Amaltery

88/6 Camp Davis, Sukhumvit Soi 24, 01-849-4405. Open Mon-Sat noon-11pm.
Price: B60 for one scoop, B110 for two.

The Selection: Over 30 flavors of alcohol infused ice cream and sorbets that rotate daily. These frozen cocktails contain about 5% alcohol—not enough to make you tipsy but enough to make you smile. If you’re underage or not into the spirit of things then opt for the ever-ready malt flavored ice cream—the only non-alcoholic ice cream available. Popular flavors include ATV (almond, toffee, vodka) and Sex on the Beach (vodka, peach schnapps). A real drink list with cocktail menu and imported beers is also available.

The Service: Cool, calm and laidback, which makes sense in this small space.

The Setting: Small, sleek and chic—it looks more like a bar or hip café than an ice cream shop. On your left, find a concrete cubist relief on the wall, which is lined with a sofa and plush pillows. In the back, rows of liquor line the shelves as if to remind you of their ice cream’s distinctive characteristic.

The Verdict: Two words: yummy and ingenious! We can’t think of anything better to have on a hot summer day than these icy, alcoholic treats. We dare say this innovative approach to serving a drink is almost as fun as having the real deal, the only catch is that there is too little alcohol—but that’s what the cocktail menu is for!

Buono Gelatorante

145 Thonglor Soi 10, 02-392-4675/-6. Open daily 9am-midnight. www.buonogelato.com
Price: B45 for one scoop, B85 for two.

The Selection: They specialize in gelato—an Italian style treat that is lower in fat than regular ice cream with a lighter, smoother consistency and served semi-frozen. They have about 40 flavors that rotate on a daily basis throughout their branches, 10 flavors at a time. Popular flavors include brownie milk, stracciatella, mascarpone, tiramisu and Belgian chocolate. Also have sorbets and sherbets like roselle, santol and limoncello.

The Service: Service is friendly and amiable. Waiters are knowledgeable about the menu and can give good recommendations if you’re having a hard time deciding what you want.

The Setting: Equal parts gelatoria and ristorante (thus a gelatorante), the venue is comfortable and pleasant thanks to the converted house it is set in. Windows give diners a glimpse of the green garden outside. The interior is stylish but not over-sophisticated or stuffy.

The Verdict: Homemade ice cream that is professionally done. The gelato has an even texture and appearance and a wholesome, authentic flavor where the all-natural ingredients really shine. Some of the best ice cream in Bangkok.

Ete

1/F, Penny’s Balcony, Thong Lor Soi 16, 02-714-9813. Open Sun-Thu 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-1am. www.etedairy.com
Price: B40 for one scoop, B75 for two.


The Selection: Ete features 40 flavors of ice cream all made with fresh milk from their own farm in Nakon Ratchasima. They feature both traditional and local flavors. Popular flavors include cookies and cream, Nutella, kiwi strawberry and durian. Ete is like the Swensen’s of the homemade ice cream movement, regularly featuring promotional sets, flavors of the month, and daring seasonal flavors (ma muang nam plaa wan, anyone?). They distribute their own retail packaged ice cream (B90/400g) to supermarkets like Foodland and The Mall.

The Service: Service with a smile that is friendly and a tad aggressive in that promotion-pushing sort of way.

The Setting: Ete’s first standalone screams “internet café” but without any computers. The interior sports really bad décor with a loud pseudo-retro pattern on the walls colliding head-on with generic abstract paintings. Better to get a seat by the window and enjoy the view, or just get it to go.

The Verdict: The ice cream here is definitely denser and harder than other places we’ve tried, which some may like depending on preference. We prefer their creamier flavors as opposed to their fruitier ones.

Hay Café

1/F, Siam Paragon, 911/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-7561. Open daily 10am-10pm.
Price: B45 for one scoop, B90 for two.

The Selection: Italian homemade style with 50 flavors of sorbet, frozen yogurt and milky ice cream, 22 of which are found in the daily ice cream case. Flavors include green apple, blueberry yogurt, coffee caramel, cookie and cream, and chocolate banana. Each scoop is huge. Hay’s ice cream flavors, whether fruity or milky, are nicely done with a smooth, soft, rich taste.

The Service: Cold and not really well trained. Be prepared for dirty looks when you want to try a number of flavors. That’s not to say they are all bad, but if you’re lucky enough to find a nice one, try to stick with him or her.

The Setting: The new branch at Siam Paragon is small but sweet with feminine looking pastel colors and flowery wallpaper. Despite limited space, transparent partitions help keep it comfortable and promote window-shopping while taking an ice cream break.  

The Verdict: Hay Café is an ice cream heaven that we love to revisit often. Aside from the service and small selection of toppings, its flavors are rich and their big scoops score big with us. The central location is convenient, as well.

IBerry (Mousse and Berries)

J Avenue, Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-6054. Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. www.iberryhomemade.com
Price: B40 for one scoop, B70 for two.

The Selection: Iberry was one of the first to jump start the homemade ice cream craze by making local flavors to suit Thai tongues. They feature over 100 flavors but are most popular for the local fruit flavors they introduced like madun, tamarind, santol, gooseberry and lychee. Popular fruit flavors at this branch include the two-timing blueberry mango and gooseberry; for creamy flavors, macadamia and Nutella are top picks.

The Service: Prompt, friendly and professional, even for such a busy branch.

The Setting: The shop is circular and glass encased with a refreshingly white interior and touches of leaf green and soft yellow. Marble table tops, wicker chairs, tree branches and bird cages—all in white—strangely give you a feel for summer and gardens without there being any trees, flowers or birds.

The Verdict: We like them for their overall image and their variety of unique flavors—especially their selection of fruit flavors that is extensive and definitely earns them points for creativity. The fruit flavors have the upper hand for this brand and are what you should really come here for.

Ice Connection

Verasu, 4/F, Verasu building, Wireless Rd., 02-254-8101-8 ext 4100. Open daily 9am-7pm.
Price: B35 for one scoop, B69 for two.

The Selection: Ice Connection comes with a selection of healthy ice cream flavors that match your blood type. People with blood types B and AB can eat ice cream made from cow’s milk, but this kind of milk isn’t suitable for people who have type O and A. Instead they should consume ice cream made from soymilk. Their cones are also made from flour imported from the US called spelt, which is a healthy wheat.

The Service: Pretty waitresses are well trained, friendly and helpful.

The Setting: Located at a corner of the Verasu building’s fourth floor, Ice Connection has pretty good views from glass windows. The ambience is quiet as there are not many people passing by.    

The Verdict: Having ice cream that matches your blood type is a unique experience, but if you aren’t a health freak, you probably won’t go out of your way to make it to the Verasu building. Because of the low sugar andmilk content, every flavor is  light. Don’t expect any creamy, rich desserts here.

Spice Story
G/F, Siam Paragon, 911/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-7561. Open daily 10am-10pm.
Price: B50 for one scoop, B100 for two

The Selection: This stylish shop doesn’t focus on ice cream exclusively, but as its name suggests, stocks spice-infused ice cream to lure in passing shoppers. Its creative selections are limited to just seven flavors—chili, pepper magic, orange charm, morning glory, lemongrass, cinnamon and green tea poppy seed. No toppings or fancy stuff.

The Service: Friendly and helpful. Though people always dip in to taste these unusual selections—especially chili and pepper flavors—the staff always smile and are willing to give customers a try.  

The Setting: With shocking pink color, this modern Chinese shop is adorable. The inside may be too small to sit down at and chill for long, but the tables right out front are lovely.

The Verdict: Great creativity, but chilli and pepper flavors are too hot!  They increase the temperature in our bodies instead of cooling us down like other ice creams do. New flavors like wasabi or kaeng khiaw waan may come soon so check back in the future. 

Tuscanini
229 Thonglor Soi 11. 02-391-3164. Open Sun-Thur 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm.
Price: B39 for one scoop, B69 for two

The Selection: Boston-style homemade ice cream with about 100 daily rotating flavors. Its sorbet types are adequate while their milky ice creams are excellent—rich and not too sweet. Fancy ice creams are displayed on the board menu, including waffle ice cream (B125) and taco ice cream (B125). Toppings are similar to other places. Its whipped cream is light and smooth. Outstanding flavors are kahlua, white chocolate, ginger, cookies and cream, and blueberry.

The Service: Perfectly helpful and informative. The staff greet you with big smiles. If you don’t know what to order, they recommend new and popular flavors. Also, they encourage trying unfamiliar flavors and are endlessly patient.

The Setting: The first branch at Thong Lor is quite old, but still cozy. Soft, big orange sofas are great for laying back or even to take a short nap; especially the one inside the shop. The board menu is helpful, presenting the customer with mouthwatering ice cream pictures.

The Verdict: Two thumbs up for fantastic service. Super friendly staff creates a pleasant ambience at the shop. Beside service, smooth, rich, milky ice cream, with crispy waffle cones and comfy sofas are other criteria that draw us back again and again.