options. The flavor combinations range from: french vanilla cappuccino, hazelnut, espresso, nocciola, oreo, tiramisu, stracciatella, mint, mango and many other flavors. Their gelatos are crafted with care and have a rich beautiful taste. It’s the ideal place to visit after you’ve been running around Kensington Market. I highly suggest you stop by to quench your thirst with a yummy and refreshing gelato.

Hazelnut and Espresso gelato

There are so many great Toronto gelato places. Therefore it would be impossible to visit them all. But I’ve been very fortunate to find these 6 amazing locations. In my opinion they truly stand out of the crowd. I hope you find the time to check them out. Please share your experience with me in the comments below.

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