1. Cream

1298 Queen E, at Hastings, 416-463-0110. Subtitled “the Urban Dairy,” Danielle Thomas’s appropriately fridge-white Leslieville storefront cafe is as much a community centre as it is an ice cream parlour. There’s even a backyard garden with “stroller help” where moms and dads with “active little ones” are encouraged to congregate. The rest of us can relive our childhood with house-made cookie ’n’ ice cream sandwiches. Best: from a seasonal card, stalwarts like vanilla bean and Ontario strawberry cream; specialties like roasted nut caramel crunch, saffron black sesame brittle or bluebery yogurt; sheep milk ice cream like chocolate with chunky peanut butter; five-flavour “tasting bowls.” Extras: waffle cones, crushed nuts, whipped cream, house-made chocolate and caramel sauces, hemp muffins. Scoop: $3.50. Open Monday 11 am to 10:30 pm, Tuesday to Thursday 8 am to 10:30 pm, Friday 8 am to midnight; Saturday 7:30 am to midnight; Sunday, holidays 7:30 am to 10:30 pm. Unlicensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms on same floor. Rating: NNNNN

2. Xococava

1560 Yonge, at Heath, 416-979-9916. An offshoot of former Avalon chef Chris McDonald’s chi-chi Cava tapas bar, this charming all-chocolate specialty shop – “xoco” (prounounced “shock-o”) means chocolate in Catalan – may be hidden away in Delisle Court, but will become a regular foodie destination once found. Stylish decor including a wall plastered in shards of old broken dinner plates, amiable and well-informed counter help, plus free samples make it even more so. Bonus: no plastic spoons! Best: insanely rich ice cream like prune with Pedro Ximenez sweet Spanish sherry, black licorice with caramel, Ontario strawberry, traditional pistachio; in spring, Meyer lemon; dairy-free sorbets like Madagascar chocolate; take-home litres. Extras: truffles, house-baked churros, candied ginger, crushed white chocolate bark, house-made nougat, spicy hot chocolate. Scoop: $4. Open 10 am-10 pm daily. Unlicensed. Access: barrier-free, no washrooms. Rating: NNNN

3. Ed’s Real Scoop

920 Queen E, at Logan, 416-406-2525. First launched in the Beach back in 02, ice-meister Ed Francis’s shop now brings an expanded lineup of artisanal creams and gelati to Leslieville’s hip foodie strip. While some rely on rich butter and cream, Ed’s products depend on all-natural ingredients and 100 per cent real and often organic fruit for flavour. Other locations: 2224 Queen E, at Beech, 416-699-6100. Best: cups or house-made waffle cones of classic ice creams like Belgian Callebaut chocolate, Bordeaux cherry and Tahitian vanilla bean; strong Mercury espresso ice cream laced with java from the popular coffee shop across the street; Very Stout with Guinness; gelati like Red Hot Chili Choco, tart green apple; stracciatella drizzled with dark chocolate; parlour-perfect sundaes topped with whipped cream and a retro maraschino cherry. Extras: whipped cream, marshmallow sauce. Scoop: $3.71. Open Monday to Saturday 11:30 am to 10:30 pm, Sunday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm. Unlicensed. Access: barrier-free, no washrooms (Leslieville); two steps at door, washrooms in basement (Beach). Rating: NNNN

4. Dutch Dreams

78 Vaughan, at St Clair, 416-656-6959. Like something out of Willy Wonka, Theo and Dina Alben’s uptown ice cream parlour has been offering Hogtown a taste of Holland since 85. Now with a renovated rear room (for those who want to hang around after the inevitable lineup) decked out with even more kitschy bric-a-brac, this hallucinogenic space sells more than 30 flavours of house-made ice cream and frozen yogurt. Best: in honour of Michael Jackson, orange pineapple (”a little bit fruity, y’know?”); Moose Droppings (Reese’s Pieces mixed with fudge, chocolate and banana); pink watermelon sherbet with chocolate-covered oats as seeds; Dutch waffles piled high with ice cream, seasonal fruit, toasted almonds, chocolate ’n’ caramel sauce and real whipped cream; ready-to-flambé baked Alaska. Extras: seven types of cone (waffled Little Karfunkels with blue and white Dutch chocolate chips, toasted almond, chocolate chip, Smarties, Reese’s Pieces, sprinkles and crushed Skor bars), hot fudge, toasted almonds. Scoop: $2.90. Open daily noon to midnight. Unlicensed. Access: two steps at door, washrooms in basement. Rating: NNNN

5. Greg’s Ice Cream

750 Spadina, at Bloor, 416-962-4734. For nearly 30 years, Greg Mahon’s ever-busy café has been synonymous with summer, first in a nearby basement and now on the first floor of the (not that) Al Green Theatre. Some things stayed the same: a commitment to quality, whacky combos and long lines into the night once the thermometer hits double digits. Best: the flavour that made Greg’s famous, roasted marshmallow (Mahon claims he roasts them on sticks over a campfire round back); Japanese-inspired green tea; Malt Ball Crunch; lime dacquiri; 23 types of chocolate ice cream alone; DIY customized shakes, sodas and deluxe banana splits; take-home litres. Extras: hot fudge, puréed strawberries and pineapple, crushed chocolate chips, walnuts. Scoop: $3.67. Open Sunday to Thursday noon to 11 pm, Friday and Saturday noon to midnight. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: barrier-free, no washrooms. Rating: NNN

6. Summer’s

101 Yorkville, at Bellair, 416-944-2637. Originally known as Summer’s Sweet Memories and found around the corner on Cumberland, this old-fashioned parlour only does cones, no cups. But when they’re house-made waffle cones piled with quality ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt, who’s complaining? Long lineups and limited seating, though there are a couple of park benches out front. Bonus: since it’s just down the block from the ritzy Four Seasons Hotel, Summer’s gets swamped with celebs during the Film Festival. Best: from a roster of more than 60 flavours, 24 of which are always on offer, the legendary Toronto Pot Hole (a delicious mix of Heavenly Hash and Rocky Road), chocolate fudge brownie, chocolate chip cookie dough, Espresso Mud Pie, Jamaican rum and raisin, blueberry frozen yogurt. Extras: fresh fruit, hot caramel sauce, whipped cream, paralines, pecans. Scoop: $3.67. Open daily noon to midnight. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: 10 steps at door, washrooms on same floor. Rating: NNN

7. Sweet Creamery

521 Parliament, at Winchester, 647-351-3554. Emilio Ojeda’s snazzy cafee on Cabbagetown’s main drag fits the well-heeled nabe like a glove. Right next door to caffeine café Jet Fuel, it’s guaranteed a steady stream of wired clientele with the munchies. Fancy house-baked pastries and Liza Minnelli on the CD player, too. Best: super sundaes like the Carlton with Kawartha Dairy’s Raspberry Thunder and Cherry Cheesecake ice creams, hot fudge and chocolate chips; the Parliament with peanut butter chocolate ice cream, peanut butter sauce, hot fudge, whipped cream and Reese’s Pieces; house made gelati like spicy chocolate. Extras: fancifully iced cupcakes, cookies, double chocolate mousse, meringue-topped fruit tarts. Scoop: $3.50. Open Sunday to Thursday noon to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday noon to 11 pm. Unlicensed. Access: barrier-free, no washrooms. Rating: NNN

8. Big Chill

367 Manning, at College, 416-960-2455. Despite its location on one of downtown’s busiest nightlife strips, this family-style parlour is aimed as much at small fry as it is at the Gucci-clad lounge crowd. And while the house product is out-sourced – Maypole, Stoney Creek, Tropical Treets – it’s presented with considerable pizzazz in house-made waffle cones and topped with complimentary Oreo cookies and whipped cream. Best: Caramel Turtle Fudge with roasted pecans; Polar Paws, a mix of strawberry-filled white chocolate truffles, dark chocolate and raspberry jam in white chocolate ice cream; Rollover, a swirl of chocolate, caramel and toffee; pistachio kulfi with Spanish saffron and cardamom. Scoop: $4.25. Open Monday to Friday 2 pm to midnight, Saturday and Sunday noon to midnight. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: short step at door, no washrooms. Rating: NNN

9. Dessert Lady

20 Cumberland, at Yonge, 416-924-3223. A cramped and chaotic Yorkville patisserie, this long-running wholesale/retail outlet is the wedding cake-maker of choice for Toronto’s society set. Don’t let that put you off its first-rate ices and dairy-free sorbets. Zero seating inside or out. Best: house-made ice creams like booze-soaked Amaretto with pecans, white-bread vanilla, honey with lavender, matcha green tea; sorbets like white peach, passion fruit, blood orange, Ontario pear; frozen lemon yogurt. Extras: waffle cones, pecan butter tarts, spicy chocolate cookies. Scoop: $3. Open Monday to Wednesday 10 am to 7 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm. Closed Sunday, holidays. Unlicensed. Access: four steps at door, no washrooms. Rating: NNN 

10. Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe

712 College, at Montrose, 416-531-7755. Founder Aurelio Galipo first introduced Italian-style ice cream to Toronto back in 1959 at this Little Italy landmark. Though the joint’s a lot fancier than it was back in the day – now a large, airy room decked out with wrought-iron café chairs and marble-topped tables fronted by two hopping curbside patios – the family-run business’s frozen product hasn’t changed a bit. Best: from a selection of 50 flavours, 20 always available, hazelnut Bacio; terrific textbook ladyfinger tiramisu; marsala-soaked zabaglione; bitter chocolate stracciatella; traditional flavours like banana, lemon, pistachio and nougat. Extras: cannoli. Scoop: $2.66. Open daily 9 am to 2 am. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement. Rating: NNN