Inside scoop: The best places for gelato and ice cream in Manchester

Black Milk is a hip, Insta-friendly dessert cafe in the Northern Quarter known for its towering ice creams, gelato, sweet bakes, pancakes and Goliath-sized milkshakes and sundaes.

Ginger’s Comfort Emporium began life as an ice cream van for adults, often spotted at local foodie markets and private events. Now, as well as offering a mobile pop-up service, you can find Ginger’s gelato on the first floor of Afflecks on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Perched by the canal in the picturesque village of Diggle, near Oldham, Grandpa Greene’s is best known for its award-winning homemade ice cream. It’s also a warm and inviting licensed cafe with glass fronted terraces and indoor dining. 

With more than 50 flavours of Cheshire Farm ice cream, The Ice Cream Farm is officially the biggest ice cream parlour in the world. Although ice cream is the name of the game, it’s not the top priority here. The Ice Cream Farm is a powerhouse of kid’s play, all themed around their favourite messy, melty treat with the real thing on hand to round off the day.

Eat in or take out at Northern Quarter ice cream parlour Lazy Sundae, where everything’s peachy, from the shop frontage to the travel-inspired menu, which will transport you East with its bubble teas and Japanese specialities.

The Mobberley Ice Cream Company specialises in a back-to-basics approach using milk, cream and sugar. No powdered flavourings, no artificial additives. The milk comes from a local herd of Cheshire cows and is sourced fresh daily. Udder to cone in three days.

Scoop! serves the best ice cream in Ancoats and then some. There’s a good selection of gelato with plenty of vegan options too but the most fun part is going crazy with the toppings and sauces which are included in the price.

Located in the Northern Quarter, this friendly neighbourhood bistro and bar is the place to avanti if it’s a taste of traditional Sicily you fancy – from authentic street food snacks through to big plates of pasta to desserts and holiday memory gelato, eat in or take away.