Click here to read the Spanish version.
April 12 is International Ice Cream Day, and as we are very sweet tooth, we have made a route through some of the best ice cream parlors in Madrid. In the capital you have at your fingertips an infinity of ice creams, each one better and better, and the list could be much longer (a few have been left out, so we will have to make a second part). For the time being, we have a sweet feast visiting ten ice cream parlors where you can try the best ice creams in Madrid. Take note!
Rocambolesc
The seal of the Roca brothers is already enough guarantee to try their ice creams. This is one of the most innovative ice cream parlors, thanks to its main architect Jordi Roca, who converted the desserts of El Celler de Can Roca in ice cream format with creations that combine the traditional with rocking proposals (as its name suggests). As for flavors that you can find, the Play-Doh ice cream by Jordi Roca, the lactic ice cream or the strawberry, hibiscus and cinnamon sorbet stand out. They also sell handmade popsicles made from 3D molds created and designed exclusively for this purpose, with fun shapes, such as the Rocanas, in the shape of Jordi’s own nose. They have stores in Girona, as well as in Barcelona and even in Houston (USA). From 4 €.
Mercado de San Miguel, C/ Plaza de San Miguel, 13 (Madrid)
Kalúa
Rare is the day that you don’t pass by the door and there is a line of people waiting to order their favorite flavor of ice cream. Many believe that Kalúa serves one of the best ice creams in the capital. All their products are handmade and you have at your disposal almost 50 flavors. So you have the perfect excuse to try a different one every day. The small tubs start at 2.80 €.
Calle de Fuencarral, 131 (Madrid).
La Dolce Fina
Very close to the Retiro Park you will find this ice cream parlor run by two Argentines with artisan ice cream whose main bastion is the quality of the raw material and technique. If you are a pistachio lover, you must ask for that flavor here, as they serve the best pistachio ice cream in the world (it was winner of the ‘Coppa del Mondo de la Gelateria 2006’, with the master ice cream maker Sergio Colalucci, godfather of La Dolce Fina along with another great master ice cream maker such as Sergio Dondoli), but you also have other 100% artisan ice creams with flavors that vary according to seasonality. Prices are around 4 €.
Calle Villanueva, 31 (Madrid).
Mistura
In June they will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the opening of their first store on Augusto Figueroa street. Currently they already have nine locations in Madrid, which shows that their ice creams are very popular. Their products are 100% handmade and their way of preparing and serving ice cream is quite striking. When you choose the flavors, the ice cream maker places the product on a granite stone slab at -20º C to give it a unique shape and texture. The creaminess of the ice cream will make you enjoy it even more.
Calle de Augusto Figueroa 5, Madrid (y otros ocho establecimientos más).
Los Alpes
Founded in 1950, Los Alpes ice cream parlor is the oldest in Madrid. They have their “lifelong” establishment in the neighborhood of Chamberí and, in addition, with another location in Torrelodones. Their secret is an artisan elaboration with first quality material and that it is a workshop specialized in 100% artisan ice cream, whose recipe was inherited from the founder -of Italian origin-. They have a wide variety of flavors such as tiramisu, crema catalana, Abinao chocolate or mantecado, among many others. From 4 €.
C/ Arcipreste de Hita, 6 (Madrid).
N2 Lab
It is one of the most innovative and surprising proposals of the capital. It is ice cream made at the moment with liquid nitrogen which they call Nitrolados. They opened in 2019 in the neighborhood of Chueca, and since then they have become a hotspot for ice cream lovers, both for its flavor and creaminess and for the show there is for its preparation. You have to see it live. From 4 €.
Calle Gravina, 5 (Madrid)
Zúccaru
An authentic Sicilian ice cream parlor in the heart of Madrid. Its preparation follows the traditional ritual and they use a natural product without colorings, flavorings or hydrogenated saturated fats, that is, it is 100% artisanal and natural. Its architects are Juan and Rossana, from Madrid and Sicily, who started in 2017 in a small shop in the Plaza de Oriente, which became an obligatory stop to refuel with a good ice cream. They currently have two locations in the capital and you can try their ice creams from about 3 €.
Calle Vergara, 16 y Calle Palafox, 20 (Madrid).
Brando
With just 2 years open (in June 2021), it has become one of the most demanded ice cream in the neighborhood of Chueca. Its eye-catching blue-colored premises attract attention in the middle of Hortaleza street, but whoever tries its ice cream, repeats. You have a lot of flavors to choose from: from classics like pistachio or mango to Ferrero Rocher, lemon with basil or alfajor ice cream. Not to mention their delicious popsicles. Try them from 3 €.
Calle Hortaleza, 55 (Madrid)
Bico de Xeado
If you are looking for creaminess and good taste, this is your ice cream shop. With 100% natural elaborations and quality raw material, directly from Galicia, they offer ice cream for the sweet tooth. You have plenty of flavors such as Gomariz coffee liqueur, hazelnut, orange or vanilla, among many others. From 3 € you can enjoy them.
Calle Arenal, 5 (Madrid). They also have another location in Madrid, in the town of Arroyomolinos.
Maison Glacée
They call themselves “cult ice creams”. And behind them is Ricardo Vélez, precursor of Haute Patisserie and creator of Moulin Chocolat. Here they serve unprecedented flavors with natural ingredients, quality and proximity. A proposal of high ice cream parlor. They have two locations in the capital where you can taste meringue milk ice cream with bacon, panettone or bread, oil and chocolate. From about 3 €.
Calle Alcalá, 77 y Calle Ibiza, 42 (Madrid)
And a classic that never fails: llaollao
To finish this sweet and refreshing list, we could not forget a classic like llaollao frozen yogurt. Pioneers in Spain in frozen yogurt, the llaollao product becomes a good healthy alternative to ice cream, as it is natural and contains probiotics, being a healthy and recommended food; besides fun thanks to the toppings you can add. In Madrid you will find plenty of establishments scattered throughout the province to enjoy this ice cream pleasure.
