Ice cream in Istanbul is rarely just about cooling down. It’s about timing, neighborhoods, and small routines people repeat without thinking.
You notice it on warm evenings first. Someone walking slowly along the Bosphorus with a cone. Kids gathered around a familiar counter. Adults ordering the same flavor they’ve ordered for years. Ice cream here is woven into daily life, not treated as a special occasion.
For visitors, that can be confusing. There are Italian-style gelaterias next to old-school Turkish dondurmacıs. Milk-based classics made with salep. Lighter fruit sorbets. Big names. Tiny neighborhood spots. Knowing where to start makes a difference.
Our guide focuses on the best ice cream spots in Istanbul that locals actually return to. Places that hold up over time. Shops tied to evening walks, seaside stops, and quiet streets rather than hype. Some are famous. Some are easy to miss. All earn their place.
Istanbeautiful Team note: The best ice cream usually fits the walk you’re already taking. Don’t plan it too hard.
We’ve grouped these spots to help you choose based on mood and location. Whether you want something classic, light, nostalgic, or indulgent, there’s a cup here that makes sense for your day.
14 Top Ice Cream Spots in Istanbul
Lillo Gelato
Lillo Gelato keeps things clean and honest. Real fruit, clear flavors, no shortcuts. You taste the fruit immediately, which sounds obvious until you try it. Sorbets are the highlight here. Bitter chocolate and nectarine come up often in conversations. Vegan options are not an afterthought either. Matcha and black seed hold their own.
With several locations across the city, Lillo is easy to reach without turning ice cream into a mission.
Caddebostan, Metropol İstanbul, Göztepe, Aqua Florya
Istanbeautiful Team tip: Start with a sorbet first. Then decide if you want a second scoop.
Serez Dondurmacısı
Serez feels personal. The kind of place built slowly, not scaled quickly. The caramel-salty flavor has earned its reputation and still delivers. Sorbets are solid. Salep in winter makes sense here.
This is ice cream with memory behind it, not trends.
Vero Gelato
Vero Gelato sits comfortably between Italian technique and Turkish ingredients. Milk, salep, and real fruit form the base. Flavors stay familiar, well-balanced, and dependable.
No Regrets Booking Advice
Branches in Caddebostan, Moda, and Bostancı make it an easy stop during neighborhood walks.
Istanbeautiful Team insight: This is a safe choice when you want something well-made without surprises.
Gelateria Bonacci Bomonti, Sisli
Bonacci invites curiosity. Pineapple next to walnut. Coffee next to raspberry. Even lavender shows up. Some flavors surprise more than others, but that is part of the fun.
Bomonti suits this place. Slightly experimental. Still grounded. Desserts and coffee are worth staying for.
Cumhuriyet, Silahşör Cd., Şişli
Meşhur Dondurmacı Ali Usta, Moda, Kadikoy
Ali Usta is part of Moda’s routine. Longstanding. Familiar. Debated. Some say it used to be better. Many still go anyway. And that says something.
The variety remains wide, and certain flavors still shine. It is worth stopping by, especially if you are already walking Moda Street.
Caferağa, Moda Cd., Kadıköy
Girandola, Arnavutköy
Girandola takes a lighter approach. Lower sugar. Clear flavors. Artisan gelato made daily. The founder trained in Italy, and that restraint shows in the cups.
You can enjoy a scoop without feeling weighed down, which matters on warm days.
Yeniköy and İstinyePark
Dondurmacı Yaşar Usta, Bostancı
This is old-school ice cream making, passed down through apprenticeships and time. Fresh milk. Natural ingredients. No unnecessary additions.
Yaşar Usta’s ice cream tastes straightforward in the best way. It does not try to impress. It just works.
Baylan, Bebek
Baylan is part of Istanbul’s memory. Open since 1923, it is best known for its desserts, yet the ice cream deserves equal attention. Milk-based, made daily, and free from additives, the flavors feel clean and old-fashioned in a reassuring way.
People come for the truffle cake and stay for a scoop. Or two. You can even take the ice cream home in insulated bags, which says a lot about how confident they are in the product.
MUÀ
MUÀ began quietly in Yeniköy with a clear goal. Bring real Italian gelato to Istanbul and do it properly. Fresh milk, regional fruit, careful balance. No shortcuts.
Now with multiple branches across the city, the quality has stayed steady. Flavors feel precise and restrained, closer to Florence than flashy dessert culture.
Yeniköy, Bebek, Akaretler, Caddebostan, Şaşkınbakkal, and more.
Istanbeautiful Team tip: Seasonal fruit flavors are where MUÀ shines most.
Balkaymak, Moda
Balkaymak has been around since 1979, and the place has not forgotten who it serves. Families, kids, locals on evening walks. Ice cream arrives shaped like a flower, which still works surprisingly well.
Flavors are familiar and generous. Waffles and baked potatoes draw crowds too, yet ice cream remains the anchor.
Moda suits this place. Relaxed and unpretentious.
Damla Dondurma ve Boza, Kurtuluş
Walking into Damla feels like stepping back a few decades. Run by two brothers from Macedonia, the shop makes fresh ice cream daily using milk from Sarıyer.
The atmosphere matters here. Simple counters. Familiar faces. Ice cream that tastes honest and slightly nostalgic.
Istanbeautiful Team note: Try it slowly. This is not grab-and-go ice cream.
Kahve Dünyası, Various Locations
Kahve Dünyası is everywhere, yet its ice cream often surprises people. Made with Jersey cow and goat milk, real salep, proper chocolate, and fresh nuts, the flavors feel richer than expected from a chain.
Honey-almond, cherry, and chocolate-based options tend to stand out. It works well when you want something reliable without hunting for a specialty shop.
Mini Dondurma, Bebek
Mini Dondurma is a Bebek habit. People grab a scoop, then walk the waterfront. Milk-forward, low-sugar ice cream that does not overpower.
The rose Turkish delight flavor has its loyal fans, and friendly service keeps people coming back year after year.
Istanbeautiful Team insight: This is walking ice cream. Choose a flavor that stays light.
Lu Gelato
Lu Gelato attracts regulars rather than crowds. Belgian and French chocolates form the backbone of the menu, supported by clean fruit sorbets like pineapple, strawberry, and melon.
Originally popular in Göktürk, it now has branches in Erenköy and Kalamış as well. Consistent, well-made, and calm.
Istanbeautiful Team advice: Chocolate lovers should start there before looking at fruit.
That completes our picks. Fourteen places, fourteen different moods. Pick the one that fits your walk, not just your craving.