London’s six best scoops

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Ice cream: the real way to celebrate summer

Forget all that stuff about gathering at Stonehenge and dancing naked for the solstice. The first sign that summer is really here is when you are strolling across a park minding your own business only to be struck by an irresistible craving for an ice cream. We should all be celebrating the opening of the ice-cream season with real ice cream. Here's the scoop on six of the best.

SCOOP

The Covent Garden gelateria opened in 2007 and has since become a firm favourite. If you like Italian ice cream, American ice cream just won't do and vice versa. Italian ice cream tends to have a higher milk content and less fat which makes it lighter. Try the Crème Nobile here — the “pistacchio puro di Bronte” is particularly fine — the pistachios come from a single village in Sicily, but due to a hiccup in the supply line it will next be available on 10 June. One scoop costs £2.50. Scoop, 40 Shorts Gardens, WC2 (020 7240 7086, www.scoopgelato.com)

SNOG

This shop is so slick, so trendy and so stylish that they don't serve ice cream at all — this is the home of the healthy alternative, frozen yoghurt. The latest branch of Snog opened in March 2009 on Brewer Street. The décor is retro enough to make old people shudder and you can take your snog as natural, green tea or chocolate, then add a topping of fresh fruit or nuts. Snog has fewer calories than ice cream and a lower glycaemic index. The green tea flavour works very well. Classic size with one topping costs £3.95. Snog, 9 Brewer Street, W1 (020 7494 3301, www.ifancyasnog.com)

GELATO MIO

As well as the original branch on Holland Park Avenue, Gelato Mio has also opened on Villiers Street. Its ice cream is in the Italian tradition and the simple classic flavours are notable — try the chocolate, either the “milk”, “dark” or chocolate sorbet — they are all made with good quality Belgian chocolate. An impressive wild card is the Amarena, a milky ice with sweet black cherries. £2.50 a scoop. Gelato Mio, 138 Holland Park Avenue, W11 (020 7727 4117, www.gelatomio.
co.uk)

MARINE ICES

Since it opened in 1931, Marine Ices has been delighting children of all ages. While the adults usually prefer the subtlety of the sorbets, the genuine Italian ice creams command universal respect. Look out for traditional options like chocolate, tutti frutti or more modern variations like biscotti — the Italian for cookies and cream. A bargain at £1.70 a scoop. Marine Ices, 8 Haverstock Hill, NW3 (020 7482 9003, www.marineices.co.uk)

ODDONO'S

Produces a remarkable range of different flavours that rotate depending on popularity, seasonality and whim. At any one time you get to choose from 15 or so of the 120 flavours in the repertoire. As well as the Bute Street shop you can find Oddono's in Selfridges' food hall. The current flavours of the week are surprisingly untraditional: chocolate chip, pannetone and yoghurt. From the sorbet list, the banana (which has no added sugar) is proving popular. £2 a scoop. Oddono's, 14 Bute Street, SW7 (020 7052 0732, www.oddonos.com) 

FORTNUM AND MASON

Ice cream has always been a traditional strength of Fortnum & Mason and anyone who prefers the richer American style (with its higher levels of butterfat) will be happy here. Flavours are intense — the chocolate ice cream is made with Amedei chocolate and the raisin ice cream has added Pusser's Navy rum. You cannot order a single scoop here — but no matter, a flight of three different flavours costs £7.50. The Parlour at Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, W1 (020 7734 8040, www.fortnumandmason.com)

 

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