1. Azúr

Established in trendy Újlipótváros since 2014, Azúr has been offering some of the finest ice cream in Budapest, using real fruit – in the raspberry and hazelnut mascarpone, in the mint and strawberry, and in the cherry and rosemary – to develop a range that runs into the hundreds.

These are available at two Újlipi outlets, one right by Szent István park, the ideal surroundings for ice cream.

Azúr
1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 33B/1133 Budapest Kárpát utca 52

2. Cioccolatte

‘The Sweet Escape’ is the motto of this husband-and-wife-run outlet with Italian connections and, most importantly, experience.

Summer sees new flavours come thick and fast, experimental ones available for just a few days only, keeping the venue’s many regulars on their toes. There are standard favourites, too, of course, presented in cone or cup.

Cioccolatte
1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 7.

3. Erdős és fiai

For ten years now, Norbert Erdős and his family have been offering the real flavours of Italy, where they fell in love with the world’s favourite dessert. But don’t think that it’s all pistachio here on gentrifying Etele tér in south Buda.

Every day, some 20 varieties await the curious sweet-toothed visitor, recently including honey sour cream with raspberries, red wine and dried plum, and pumpkin seed.

Erdős és fiai
1115 Budapest, Etele tér 3.

4. Fragola

Since 2011 and this original establishment on Nagymező utca, Fragola has been dedicated to serving ice cream of the highest quality in a rotating selection of 120 options in total.

Super fruits are a speciality – think sea buckthorn and maqui berry – but you can just as easily opt for kiwi or grapefruit.

Fragola
1065 Budapest, Nagymező utca 7 & several other outlets, restaurants and partner establishments in town.

5. Gelateria Pichler

Right in the city centre, this high-quality establishment combines two pleasure in one, ice cream and chimney cake, as well as a third: the expert hand of Balázs Damniczki. Learning the secrets of fine confectionery from his grandmother, this dessert master opened his first business in Székesfehérvár in the 1990s.

Its success propelled him to Budapest, where his own-named outlet on downtown Hercegprimás utca took off. Since moved to this current location, Damniczki still offers the same number of varieties, 50, all gluten-free and many free of sugar or lactose, and vegan-friendly.

Gelateria Pichler
1053 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos utca 4.

6. Gelarto Rosa

Famous for their rose-shaped ice creams, fashioned like petals, this relentlessly popular spot opposite the Basilica is the brainchild of Niki Szökrön, who studied the art of gelato for a year in Italy.

There’s queues out the door for the white lavender chocolate, basil lemon and seasonal flavours, along with mainstays using as many organic ingredients as possible. Vegan and lactose-free options available.

Gelarto Rosa
1051 Budapest, Szent István tér 3.

7. Kő fagyi? a Bartókon

Having first set up on Maros utca in 2019, the team behind the cult artisanal ice-cream favourite in Mindszentkálla in the bohemian outpost of Káli-medence near Balaton, moved to the trendy avenue of Bartók Béla út.

Kő fagyi? follows in the fine tradition of the original Kell fagylalt?, working all kinds of magic in peach, mango and cherry combinations, among many  and ever-changing others.

Kő fagyi? a Bartókon
Bartók Béla út 35.

If you have a favourite that’s not in this list, please so let us know by clicking here.

Words by Peterjon Cresswell for Xpatloop.com
Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com