It may be the weather feeling slightly cooler than usual or the sudden barrage of rain everyday hinting the end of alfresco dining and lazy days in the park, but in our hearts, the summer sun has not set. Like a true Londoner, we hang on to the last days of our summer holiday by indulging in one of life’s sweetest luxuries – ice cream. London has amassed quite a collection of confectionary shops, ranging from Italian gelaterias to posh parlors, so it’s safe to say assembling a list of the capital’s best is not only impossible, but a daunting task we wouldn’t dare to embark upon. Instead we’ll feature three unique purveyors of our much loved sweet treat whose devotion to produce absurdly wild, traditionally delightful or delectably creative concoctions keeps their sweet-toothed customers coming back for more. Here’s our round-up of London’s most notable scoops.
Einstein Meets Willy Wonka: Part mad-scientists, part innovative geniuses, Chin Chin Laboratorists rose to fame as Europe’s first ever nitro-ice cream parlor. Employing a special process with what can only be described as confectionery wizardry, patrons witness the creation of ice cream as they freeze your customized iced delight in front of your very eyes. It’s all smoke and mirrors, but in a fun, playful way, because once that mist dissipates, you are handed a smooth, rich dream of caramelized apple cider or mango and saffron creamsicle, to name a few of their recent inventions.
49-50 Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AF
www.chinchinlabs.com
Pure Gelato Laced with Italian Charm: Winding through the back streets of Soho, the smell of gelato will seduce your olfactory sensors, compelling you to belly up to the long marble bar in Gelupo’s café. This charming gelateria is a well-balanced symphony of classic gelato flavors like stracciatella and espresso mixed with Italian culinary delights like ricotta and Piedmonte hazelnuts resulting in blissfully luscious gelato, palate cleansing sorbets or fruity granitas. Gelupo is about as close to ice cream divinity as one can get.
7 Archer Street, London W1D 7AU
www.gelupo.com
An Oldie but Goodie: A ubiquitous emporium of sacchariferous goodies, Scoop remains a perennial favorite among locals for a reason. Boasting an array of heavenly options, what Scoop does best is blend traditional flavors with international delicacies, like Indonesian cinnamon, Tahitian vanilla seeds, Chilean sultanas and South American coffee beans. While the Pistachio, Nocciola and Green Tea are among the top crowd pleasers, your taste buds will be more than satisfied with any combination here.
40 Short’s Gardens, London WC2H 9AB
www.scoopgelato.com
