After a weekend of 39-degree heat, it’s safe to say Berlin’s ice cream parlours have had their moment. And while we’re hoping the temperatures stay summery, one thing remains true: there’s always a good excuse for a scoop. So, throughout the summer, we’re sharing the ice cream spots our team keeps coming back to. My pick is Chipi Chipi Bombón in Friedrichshain, alongside favourites from our team like Spoonful Berlin, Early Bird Gelato, and Tribeca Ice Cream and always classy: Canal. In Friedrichshain, Chipi Chipi Bombón is the kind of gelato shop that makes you rethink what ice cream can be. Originally from Argentina, owner Andrés Bezem builds every flavour around its main ingredient rather than from a single base, resulting in gelato that tastes exactly as it should. Bronte pistachios from Sicily and dulce de leche from Argentina anchor the menu, while combinations like lime, cilantro and chili or pineapple with parsley keep things interesting. The Banana Split is not just the bestseller but also my personal favourite. Spoonful Berlin takes a different approach in Neukölln. Founder Christian Günzel started with a simple question: why is so much ice cream sweeter than it needs to be? The answer is a menu where ingredients take centre stage. If it says pistachio, expect pistachio – not sugar. Seasonal flavours sit alongside the classics, and the vegan options are every bit as good.
Over in the Winsviertel, Early Bird Gelato follows the seasons closely, with melon in July, fig sorbet later in the summer and at least five or six vegan options at any given time. The bright space, redesigned by About Space Studio in 2024, is just as thoughtfully put together as the gelato itself. With locations in Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, Tribeca proves that plant-based doesn’t mean compromise. Inspired by nearly a decade in New York, founder Klaus Zinsmeister and his team have created rich, creamy flavours like oat milk stracciatella, salted caramel, pistachio and blue coconut – all built around clarity of flavour rather than novelty. And finally, there’s Canal, where handmade éclairs have been sharing the spotlight with Italian-style gelato since 2015. Flavours like Crema Canal with salted caramel and pistachio, or lemon-zest yoghurt and blueberry yoghurt, are reason enough to stop by – but ordering a scoop alongside an éclair is what keeps us coming back. Which is your ice cream haven? Share your tips with us via mail@ceecee.cc or on Instagram.
Text: Stefania Basano / Photos: Early Bird Gelato, Spoonful Berlin
Chipi Chipi Bombón, Warschauer Str.12, 10243 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Spoonful Berlin, Weserstr.6, 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Early Bird Gelato, Winsstr.68, 10405 Berlin–Pankow; map
Tribeca Ice Cream, Rykestr.39, 10405 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Canal, Rosenthaler Str.40, 10178 Berlin–Miite; map
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