Top 5 ice cream shops in Newcastle

You say vegan salted caramel; I say lemonade and ginger sorbet. Whatever your taste buds are screaming for, Newcastle has an ice cream or gelato flavour to fit the bill.

Here’s where to get a scoop of your icy treat of choice:

61 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle East

Nothing says summer more than an ice cream or gelato after a day soaking up the sunny vibes at the beach. And Estabar’s gelato always hits the spot.

Located opposite Newcastle Beach (on your left as you emerge from the pedestrian underpass), you can grab a takeaway gelato with your hair still wet and sand between your toes, or nab an alfresco table.

Estabar’s gelato range has been scaled back but their new condensed menu offers some truly knockout flavours. Think chocolate beetroot sorbet or apple crumble gelato made with granny smith apples and a buckwheat, oat and rapadura crumb.⁠ OMG.

150 Darby St, Cooks Hill

This neon haven of yumminess has garnered a cult following since opening almost five years ago on the buzzing Darby Street strip. Everything that goes into Monella’s gelato is made onsite – short of milking the pasture raised cows and harvesting their own cacao beans.

Try the ‘Kiss me, I’m Ginger’ with caramel and ginger gelato, salted caramel sauce, Italian meringue and gingerbread chunks or the wickedly good ‘Nutella on Crack’, with Nutella gelato, dark chocolate coffee ganache and chocolate brownie chunks.

*Afterwards, take a stroll, gelato in hand, and window shop along Darby Street or take the kids to nearby Centennial Park and let them burn off all that sugary energy at the playground.

40 Zaara St, Newcastle East

When long term tenant Kiwi Waffle'n'Cones departed this Zaara Street space, the children of Newcastle’s East End wept and had to make do with regular old Icy Poles (true story). Fast forward to August this year and there’s rejoicing once more with the opening of East End Ice Creamery in this popular post beach hang.

Try the perennial favourite super fudge brownie, classic hokey pokey or if you’re feeling adventurous, order a Sarsaparilla spider. YOLO!

The ice cream brand is Australian owned Serendipity.

*Take a walk up to Fort Scratchley on Flagstaff Hill for expansive vistas over Nobbys Beach, Newcastle Harbour and the city.

172 King St, Newcastle & Junction Fair Shopping Centre, 200 Union St, The Junction

Anyone who’s been to Italy yearns for the incredible gelato found on almost every street corner. Owned by Italians and made fresh daily, Popolo’s serves up authentic handmade gelato as close as possible to what you find in Italy – minus the airfare and jetlag.

The queues don’t lie. Popolo’s fans line up for classic flavours like pistachio, lemon, pink grapefruit or chocolate, through to contemporary flavours using seasonal produce like blackberry or sour cherry.

*From Popolo’s take a stroll down to Newcastle Harbour and watch the sunset.

188 Union St, The Junction

Is the Hood Milk Bar Newcastle’s answer to Arnold’s from Happy Days? Whatever day of the week, it’s happy days here at this retro inspired milk bar.

Come straight from Merewether or Bar Beach for gelato thick shakes, triple scoop waffle cones or pimp your cone with chocolatey goodness from the Nutella fountain.

*Gelato and ice cream flavours mentioned may differ due to rotational menus and what’s available seasonally.