We’re all about the serious ice cream makers, who use love, rather than artificial colourants, to make their ice creams really stand out.
The Knickerbocker Ice Cream Company
They are “all about traditional ice cream….the way it used to be, the way it should be.” They started in Knysna and have now made it big in Joburg with a permanent store in Fourways Mall as well as a pop-up parlour and ice cream tuk tuk that travel around Joburg to events, concerts and even to your party. They offer up to 16 flavours of gelato and sorbets as well as real dairy, soft serve ice cream. They also have a range of dairy-free and sugar-free ice creams and a range of “grown-up” flavours including Amarula, Frangelico and Jack Daniels.
Paul’s Homemade Ice Cream 27 Boxes, Melville
Paul’s Homemade finally has a place to call home! You can still order their fabulous ice creams online and get them at over 20 restaurants and stores around Joburg (full list on their website), but you can now stop in at 27 boxes and get them any time of day, made fresh every day! Every flavour is made in small batches using milk, cream, eggs, sugar, high-quality ingredients and no synthetic additives or chemicals. Try the Dulce de Leche, Roasted Banana or unbelievably good, cookie sandwiches.
Also find them in collaboration with Prep’ed Catering at Ice Cream Sunday, an event in Bramley, dedicated to the fabulosity of ice cream in the sun, held every last Sunday of the month https://www.facebook.com/icecreamsundayevent/
Pete’s Super Natural Ice Cream
Pete’s Super Natural creates scrumptious ice creams in a multitude of extraordinary flavours. Their flavours are made using the ‘real thing’ and their milk is pasture fed and hormone free. Their ice creams are not sickly-sweet, just wonderfully luscious. Favourites include Vietnamese Coffee, Popcorn Cream with Honeycomb and Marshmallows and Rose, Pomegranate and Turkish Delight. Get it at Oakland’s Farm Supply, The Organic Emporium, Grappino’s, Jackson’s Real Food Market, Impala Fruit (Craighall Park), Greenhill Grocer, Shoneez Confectioner’s, Croft & Co and Voodoo Lily.
Gelato la Cremosa
A family that has been making homemade gelato in Rome for more than 30 years decided to bring their legacy to Johannesburg. They’re obsessed with quality ingredients and following the traditional methods of Italian gelato-making. You’ll taste the love. Try the green apple and guava sorbets, the black cherry and Nutella gelato and their legendary banana split for serious indulgence. Find their delectable treats at Market on Main, Jackson’s Market, The Local Grill, Social on Main, Origin Coffee Roastery, The Leopard, Dolce Café, Piera Store 27 Boxes, order online or pop into their laboratory in Newtown-Carfax, where they’re also happy to show people around and teach them a little bit about their production process.
Gema Trattoria
A family-run restaurant that’s as famous for their homemade ice cream as they are for their pizzas. Simple is best here offering patrons between 6 and 8 different flavours at a time; strawberry, hazelnut, vanilla, chocolate and pistachio are a few of the favourites, but the assortment changes almost daily due to the demand. If Sorbet is more your thing try the lemon or coconut. All of which can be found on display in their quaint, adjoining deli.
Trieste
Another family-run restaurant that’s renowned for their homemade gelato. They use a combination of milk and cream, only natural flavourants and no eggs. They offer seven Sorbetto flavours and twenty one Gelato flavours that can be served in-house or taken away, as well some wonderful speciality Gelato cakes and a ‘Steak and Egg Gelato’ that has to be seen to be believed (tongue-in-cheek of course.) The Pistachio and Vanilla flavours are just gorgeous
Baglios
As a child growing up in Johannesburg, a trip to Sandton City wasn’t complete without a stop at Baglios. The sheer choice and display of the ice creams were irresistible then, and still are now. Try the Milk and Honey and the Crème Caramel flavours.
Haagen Dazs
They seem to be taking over Joburg with stores in Melrose Arch, Sandton, Hyde Park, Rosebank and OR Tambo. They’re expensive, but also incredibly delicious. Their flavour options are, without a doubt, the most decadent and indulgent in town: Macadamia Nut Brittle, White Chocolate and Raspberry and Banoffee Pie will have your inner child screaming with delight.
Tortellini D’Oro
The gorgeous display of gelato that welcomes you into this celebrated, Italian restaurant will crumble any resistance you had against having dessert. All their ice creams are freshly-made in their gorgeous Bravo ice cream machine using only the best ingredients. Go for chocolate, Amaretto or their stunning Lemon Sorbet.
Fournos, Dunkeld
They have a great little Gelato Bar, where you can find a range of 20 handmade ice creams and fresh fruit sorbets. The ice cream is made from quality milk, eggs, sugar and fresh ingredients (including Lindt Chocolate in the chocolate flavours). There are no flavourants and no additives. Try the Double Chocolate, Pistachio Nut and Halva (sesame seed & honey.) ice creams or the Sweet Melon and Lychee sorbets.
Beautiful ice creams presented exquisitely – who could resist! They make all their flavours in-house and love to lavish you in serious decadence with oodles of toppings and extras for your child-like pleasure. Try the wondrous Oreo or simple Vanilla Bean flavours.
Image by Pete’s Super Natural
Image by Gelato la Cremosa
Image by Knickerbockers Ice Cream