BARISTA BY GIVRES: Artisan Gelato In Central, Hong Kong

Givrés concocted the Gelato Rose – now patented, exclusive to Givrés and arguably the prettiest gelato you’ve ever laid eyes on – and contributed to the local café culture by bringing a dash of London’s niche artisan gelato café scene to Hong Kong. After you pick and choose the (vegan) flavors and watch your custom gelato rose bloom, you can lay it in a shot of espresso, float it in an iced tea or coffee, or plant it in a fresh homemade waffle. A rose is a gelato is a rose – snap a pic, breath in its fragrance, then lick it away!

BARISTA by Givrés, 7 Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 9659 0816, info@givres.com, www.givres.com

BAEKMIDANG: Korean Ice Cream In K11 Musea, The Peak Galleria, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Baekmidang serves soft-serve as you’ve never had before – it looks like a perfect sculpture and tastes like the softest dream. This South Korean creamery specializes in gorgeously creamy but firm milk ice cream made from 100% organic milk sourced from hand-picked farms. There’s also Chocolate Milk Ice Cream made from 81% cacao and the Macha Milk Ice Cream made with young tea leaves grown in the clean green tea field of Jeju Island. Fruity, super refreshing options like Mango and Blueberry are also on offer and ideal for summer – you can order the classic milk and chocolate ice cream on Baekmidang's newly launched web store too.

Baekmidang, Various location including K11 Musea, The Peak Galleria, Admiralty, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/bmd1964hk

DAMA: Vegan-Friendly Ice Cream In TST, Hong Kong

Dama is a new-era vegetarian bar that also turns their fresh fruits into healthy, plant-based vegan-friendly soft serves. The offer changes on a weekly basis to keep you delightfully on your toes. If you can’t pick between vibrantly-colored flavors such as Black Hawaii, Red Dragon Fruit, Pomelo, Oat Milk and Red Bean, opt for a swirl! Unless you like surprises, check their Instagram before visiting to see what’s on offer that day.

Dama, Shop 411, 4/F, K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, +852 9527 2033, www.facebook.com/DAMAjuice

XTC GELATO: Gelato In Central And Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

If you just arrived in Hong Kong and stumbled upon XTC Gelato, you couldn’t guess (before having a lick, that is) that this humble ice cream shop is “the best gelato east of Italy,” a pioneer of locally-inspired gelato in Hong Kong. XTC has been drawing inspiration from its home city for two decades now, turning traditional local desserts into creative, artisanal, all-natural, low-fat gelato. XTC only uses responsibly sourced ingredients, making sure their products are free of gluten, soy and artificial additives. The ever-changing flavors rotate with the seasons, so there’s always a reason to come back!

XTC Gelato, +852 2540 0105, info@xtc.com.hk, xtc.com.hk

XTC Gelato Central - Shop B, 45 Cochrane Street, Central, Hong Kong

XTC Gelato Causeway Bay - B2 Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

ELEPHANT GROUNDS: Amazing Ice Cream Sandwiches In Hong Kong

This specialty coffee shop and brunch destination has soft-serve ice cream – and signature ice cream sandwiches – that is so good and distinctive that ice cream might as well be their flagship product. Elephant Grounds offers an exclusive ice cream sandwich flavor every month, often thematic, always delicious. It also has gorgeously chill interiors in various fantastic locations in Hong Kong, so you don’t have an excuse to not give yourself an excuse to try these unique desserts!

Elephant Grounds, various locations, info@elephantgrounds.com, www.elephantgrounds.com/en/home

IGLOO DESSERT BAR: Boutique Ice Cream Shop At Star Ferry, Hong Kong

This brave little ice cream shop won Hong Kong over a couple of years ago with their White Rabbit Candy soft serve. The clever combinations did not stop there – Horlicks-Malteser is still on offer, as well as gems like Melon Parma Ham Gelato. Besides cones, you can get Igloo’s scoops in a freshly baked cookie bowl or differently flavored waffles – or order a takeaway container and enjoy your favorite flavor by the pier. If you somehow get tired of these wacky flavors, try their fruit ice pops for a simple refreshment.

Igloo Dessert Bar, Shop C, G/F, Pier 7, Star Ferry, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2656 3318, www.facebook.com/pg/Igloodessertbar

VENCHI: All Natural Gelato In Hong Kong

Italian gelato is its own category of ice cream. Thanks to the gelateria and cioccolateria Venchi, you can get an authentic lick of this quintessential Italian product in Hong Kong. Venchi specializes in chocolate gelatos, made with single-origin chocolate, hazelnuts, and pistachio. This makes this all-natural, incomparable gelato a must-try for lovers of chocolate. If your taste buds are more adventurous, don’t worry – Venchi keeps putting out new flavors in seasonal rotation with a delicately balanced Durian Sorbet as the current novelty.

Venchi, various locations including Central and YOHO mall, www.venchi.com.hk/en/about-gelato.html

VIA TOKYO: Japanese Soft Ice Cream In Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

After a few years of absence, Via Tokyo’s iconic Black Sesame soft serve is back! The unique flavor is made using a hand-ground black sesame paste produced by a small company in Osaka, Japan with a 100-year-old tradition. Black Sesame joins Via Tokyo’s Hokkaido Milk, Matcha, and Houjicha – like true craftsmen, Via Tokyo stops at a couple of flavors, but infuses these Japanese soft serves with artistry and enriches them with a variety of hand-picked toppings that further deepen the taste.

Via Tokyo, Shop 1A-1B, G/F, Leishun Court, 106-126 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2895 1116, https://www.facebook.com/viatokyocafe/

EMACK AND BOLIO'S: Amazing Ice Cream And Ice Cream Cakes In Hong Kong

These rightfully self-proclaimed rock stars of the ice cream world offer a feast for the eyes, your sweet tooth, and your ears! Their multi-award-winning ice cream is unapologetically bold and generously portioned, so expect flavors like Space Cake, Trippin’ On Espresso, Salted Caramel Chocolate Pretzel, and Grasshopper, with fantastic tunes playing in the background. You can have these funky scoops delivered to your home, along with equally interesting, richly decorated cones and other treats!

Emack & Bolio’s, 26 Cochrane Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2505 6626, emackandboliohk.com

SWEET MONSTER: Korean Ice Cream In Mong Kok, Hong Kong

Popcorn ice cream - yes, please! Originally from Korea, Sweet Monster has become all the rage with its unique flavors and Instagram-worthy cones. Their ice cream is made with 75% milk and they offer one size only so if you are heading there with little ones - they might want to share. Expect creamy coldness mixed with a yummy popcorn crunch in every bite.

Sweet Monster, various locations, Hong Kong, https://www.facebook.com/SweetMonsterHK/

LITTLE BAO: Ice Cream Baos In Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Little Bao, Shop H1, 9 Kingston Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, +852 6794 8414, info@little-bao.com, www.little-bao.com/

HOLLY BROWN: Gelato And Frozen Yogurt in Central

What we love about Holly Brown is that it is a perfect place to grab a treat while wandering around Central with the kids!  At Holly Brown, they focus on gelato!  With a huge range of flavors to choose from including chocolate fudge, wild berry, mint and coffee, and many more, all of which can be mixed with your favorite mouth-watering toppings - it is a real crowd-pleaser. Alternately you can indulge in their deliciously refreshing low-calorie frozen yogurt.

Holly Brown, GF, 22 Stanley Street, Hong Kong, http://www.hollybrowncoffee.com.

HAPPY COW: Hong Kong Local Ice Cream *Vegan Ice Cream!

Homegrown Hong Kong ice cream makers Happy Cow have opened their first store in Hong Kong University's Student Union Building. Thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, the dairy-free hand-crafted ice cream manufacturer offers a full range of flavors in their shop, from banana and caramel swirl to chai tea, red bean to ring yang sesame, and green tea to mint chocolate chip. In addition, they use all organic and plant-based ingredients - it's a vegan ice cream favorite.  Be sure to also check out their location by the Ferris wheel in Central!

Happy Cow, Various Locations, www.happycowhk.com

YO MAMA FROZEN YOGURT: Froyo In Hong Kong

At Yo Mama Frozen Yogurt, start with a super healthy, tart plain frozen yogurt (or one of the other handful of flavors), and then get to work on toppings! There are tons of toppings that will appeal to every kid and grownup in your crew, from Mango Mochi and Red Bean to Homemade Mini Macarons and Brownie Chunks. Pick from their three locations around town, and enjoy!

Yo Mama Frozen Yogurt, www.facebook.com/YoMamahk. Locations include IFC Mall In Central, Windsor House in Causeway Bay and Taikoo Shing.

GINO'S GELATO: Gelato In Stanley And The Peak

In hot or cold weather, there’s always room for Gino's creamy gelato. They've got two cute standalone shops - in Stanley (right by the stage) and at The Peak (at the entrance of the Peak Tram). Choose from over a dozen tempting flavors and pile on a couple of scoops in one of their freshly made waffle cones. Gino’s Gelato sticks by traditional Italian recipes; it’s made fresh and delivered every day. Even Fido can enjoy a doggie gelato!

Gino’s Gelato Stanley, Shop 5, G/F, Stanley Plaza, Stanley, Hong Kong, +852 2899 0314

Gino's Gelato The Peak, G/F, G18, Level G, The Peak Tower, The Peak, Hong Kong, +852 2849 8314

MILK TOP: Hokkaido Ice Cream In Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Originating from Hokkaido in Japan, renowned for its smooth and creamy dairy products, Milk Top has seven locations around town. The main location is in Sogo's basement... treat li'l shoppers before it's time to go home! Slurp on unique flavors such as Sesame (a classic Japanese fave), Cream Cheese, Red Wine (yes, really!), and all the usual suspects like vanilla and chocolate. It's worth trying for the novelty factor alone!

Milk Top, Shop 7A1, B2/F, Sogo, 555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, +852 2831-4809, www.milktop.com.hk. Click here for more locations!

I SEE I SEE: Amazing Popsicles In Hong Kong

They create unique ice pops and snowflakes. Their ice pops have fresh fruit in them, which not only makes them very tasty but pretty to look at, too. Their rose and longans is just for moms while their Cinnamon Fuji is perfect for little ones who like apple pie! As well as having outlets all over the island, they are also stocked at the American Club.

I See I See, Shop 1, Haven Court, 138 Leighton Road, Hong Kong, +852 2337 3361, www.facebook.com/iseeiseehk/

ICREMERIA: Japanese Soft Serve ice Cream In Hong Kong

iCremeria is another place that offers Japanese soft serve, but one that turns this omnipresent, everyday snack into a luxurious dessert fit for royalty. iCremeria’s secret lies in combining seasonal Japanese fruit and other ingredients (like sweet potato, lavender, sesame) with their signature Hokkaido Milk Classico Crema into divinely soft creams and parfaits with premium toppings. Their current seasonal specials include Peach and Tiramisu Parfaits, but the signature Melon Parfait served in a halved honeydew melon steals the show on all counts.

iCremeria, various locations, +852 2897 1118, www.facebook.com/iCremeria