When the sun is blazing above and the air is thick with humidity, there are few things that can be as joyous and relieving than a cold, velvety scoop of ice cream. The sweet treat is so many things to so many people—an innocent childhood memory, a sneaky after-school snack, a teary indulgence after a break-up and a late night treat after long days. We set out to find the ice creams that top the charts for chefs, food writers and travellers across the country, from a Masterchef contender in Delhi and a Mithaiwala in Mumbai to food entrepreneurs in Shillong and Bengaluru. We asked them: What’s that one ice cream that makes your world go round? And they gave us their best scoops—kulfis topped with rabdi and noodles, dark and silken gelatos, and cones of creamy soft serve, enjoyed over mango shakes and cold coffees. Here are India’s favourite ice creams.
“I recently tasted Burma Burma’s (Kothari House, Allana Centre Lane, opposite Mumbai University, Kala Ghoda, Fort; call 9920240034) new range of artisanal ice creams and what caught my attention were the unusual flavour combinations. As a chef, I am always excited with experiments and unique flavour and ingredient pairings. I enjoyed the Caramelised Chocolate and Cheese ice cream—a great combination of creamy, caramelised white chocolate ice cream and Basque cheesecake with a surprising hint of tart raspberry gel to cut through the sweetness. They also have an unusual Durian Fruit Ice cream and an Avocado and Honey Ice cream.
An all-time go-to ice cream for me is Blanchette (2A ground floor, AIMCO House, near Dinkar Patel Garden, Sen Nagar, Santacruz East; call 9136105835)! Their ice creams have the perfect texture and stay well under refrigeration. It’s almost impossible to finish an entire tub of ice cream in one go, so the true test for ice cream is when the texture remains consistent even after it’s been kept in the freezer for a few days. So, you can order the tubs and indulge whenever you’re in the mood for ice cream – knowing it’s going to taste awesome, every time. I absolutely loved their Chocolate, Chocolate & Chocolate – creamy and sinful dark chocolate ice cream, with a perfect crunch from the cocoa wafer bits in it. Another favourite is the Caramel & Coffee, it strikes the right balance of slightly bitter coffee caramel and chocolate with chewy bits of toffee and chocolate-coffee nibs.” Girish Nayak, Chief Mithaiwala at Bombay Sweet Shop
“My favourite ice cream that also makes me very nostalgic is the chic choc roll from Snowmans in Breach Candy (Warden Rd, Breach Candy, Cumballa Hill; call 2223679200). It’s handmade and imperfect—something we’ve lost in the age of photography for Instagram. Their chic choc roll is like a frozen Swiss ice cream roll with chocolate sauce and nuts on top. I don’t eat there as often now, but still love it for the chocolate sauce. Snowmans will also always be a favourite because it’s a place we were introduced to on drives with our family. And through all these years, their menu doesn’t seem to have changed at all.”
When it comes to ice cream flavours, I think Blanchette does really decadent ones. Their chocolate ice cream, which is a favourite of mine, is not for everyone because it’s an overload of chocolate and nothing else. But I think it’s great as a guilty pleasure.
Also, Bombay Sweet Shop (Unit 1, JAK Compound, Dadoji Konddeo Cross Lane, Byculla; call 9136192636) does a great Gymkhana cold coffee soft serve. It is a part of their rotating soft-serve menu—it’s punchy and creamy and I’ve been dreaming about it since the weather changed.” Aatish Nath, writer
Delhi
“My absolute favourite is the kulfi at Kuremal Mohanlal Kulfi (Shop No 526 Kucha Pati Ram, Sitaram Bazar Rd, Chawri Bazar; call 9810540106). Even when I do my food walks in Old Delhi, I make sure to take everyone to Kuremal–be it in summer or winter. Have their stuffed kulfi, especially the mango and orange flavoured ones. It truly is special, and I’ve never had such a kulfi anywhere else–they put rabdi, fresh fruits like mangoes and even chaat masala (if you’ve ordered their orange kulfi). It’s a mixture of sweet and salty and tastes great.
A recommendation that you might find surprising is Moets Kulfi (50, Market, Block A, Defence Colony; call 01146555777). The first time I had kulfi there was probably in 2012. It’s nice and creamy, with falooda on top. You’ll find the place buzzing with nocturnal wanderers. There are just two or three basic flavours to choose from, but all youngsters will be roaming around with a kulfi in their hand.
Of the new-age brands, I particularly like Baskin Robbins (multiple outlets). I remember my college days in Ranchi, when we would save up to eat ice cream there. When I moved to Delhi there were a lot of shops around. But within a budget-friendly range, this still remains the best option. Sometimes after 8-9pm at night, they even drop their prices.
The Hot Chocolate Fudge (HCF) at Nirula’s (multiple outlets) is Delhi’s first love. With HCF, it’s a guilty pleasure. I was introduced to it when I first moved to Delhi. Some would say it’s not real ice cream. But I love it. I would order a jar with extra cashews on top, and also take anyone who’s new to Delhi now. Niruals had also experimented a lot, with a wide audience. Someone goes for nostalgia, some of the ice cream itself.” Sadaf Hussain, author and chef
“My favourite ice cream that also makes me very nostalgic is the chic choc roll from Snowmans in Breach Candy (Warden Rd, Breach Candy, Cumballa Hill; call 2223679200). It’s handmade and imperfect—something we’ve lost in the age of photography for Instagram. Their chic choc roll is like a frozen Swiss ice cream roll with chocolate sauce and nuts on top. I don’t eat there as often now, but still love it for the chocolate sauce. Snowmans will also always be a favourite because it’s a place we were introduced to on drives with our family. And through all these years, their menu doesn’t seem to have changed at all.”
When it comes to ice cream flavours, I think Blanchette does really decadent ones. Their chocolate ice cream, which is a favourite of mine, is not for everyone because it’s an overload of chocolate and nothing else. But I think it’s great as a guilty pleasure.
Also, Bombay Sweet Shop (Unit 1, JAK Compound, Dadoji Konddeo Cross Lane, Byculla; call 9136192636) does a great Gymkhana cold coffee soft serve. It is a part of their rotating soft-serve menu—it’s punchy and creamy and I’ve been dreaming about it since the weather changed.” Aatish Nath, writer
Delhi
“My absolute favourite is the kulfi at Kuremal Mohanlal Kulfi (Shop No 526 Kucha Pati Ram, Sitaram Bazar Rd, Chawri Bazar; call 9810540106). Even when I do my food walks in Old Delhi, I make sure to take everyone to Kuremal–be it in summer or winter. Have their stuffed kulfi, especially the mango and orange flavoured ones. It truly is special, and I’ve never had such a kulfi anywhere else–they put rabdi, fresh fruits like mangoes and even chaat masala (if you’ve ordered their orange kulfi). It’s a mixture of sweet and salty and tastes great.
A recommendation that you might find surprising is Moets Kulfi (50, Market, Block A, Defence Colony; call 01146555777). The first time I had kulfi there was probably in 2012. It’s nice and creamy, with falooda on top. You’ll find the place buzzing with nocturnal wanderers. There are just two or three basic flavours to choose from, but all youngsters will be roaming around with a kulfi in their hand.
Of the new-age brands, I particularly like Baskin Robbins (multiple outlets). I remember my college days in Ranchi, when we would save up to eat ice cream there. When I moved to Delhi there were a lot of shops around. But within a budget-friendly range, this still remains the best option. Sometimes after 8-9pm at night, they even drop their prices.
The Hot Chocolate Fudge (HCF) at Nirula’s (multiple outlets) is Delhi’s first love. With HCF, it’s a guilty pleasure. I was introduced to it when I first moved to Delhi. Some would say it’s not real ice cream. But I love it. I would order a jar with extra cashews on top, and also take anyone who’s new to Delhi now. Niruals had also experimented a lot, with a wide audience. Someone goes for nostalgia, some of the ice cream itself.” Sadaf Hussain, author and chef
Lucknow
“Summers in Lucknow are incomplete without a stop at Laddoo Chanakya (Parivartan Chowk, Hazratganj, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Qaiserbagh; call 9838193131) in Qaiserbagh. Their kulfi, rich and decadent with the lusciousness of full-fat cream and milk, is a cut above the rest. I remember after dinner drives to this famous kulfi stop as a kid. You drove through the city’s popular commercial centre, Hazratganj enjoying the bright lights and then ended the evening lost in the joy of eating deliciously cold mouthfuls of kulfi and falooda sitting in the backseat of the car, at this small inconspicuous little sweet shop. Unlike many of their commercial counterparts, Laddoo Chanakya does only one type of kulfi which they have perfected and despite the years have retained the original quality and flavour.” Neha Prasada, writer
Shillong
“Shillong has temperamental weather and so I never ate as much ice cream as I do now in the city. Shillong has always had just the regular ice cream brands like Amul, Kwality Walls and Baskin Robbins (whose opening was all the rage since it was the first global brand franchise to be brought to town). From the Baskin Robbins (MUDA complex, parking lot, Police Bazar) ice cream parlour, I fell in love with the ‘love potion’ ice cream that was chocolate and strawberry ice cream laden with treats like mini heart chocolates, sprinkles and jam. I remember this ice cream particularly because it was the very last day of our ICSE board exams and a big group of girls decided to go straight to the parlour after our last paper in our uniform and sit and chill and eat ice cream! The ice cream parlour was just opposite the school; I went to an all-girls convent school and we had very strict rules especially if we were wearing the school uniform. The board was our first “stressful” event as teens and we just wanted to feel independent. Finishing the boards, finishing school, and the last day of wearing our uniform—it was such a relief! We all chose different ice cream flavours and I chose the love potion because it was full of goodies.” Tanisha Phanbuh, founder, Tribal Gourmet
Hyderabad
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“I eat ice cream perhaps three times a week; it’s a pure addiction that I don’t wish to give up. Sometimes my dinners are just ice cream! I tend to scout for the best ice cream spots in every city I travel world over. While my favourite would be a hazelnut chocolate gelato topped with crushed pretzels off a cart in the streets of Paris, in India I have my favourite in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai.
In Hyderabad, my home turf, Cream Stone (multiple outlets) tops the chart with its crunchy choco–a mix of coffee and chocolate ice cream, hazelnut paste and fried almonds on top. And a favourite to order in from is Masqati Ice Cream (multiple outlets), which does some amazing fat-loaded ice creams. A combination of their vanilla with caramel nuts topped with some hot chocolate sauce satiates all my ice cream cravings. And my childhood memories of old school sundaes take me back to Havmor (now called Ohri’s Eatmor) (Door No 5-9-30/16-20, Ohri’s Cuisine Court, Opposite Old Gandhi Medical, College, Basheerbagh; call 7675083377) where we would go to have the Awful Awful or The Nutty Buddy.” Shaaz Mehmood, entrepreneur and Managing Committee Member, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI)
Chennai
“In Chennai, nothing beats the malted milk ice cream of Amadora (23, Wallace Garden 3rd Street, Thousand Lights West, Thousand Lights; call 4442323482). They make artisan ice cream. I was introduced to it back when they had briefly opened a shop in Hyderabad. The malted milk and milk chocolate ice cream and their ice cream sandwiches were some of the best I’ve ever had, and since then, I always order in from them whenever I’m in Chennai. It’s a very popular joint, and an absolute must-have.” Shaaz Mehmood, entrepreneur and Managing Committee Member, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI)
Goa
“For Goa, my long-time favourite place has been Mr. Gelato – Cream Choc (House 1110/1-1 & 1110/1-2, Mazal Vaddo, Anjuna; call 9373163251) in Anjuna, it has everything you love in Goa embodied in one scoop – fresh, and rejuvenating and it never disappoints! My favourite flavour is pistachio – creamy, with the right amount of nutty texture without being too sweet! A delicious offbeat find. The fact that it sits right in the middle of Anjuna on the way to the beach and our home, made it a permanent break spot, where we enjoyed a good cup of coffee or a scoop of wonderfully cold gelato in the sunshine state! The best part is it’s a place which all three generations of my family swear by. There’s something for everyone.” Sahil Engineer, founder, Waffle Mill
Kolkata
“What Naturals is to Mumbai, Pabrai’s Fresh and Naturelle (multiple locations; website) is to Calcutta. A family-owned business which has now blossomed into a Calcutta icon, they make my favourite tender coconut ice cream. That said, I think their most beloved and decadent offering has to be their Nolen Gur flavour. If my parents are in town and staying with me, it’s the first thing my mum orders as soon as she gets home. It’s also her favourite dessert whenever she entertains.
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Chef Jayatri Biswas is Kolkata’s chuppa rustam or best-kept secret, and easily my favourite pastry chef in town. After spending a few years training and cooking with Dominique Ansel in NYC she came back home to focus on her one true love with Fat Little Penguin (order via Swiggy or Zomato here). I have never disliked any scoop she’s served me, be it her decadently chocolate-y ‘after dark’ or her fruity yet spicy with a kick ‘raw mango chilli’. But my favourite has to be her ornate and magnificent baked Alaska cake. It’s the only cake my family orders on birthdays.” Auroni Mookerji, chef, Sienna Cafe
Bengaluru
“My current favourite in Bengaluru is Ulo Ice Cream (Ground floor, 325, 6th Main Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar; Instagram). Ulo is a pandemic baby run by two pilots who let creativity lead the way. They started in the pandemic when there were no operational flights. They’ve created a brand which now has a cult following. They do a lot of limited edition flavours and during Christmas, there was a maple, stewed apples and oat crumble which I really enjoyed.” Anisha Rachel Oommen, co-founder, Goya Media
“In Bengaluru, hands down my favourite ice cream is from Corner House Ice Creams (265, 8th Cross Road, Appareddipalya, Indiranagar; call 9880846251), an iconic institution. Their hot chocolate fudge is to die for! I sometimes take day work trips to Bangalore and have ice cream for lunch. Again a childhood memory is of us going to Bengaluru as a family and having Corner House after every meal! My favourite combination there is their almond hot chocolate fudge ice cream with extra peanuts! I guess that’s where my ice cream craving with chocolate and nuts stems from.” Shaaz Mehmood, entrepreneur and Managing Committee Member, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI)
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Srinagar
“I’d say for Srinagar, it isn’t one shop but a bunch of them around the city where you can get ‘softy’ – a soft serve ice cream made fresh and served in small shops around the city. The most iconic was Zero Little Hut on Zero Bridge (near, Zero Bridge, Rajbagh, Srinagar) and that is where most of my memories lie. They would serve a softy, a cold coffee with a dollop of ice cream (the same softy), and a mango shake with it too. These were after-school treats back in the day when we’d go for a quick drive and order in our cars, eat our ice creams and drive back home. The quality has significantly reduced at Little Hut but there are a number of places still – the softy outside Nishat Bagh, Zam Zam near Jawahar Nagar, Erina and more. No one can quite articulate how, but we are all confident that Kashmiri softy tastes different from softies elsewhere; there is a light, not very creamy flavour that I haven’t quite found anywhere else. Back in the day, I’ve also heard tales (folklore) of Am Buda ki Kulfi, who was a kulfi seller in the old city but I’d say the softy is what is more alive and contemporary.” Onaiza Drabu, anthropologist and writer
Jaipur
“Popularly known as Link Road kulfi in Jaipur, the Indian Icecream and Kulfi Falooda (28, Link Road, Bapu Bazaar, MI Road, Jaipur; call 8209263220) shop has been a fixture in our lives. They make their own ice cream and top it up with kulfi, rabdi, rose falooda and rose syrup. My mother’s eaten here since she was a student at SMS Medical College and now her great-grandkids are eating here. The rose and cinnamon-flavoured ice creams served at the Rambagh Palace are still my go-to ever since I was a kid. Fresh rose petals add a delicate flavour, making it so refreshing to eat. Ramchandra kulfiwala (222, Badi Chaupadh, Tripolia Bazar, Near Hawa Mahal, Pink City, Jaipur; call 1412568222) in Tripolia Bazar remains a favourite—their kulfi is still topnotch and so are their milkshakes. The jaggery ice cream, mulberry ice cream, and Indian rose petal at the Alila Fort Bishangarh are literally comfort food! And the jamun kulfi at The Johri (MSB Ka Rasta, Johri Bazar, Ghat Darwaza, Jaipur; call 8905551681), I eat two of them in one go.” Mita Kapur, founder and CEO, Siyahi
Nathdwara
“Manak Chowk Nathdwara, is a city in Rajasthan where I was born and brought up and that city has the best ice cream as it has the most unique flavours on offer. Shrinath Ice-Cream Centre (near Chaudhary Petrol Pump, Rampura, Nathdwara) is one of my favourite places to enjoy ice creams as they offer a variety of flavours like Pani Puri Ice-Cream, Laal Mirch Aur Anar Dana Ice Cream, Imli Ice Cream And Alwar Milk Cake. My favourite flavours are Churma and Basundi Ice Cream. Whenever I visit my hometown, I always have that specific ice cream as it takes me back to my childhood memories. The ice cream is served in a leaf. The unique flavour and texture takes me back in time. Whenever there was a family get-together, the elders of the family would always take us to this place. Going there with my father is one of my favourite memories. I would walk home so fast as a kid so I could go enjoy the ice cream wrapped in leaves—I think that’s the reason for the natural fast-paced walk I have today.” Bhairav Singh, chef, Native Bomba
Kochi
“Caravan (Door 67/8325, 8326, 8327, 8328, CSI Shopping Complex, Broadway South End, Ernakulam Circle, Marine Drive, Kochi; call 4844025842) serves some of the best ice cream in Kochi. It is a nostalgic ice cream parlour established in Kochi in the year 1987. It’s a family-run business and they have an extremely fond standing with many of the 90s kids in town. They’ve recently rebranded and renovated their set-up and design. Apart from their original outlet in Marine Drive, they’ve opened a posh ice cream cafe that serves cakes and pastries at Kakkanad as well.
Ever since I could remember, my order has always been consistent: a large scoop of butterscotch perched on a cone. Off late, I have found favour with their Caravan special: pineapple, strawberry and vanilla ice creams with orange jelly and dried fruits and nuts. It might sound like an odd mix of flavours, but they meld together beautifully!
Caravan is an iconic brand in Kochi. I don’t think there is a Kochiite who doesn’t know the place. It has always been our go-to destination for ice creams. They make all their ice creams in-house and with good ingredients. They’re also quite open to feedback and they work on bettering themselves at all times. My biggest memory is winding up at Caravan with my family. Sitting atop the car bonnet, laughing and chatting and eating my butterscotch cone. The parking would be full of families eating and mingling. It was in fact sort of an unofficial social gathering place.” Teenu Terrence, founder and food writer at Letstalkfood
Ahmedabad
“I’m one for homemade ice cream as I’m always watching calories, but there’s one other place outside where I’ve tried ice cream–Swati Snacks. You can’t go wrong there. I like the coffee orange flavour there. I also like the Green House at The House of MG (Opposite Sidi Saiyad Mosque, Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad; call 7925506946) where we have some unusual Indian flavours. They make a gelato that has a wonderful consistency. I love the dried fig ice cream because it is creamy with a crunch.” Abhay Mangaldas, entrepreneu