Top scoop: Belgium serves up cool ices this summer

Come rain or shine, treat yourself to a delicious scoop or two of artisan ice-cream or sorbet. There’s no shortage of local parlours around the country, specialising in creamy confections, refreshing gelatos and even retro sundaes. In fact, the experience they offer, makes these venues a popular treat all-year-round.

Brussels

In Sainte-Catherine’s Quai aux Briques and Stockel’s Place Dumon, Glacier Gaston has established itself as a wonder for artisanal ice cream and sorbets. One of its iconic flavours is the Belgian favourite speculoos, while there’s no shortage of other delicacies to try, from rum & raisin, Sicilian noisette and the intriguing ‘charcoal’ to coconut and yoghurt, honey and citrus.

Artisan and traditional Italian ices reign at Gelaterio Giotto in Ixelles’ Rue Washington and more recently, Rue Bonaventure in Jette. Since opening in 2023, the new business has attracted accolades for the quality of its home-made produce and friendly service.

New kid on the block in the capital is Lebanese ice-cream parlour Miska in Rue des Bouchers. It whips up artisan ices from the Middle East, which boast a silky texture and a palette of interesting flavours, such as rosewater, almond and baklava.

Bargello in lively, leafy Place de la Liberté proposes high quality Italian coffee as well as stunning organic fruit sorbets, vegan options and ice-cream cakes. An authentic Florentine flavour infuses its ices, including signature pistachio and rich mascarpone and coffee ice cream.

Glacier Zizi is an Uccle institution, serving delicious ice creams until midnight every day. Founded in 1948, the family-owned parlour in Rue de la Mutualité has churned its artisanal, colour- and preservative-free ices for four generations. It is always busy, unsurprisingly, given its incredible range of ice creams and sorbets – from traditional strawberry to more creative creations like cuberdon or lavender.

In Saint-Gilles, Oui Oui specialises in vegan ice-creams that lose nothing of their flavour and creamy texture. Sticky Rice Mango is one exotic favourite and the sorbets are temptingly refreshing, particularly the Moroccan mint tea Nanah. A tasty range of home-made cookies also draw in customers.

Bouboule near Cinquantenaire in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert offers traditional artisan ices, sometimes churned with Belgium-grown fruit, and more original flavours, including oreo, rocher, bueno and lemon tart, among others. Vegan scoops are also available.

Ice-pops are the speciality of Nanouk in Saint-Gilles. The artisan creations are made from cream and fruit often picked up at the organic morning market before being made with a minimal quantity of sugar. As well as single flavours – vanilla, speculoos, green matcha tea, there are also duo combinations such as pineapple-ginger, watermelon-mint and peach-verbena.

Renowned chocolatier Frédéric Blondeel offers delectable, rich  ice-creams at his headquarters, shop and cafe in Koekelberg. Chocolate, stracciatella, raspberry lemon, almond praline, Madagascar vanilla, speculoos and rum & raisin, are among the popular offerings. Naturally, the store’s chocolate and praline options are also recommended.

Schaerbeek ice-cream parlour Cocozza enjoys a prime position opposite Josaphat park. This charming glacier is arguably the daddy of them all as it first appeared in 1907, and in fine weather, there are queues outside the door for its classic and interesting flavour combinations that are regularly updated.  

With shops and stands throughout the capital and in cities around the country, Capoue has been a favourite since setting up in 1947. It is a reliable vendor of well-made, artisanal ice cream – not to mention plentiful waffles and delicious crepes. The salted caramel is a dream and the classic vanilla with caramelised apple crumble is also highly tipped.

The Ferme du Chant des Cailles in Watermael-Boitsfort is not only an idyllic location to pick fresh veg and flowers, but every Sunday (from April to October), it also serves delicious ice-cream with a difference – made from the farm’s goats. The flavours are original too, including verbena and marigold grown on site as well as chocolate and speculoos and local fruits when in season. Pick up a cornet or purchase a half-litre pot to indulge in later.  

Wallonia

La Maison Carette delights customers in Ottignies, Wavre, Waterloo and Sombreffe. An ice-cream gourmet’s heaven, the firm is known throughout the region. In Ottignies, near the station, a charming ice-cream cafe with a huge terrace offers mouthwatering flavours including meringue, lemon cactus and orangette, as well as milkshakes, sundaes and ice-cream cakes. It also proposes ice-cream vans for your special event or party.

In Namur, Glacetronome (pictured, main image) at the foot of the Enjambée cycle and footbridge can be spotted from afar thanks to its queue of eager customers. Among the most popular of the Italian-inspired ices are popcorn, salted-butter caramel, earl grey tea, lime & mint, fleur du lait, sesame peanut and strabana – a fusion of banana and stracciatella with nuggets of chocolate providing a crunchy flourish – as well as a range of seasonal fruit sorbets. There are also home-made Magnums and organic ices among its tempting options.

Liège overflows with culinary treats. Ice-cream afficionados will love Une Gaufrette Saperlipopette, which combines the local waffle variety with artisan ice-cream made from a rich custard base. With special home-made cornets and biscuits it would be a shame to choose the ‘petit pot’. Customers are spoilt for choice with tasty treats including pistache praline, cookies or intense blackcurrant. The bakery and deli business has three outlets near Place Saint-Lambert, with the ice-cream parlour located in Rue des Airs.

Gourmand-Ice in Heusy (Verviers) and Stembert (Liège province) has received accolades including Belgium’s best ice cream and a place in the world’s top 100 ice-cream makers. Renowned for its locally sourced products and colour and additive-free ices, the Italian-inspired flavours to watch include prize-winning cheesecake, ricotta, cherry coulis and pistachio crumble, Sicilian pistachio, matcha tea and Sao Thomé chocolate.   

Flanders

As well as culture and shopping, Antwerp also oozes ice cream. Top tips include Foubert (also in Sint-Niklaas), launched in 2010 on the Grote Markt, which offers more than 16 flavours daily and temporary specials including Kinder Bueno, macaroon, virgin mojito, even ‘Dinosaur’ biscuit. It also dishes up pancakes if you fancy something more substantial. Ice-Cream Carts are available to brighten up any outdoor catering do.

Milad Ice Cream is a Persian-inspired parlour that opened during the pandemic and is awash with Middle Eastern tastes that include coffee cardamom, saffron rosewater and lavender. A classic is Persian-style ice cream called bastrani sonnati in Iran, that fuses saffron with rosewater and pistachios. Tahini stracciatella anyone?

Enjoy an ice-cream on the water at Coupe Matadi, which operates aboard the converted ship Helene, docked on Leuven canal at Wilsele. Sample unique sorbet and ice-cream flavours with vegan options available. One highlight is ‘Madame Framboise’: ice cream with raspberry sorbet – perfect if you cannot choose between the two. Other temptations are varying flavours such as lemon, Thai peanut, marzipan and passion fruit

Flemish Brabant farm shop De Calogne in Galmaarden serves yoghurt and ice cream bars among its many products, while Gaasbeek’s popular De Krijmerie opposite the castle boasts more than 50 sundaes as well as pancakes and patisseries.

Meanwhile, Galgenveld (Kortenberg) specialises in sheep’s milk ice cream, including tropical, hazelnut and fruits of the forest yoghurt flavours.