Possibly the most important question when it’s hot – where to get ice cream in Oxford? (Though don’t get us wrong, it’s never a bad time to get ice cream – no matter the weather).

The good news is that Oxford has some outstanding independent producers who can satisfy all your ice cream needs. So without further ado, here are the Oxford spots for ice cream and gelato (There are also some tasting notes and top tips from Liz, who is our resident ice cream conoisseur, and from me – Chiara).

iScream

iScream was Oxford’s first gelateria and is the place to go for the most beautiful gelato experience in Oxford. Tucked inside the Covered Market, it features award-winning flavours produced on-site daily, in a space packed with Wicked Chocolate and other sweet treats.

The colourful displays of perfectly-formed gelato and sorbet beckon you in, and with gelato this smooth, don’t bother trying to resist. Our thanks go out to Graham, the founder and ‘gelatiere’ of iScream, and also to the organic Guernsey cows in Wiltshire that produce milk and cream that’s churned up into these rich delights.

Tip: Say yes to the offer of a wafer and relax into the bliss.
Prices: child – £2.75, single – £3.75, double – £5.50, triple – £7.00, Take home boxes: 500ml – £16.50, 750ml – £22.50, 1 litre – £30.00
Where: 113 & 114 Covered Market / iscreamoxford.co.uk

Alfonso Gelateria

Alfonso Gelateria (named after the founder Lewis’s Italian nonno) is available from a variety of spots including a very cute and tiny vintage Ape truck in Summertown, shops in Woodstock, Witney, Stow on the Wold, Cirencester and Stroud, and a small pop up on Cornmarket in central Oxford. These guys offer stiff competition for the best gelato in Oxford.

The dark chocolate is a firm favourite for a lot of the Bitten crew, creamy, rich, not too sweet, and incredibly moreish. We highly recommend you try it ASAP, but definitely work your way through all the other flavours as there are SO many good ones, and they never disappoint. Alfonso also serve a wide variety of vegan options, including deliciously refreshing sorbets.

Tip: Get a cone and stroll up and down while debating whether you need a second one (spoiler – you do)
Prices: bambino – £2.50, 1-scoop – £3.80, 2-scoops – £5.20, 3-scoops – £6.80
Where: Alfonso Gelateria: Multiple locations, alfonso.co.uk

Swoon

Swoon, sitting super centrally on Oxford’s high street, is another delight, especially if you like your gelato pillowy soft rather than densely rich. They receive high ratings and have their share of awards for very good reason. Like any reputable gelateria, they churn up new batches every day; they also take their ingredients extremely seriously and source most of them directly from Italy. They have a couple of tables inside and (in normal times) they also offer a range of other desserts, cookies and gelato cakes that you can have personalised for special occasions.

Liz is especially a fan of their nut-based gelati. ‘The pistachio, based on nuts imported from Sicily, has a natural nuttiness that can’t be beaten; the first time I tried this flavour I was wowed by its depth, which grew and grew as I kept eating.’

Tip: If you just don’t feel like leaving home, look for a smaller selection of their top sellers on Deliveroo.
Prices: bambino – £3.50, 1-scoop – £4.75, 2-scoops – £5.95, 3-scoops – £7.25
Where: 21 High Street / swoononaspoon.co.uk

G&Ds Café

When it comes to homemade ice cream in Oxford, G&Ds is where to go. In fact, there are three branches, so you’re never too far away from a good scoop.

G&Ds has an extensive range of ice creams and sorbets. Each location offers about a dozen at a time, and you can usually see what’s available where, in advance, by checking the ‘Today’s Flavours’ section of their website. If that’s not enough, customers can petition for new options in-store or online which is such a fun idea, most stores have a clip board where you can add your suggestions. Liz’s favourite is the luxurious Oreo, where every spoonful is a joy of cookies and cream. If you’re there at lunchtime, you can start with something savoury – the house-made bagels are well worth trying and really reasonably priced (so you can absolutely justify an ice cream after!)

Tip: The original branch is George & Davis on Little Clarendon Street, where they still make all the ice cream. You can also find George & Danver on St Aldate’s, and George & Delila on the Cowley Rd.
Prices: 1-scoop – £3.95, 2-scoops – £6.30, 3-scoops – £7.30
Where: 104 Cowley Road / gdcafe.com

Shake and Sweet Shop

You can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned Mr Whippy, and what better place to get one from than a traditional sweet shop. The variety on offer here is huge. There’s Mr Whippy’s, scooped ice cream, screwballs, frozen yoghurt, and trays of soft serve with toppings affectionately known as “Witney Whizzards.” You can also build your own milkshake from a huge list of chocolate bars, cakes, biscuits and sweets, or cool off with a flavoured slushie. Perfect for the kids, or adults feeling nostalgic!

Prices: single cone – £1.95, double cone – £2.70, single 99 – £2.45, double 99 – £3.70, ice cream tubs from £2.75 and ice cream trays from £5.00
Where: Witney, https://shakeshop.co.uk/

Snowflake

Snowflake are fairly new to Oxford, and sit in the downstairs outside area of Westgate. They serve ice cream by the scoop as well as very photo-friendly fruit shaped ice cream lollies. If you fancy something a little different, and something fruity – this place is for you. They also serve milkshakes, frappes, and waffles if that’s more your jam.

Prices: small – £5.20, medium – £6.20, large – £7.20, fruit lollies – £6.50
Where: 34/35 covered market / moo-moos.co.uk

Moo-moo’s

If you like your ice cream a bit more blended, you might already know about Moo Moos milkshakes in the Covered Market.

This tiny outlet stocks an outstanding variety of add-ins: chocolate bars, sweets, biscuits, cakes, cereals, and even fruit – they’ll combine it all with ice cream. Liz tends to lean towards the more classic mixes like vanilla with Toblerone or Smarties, and I absolutely love mixing banana with Dairy Milk, but you can get real jazzy with flavour combos such as Liquorice Allsorts, Coco Pops, or carrot cake. If you like the idea of a blended sundae, ask them for a shake with a chocolate fudge brownie and chocolate syrup.

Tip: Queues can be pretty long in busy periods, but you’ll end up with a thick, luxurious milkshake in a pretty pink cup, then you can walk around the market browsing while you sip.
Prices: small – £4.25, medium – £4.75, large – £5.25, extras – £1.15
Where: 34/35 covered market / moo-moos.co.uk

Permit Room

Not specifically an ice cream parlour but we couldn’t finish without an honourable mention of Permit Room’s mango lassi soft serve. It is a pure delight. The mango flavour is unmatched and the creaminess is heavenly, topped with sprinkles for some added crunch – no notes.

Tip: Even when you’re full to the brim with their delicious curry, there’s always space for one of these as it’s light and small. You won’t regret it – trust us!
Price: £4.70
Where: St Michael’s Street, https://www.permitroom.co.uk/locations/oxford

Now, over to you…

That’s it for our recommendations, we’d love to hear about other suggestions or favourites. Please share your faves in the comments, including for places outside Oxford.