One look outside and you can tell summer is in full swing. Sandals and sunglasses are familiar wardrobe staples, and finding a shady place to sit is sometimes easier said than done. Luckily, there’s one cool-down activity that’s equal parts refreshing and delicious: ice cream. The good news is, if you’re in Victoria, you’ve got plenty of options, and they’re all within walking distance of downtown.
Marble Slab Creamery
With 75 unique flavors, the colorful ice cream parlor, Marble Slab Creamery, is sure to leave your mouth watering. It is about as central to downtown Victoria as you can get, which is a good thing considering you won’t be able to walk far after their signature unlimited mix-ins. Top your cone off with sprinkles or chopped nuts, and you have yourself the perfect summer cool-down.
Kid Sister
Wander down the narrow Fan Tan Alley and step into paradise, a la Mexican popsicles and exotic ice cream flavors. Known to the locals as Fruition Paletas, Kid Sister’s recent revamp hasn’t affected their delicious offerings or the owner Brett Black’s dedication to bringing a taste of Mexico to Victoria.
Black makes all of his popsicles using a special paleta machine he brought back with him from Mexico. The ingredients are all local, from their sodas mixed with house-made syrup, down to the dairy and eggs in their ice cream. They’re also zero-waste, using compostable wrappers and popsicle sticks.
Cold Comfort
Nestled between North Park and Fernwood, Cold Comfort might have the most creative selection of ice cream flavors in Victoria. Since 2010, the shop has hand-crafted everything from the modest salted caramel to their innovative gin and tonic or to the gutsier butternut squash & rosemary ice cream.
Using organic, local ingredients, they pride themselves on being purveyors of the frozen art of ice cream sandwich crafting, baking their cookies in-house. Their small shop is also home to various local goods such as soaps, local food books and their house-made nut mix.
Jackson’s Ice Cream Float
Walk or take a yellow harbor ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf, and it won’t be long until you stumble across Victoria’s only floating ice cream store! A classic spot, Jackson’s is nearly always busy, but the tasty treats are well worth the wait.
We recommend you go with the “Danny,” a cone filled with soft serve, topped with a flavor or two of your choosing. We think this is the way ice cream was always meant to be. Afterward, pay a visit to the local wildlife. A trip to the small fish store around the corner is all you need to feed the local seals.
The Soda Shoppe
Across from the Fairmont Empress Hotel lies the old-fashioned Soda Shoppe. Baristas in striped aprons and hats whip up floats, shakes and cones, even full-blown banana split sundaes. If you’ve got room for dinner after dessert, grab a hot dog from Dog Gone It, their frankfurter-serving neighbor. We suggest the Neapolitan Mastiff dog paired with a Hungry Winston smoothie or Black Cow root beer float.
With the variety of ice cream shops in Victoria, you’ll want to spend the week to try them all! Just don’t try to hit them all at once. After all, moderation is key. Keep cool out there, and keep these spots in mind next time you’re walking through scenic Victoria.
Clipper Recommends:
- In need of a quick ice cream fix? Pop up to Victoria and spend the day licking the heat away, we bet you’ll be back again!
- Need dinner recommendations to go with your sugar overload? Here are our top 5 culinary experiences in Victoria.
Feature Photo: Tourism Victoria
[…] Beat the heat at our five favorite ice cream parlors in Victoria, all within walking distance of downtown. […]