The Best Ice Cream & Gelato in Melbourne: Worth Lining Up For

Why Melbourne Queues for Dessert

Melbourne’s post-dinner dessert ritual that drives people like me to queue up for: the perfect scoop. When dinner winds down and the night settles softly over the city, locals wander for a sweet treat. You’ll discover the glowing shopfront tucked down laneways, standing in line, even in winter, and wait patiently for the one final moment that completes the night. Here, a scoop became more than dessert; it is a ritual, community and quiet celebration of making it through the day.

But Melbourne’s love for gelato goes beyond casual cravings. There’s real heritage, creativity and story behind this indulgence. Gelato became more than dessert; it became memory, community, culture.

Coming from a city with only a handful of authentic gelato stores (and growing up on Wall’s popsicle sticks), Melbourne’s gelato scene was an eye-opener for a food enthusiast like me. The freshness, the texture, the range of flavours, even now, I happily eat gelato up to three times a week, whether it’s a night out with friends or unwinding after work.

This guide brings together places I adore, the spots locals swear by and the flavours worth lining up for.

The Culture of Ice Cream & Gelato in Melbourne

Melbourne’s gelato identity is rooted in history. When Italian migrants arrived after World War II, they brought more than recipes; they brought flavour, warmth and a commitment to craft that changed Melbourne’s sweet-treat game forever. These early gelaterias quickly became neighbourhood anchors, offering scoops that were always silky, dense and sticky.

As Melbourne grew into one of the world’s most multicultural cities, its gelato culture evolved with it. Today, our dessert landscape reflects the niche flavours of the world, ranging from Southeast Asia, Japan, the Middle East and beyond. Finding yourself surrounded by options all within a few kilometres of each other. For someone who grew up with limited flavour options, it feels like discovering a new world every week.

And at the centre of this evolution is a simple distinction:

Ice cream vs gelato

Ice cream: fluffier, creamier and higher in fat. It is churned quickly and served cold.

Gelato: denser, silkier and smoother. Churned slowly, using more milk, having a lower fat content and served warmer.

Melbourne gravitates toward gelato since it aligns with what the city values: creativity, diversity and deep appreciation for flavour. And yet, the city embraces both ice cream and gelato with equal enthusiasm – often happily queuing for either.

New-Wave Creatives

Good Daze Canteen – The Multicultural Comfort Scoop

4.4 stars | $7 – $12.5
316 Brunswick St Fitzroy VIC 3065
Instagram: @gooddazecanteen

Opened in early 2025 by two university students with zero experience but shared the same dream, Good Daze feels like a love letter to Melbourne’s multicultural heart, it has quickly become one of Fitzroy’s most adored gelato stops and the kind of place where curiosity is celebrated.

With over 21 flavours, reads like a global dessert passport, a wide selection of ice cream flavours inspired by sweets and tradition from around the world. Think Mango Sticky Rice (Thailand), Viet Coffee (Vietnam), even Cactus (Mexico).

As unexpected as they sound, these flavours speak to me as someone raised in a multiracial country. With the choice of having a triple scoop for an indecisive person like me, each scoop is as delicious and comforting as any beloved dessert. It is a playful, flavour-rich invitation that is grounded in storytelling for everyone to experience global sweets in a single cone.

Luther’s Scoops – After-dinner Perfection

4.6 stars | From $6.50
528A Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056
Instagram: @luthers_scoops

Tucked away inside a modest little shop in Sydney Road, Brunswick, Luther’s Scoops is the kind of place you hear about before you ever find it. Opened by a Michelin-trained pastry chef, Christian Williams, where his hospitality experience and inspirations to the shop. Luther draws some of the longest queues in the north — and for good reason.

Every flavour is made in small, quality-crafted batches. Expect interesting yet nostalgic combinations. I always come back for the earl grey chocolate. Every flavour feels intentional and beautifully balanced as it is never too sweet nor heavy. And during winter, Luther’s adds a charming seasonal ritual: hot pies served as a winter warmer to pair with ice cream.

What keeps locals returning is the thrill of discovery, with flavours rotating often. Luther is the kind of place you queue for because you know the wait will be rewarded.

Everyday Melbourne Staples

Pidapippo – Authentic Italian Gelato

4.5 stars | $7.2 – $10.90
299 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053 | 8 Degraves St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Instagram: @pidapipo_gelateria

Pidapippo is the closest you’ll get to true Italian gelato in Melbourne, it is built on a foundation of pure Italian technique: small batches churned daily, natural ingredients, low fat and flavours that honour simplicity. The shop stands out as it is faithful to tradition and craft.

Their gelato combinations aren’t complicated to be extraordinary. Everything tastes authentic: real pistachio, real fruit, balanced chocolate. My favourite is Peanut Butter Chocolate, indulgent and complex texture without being heavy. Pidapippo delivers the classics exceptionally well, that’s why people line up.

Piccolina Gelateria – The Classic You Always Return To

4.5 – 4.7 stars | $7.2 – $10.9
43 Hardware Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000 | 296 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Instagram: @piccolinagelateria

Piccolina has become a dependable favourite across Melbourne – from CBD to Carlton and beyond. What I love about Piccolina is the consistency: classic flavours, reliable texture and feels familiar every time I return to the store. Their honeycomb flavour – crunchy, sweet, complex – is my go-to when I want something comforting and to return to rather than experimental. For quick cravings or group outings, Piccolina is the safe bet when you don’t want to gamble on something new.

Although it may not be the flashiest shop on the list, that’s exactly why people line up. The gelato is made from scratch and done with integrity and balance.

Gelato Messina – The Crowd-pleasing Classic

4.6 stars | $5.5 – $10.9
237 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 | 171 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Instagram: @gelatomessina

Messina may have come from Sydney, but in Melbourne, it has earned a cult following. Messina’s bold, rich and filled with personality compared to traditional Italian gelato. Messina offers some of the most generous servings in the city and a flavour cabinet that feels like a dessert museum.

Every visit is an adventure: weekly specials, wild combinations with cheeky names and a constant sense of fun. I still lean towards lighter picks like boysenberry or pistachio praline (a classic you’d have to try), especially after dinner. Messina is worth the queue because it’s an experience – the vibe, the colourful specials and the anticipation of what’s new this week. It makes it a fun dessert.

Japanese-Inspired Delights

Hareruya Pantry – Melbourne’s Mochi Gelato Icon (My No. 1)

4.5 stars | $6.8 – $8.8
27 Somerset Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000 | 15-17 Lincoln Square S, Carlton VIC 3053
Instagram: @hareruyapantry

If I had to choose one favourite in the entire city, it’s Hareruya Pantry, the one Melbourne dessert you need to try at least once. Introducing Melbourne’s first daifuku-style gelato, wrapped delicately with mochi skin, adored by the city and with endless queues every night.

Their flavours are deeply rooted in Japanese palate traditions: genmaicha, blueberry yuzu-cream cheese, and my all-time favourite, Hojicha Chocolate. I never thought dark chocolate and roasted tea would go together, but it’s perfect. Each scoop can be wrapped in fresh mochi, sandwiched between monaka wafers, or both, adding texture and tradition to every bite. Their matcha float is a summer must.

Both stores are set in a garage, making it an open-air setup and minimal seating that is intentionally designed like modern konbinis (convenience store). Hareruya (meaning “Sunny Shop” in Japanese) captures the spirit of its name perfectly. Warm, bright, comforting — even when the gelato is cold.

Kori – Adventurous Tokyo Style Fix

4.5 stars | $6.9 – $10.9
392 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | 659 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
Instagram: @kori_icecream

Meet Melbourne’s vibrant Tokyo-style ice cream shop, my “never the same flavour twice” spot. “Kori”, meaning ice in Japanese, brings the kind of flavours you’d expect to discover wandering Tokyo side streets. Unique Japanese flavours such as Fuji Apple, Lychee Pocari Sweat, and Pistachio Matcha, with a menu that rotates twice monthly, keep me curious; honestly, I’ve never repeated a single flavour here. It is something to look forward to often.

The concept comes from the duo behind some of Melbourne’s most beloved kitchens: ex-Coda chef Joane Yeoh (Singaporean) and Luxbite co-founder Bernard Chu (Malaysian). Together, they’re handcrafting flavours inspired by their travels, their cultures, and their shared love for Japan. It’s the ultimate spot for dessert lovers who crave something familiar but with an unexpected twist, something that makes you pause mid-walk and think, ‘I’ve never tasted anything like this before.

Flavours From Southeast Asia

Beku Gelato – Feels like Home

4.7 stars | $7.20 – $8.8
150 Lygon S t, Carlton VIC 3053
Instagram: @bekugelato

Where nostalgia meets craftsmanship beautifully. “Beku” means frozen in Bahasa Indonesian, a simple name that hints at the shop’s soul and its Southeast Asian influences. Founder Agusta Triwahyu learned to make gelato during a holiday in Rome with a friend’s relative and brought the technique home with the flavours she grew up with.

Every flavour is made with heart. Flavours adored by Southeast Asian tastebuds, with standouts like Pandan Rice Pudding and Tolak Angin — yes, the iconic herbal remedy, reimagined as a soothing, gingery, minty, honey-sweet gelato. Each flavour feels personal and almost nostalgic. Beku has become a favourite among Southeast Asian locals in Melbourne, a spot where people go to reminisce about home and introduce them to friends who never tasted pandan. There’s something grounding about it, something soul-warming even when the dessert is cold. And that’s exactly why people queue.

Kariton Sorbetes – Filipino Favourites

4.5 stars | $5.5 – $9.9
177 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Instagram: @karitongelato.au

A Filipino-inspired dessert shop, making one of Melbourne’s most exciting modern gelaterias. “Kariton” translates to wooden pushcart, a tribute to the colourful carts Filipino vendors traditionally used to sell sorbetes. That nostalgia anchors everything they do.

Founded by chefs John Rivera and Charles Olalia, Kariton reimagines Filipino desserts into rich, expressive gelato: ube halaya, buko pandan, champorado, leche flan, and more. Every two weeks, they release a new specialty flavour — dropped on Mondays and gone just as quickly — giving you a reason to return before it disappears.

For me, Kariton feels both new and familiar. Growing up in Southeast Asia, I expected ube, but everything else expanded my understanding of Filipino sweets. It’s recommended for anyone wanting to explore flavours beyond their usual comfort zone, especially those who appreciate desserts with depth, culture, and soul.

Tips for the Perfect Melbourne Gelato Run

You might be spoiled for great gelato in Melbourne, but knowing how to experience it like a local makes all the difference. Here’s how to make the most of your dessert adventures, whether it’s a late-night stop or a solo treat yourself moment.

1. Taste-testing is encouraged, but keep it thoughtful.

Melburnians love to sample – pick two or three flavours that you are genuinely curious about.

2. Evening visits are the best.

Many of the city’s most iconic scoop shops are lively at night, queues form and street energy peaks. The wait becomes part of the fun.

3. Check flavour rotations before you go.

Some stores rotate flavours often. Check out their social media for new drops.

4. Choose cones over cups.

Not just for aesthetics – it’s a classic gelato experience; cones allow the gelato to soften naturally and blend flavours beautifully as you eat.

5. Don’t rush seasonals, enjoy them!

Winter at Luther’s? Get a pie with your gelato. Summer at Hareruya? Order a matcha latte float with your favourite flavour. Enjoy!

Why I’ll Never Stop Queueing

Melbourne is known for its queues, no matter where you are, but it turned me into someone (a sweet tooth) who happily queues for dessert. The city’s gelato scene opened my world to flavours I grew up with, flavours I never imagined and crave weekly. These shops are places I share with my friends and with you. And trust me – the next scoop you try might just become your new favourite.