North London Food & Culture

Ruby Violet

Top 5: Ice creams

It's set to be another scorching weekend. So where should you cool down in the shade - and with a chilli chocolate, or a killer vanilla?


The best ice cream parlour in the capital? Photograph: Stephen Emms
The best ice cream parlour in the capital? Photograph: Stephen Emms

1. Ruby Violet, Fortess Road

With stylish décor and locally sourced ingredients, Ruby V is K-Town’s ice cream queen. We love the seriously spicy chilli chocolate (with fresh chilli from KERB street food regular Ribman), uber-refreshing Highgate-grown rhubarb and verjuice, or – catch it while you can – seasonal blood orange and Campari.

2. Chin Chin Labs, Camden Lock Market

It’s difficult to top the sense of theatre when a liquid nitrogen cloud erupts, revealing your own customised ice-creation. Choose from killer vanilla or chocolate bases, plus unusual specials, then stand back and watch as the overalled lab staff insta-freeze the lot.

Amazing creations: Chin Chin Labs
Amazing creations: Chin Chin Labs


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3. Gelato Mio, St Pancras Station

With the sudden closure of their Belsize branch, fans of gourmet gelato luckily need only hop down to KX for their fix. Far superior to much of what passes as the real stuff across Italy, they do a lip-smackin’ Stracciatella.

4. Marine Ices, Chalk Farm Road

Thankfully the controversial restaurant sale hasn’t affected the classic (bordering on retro) ice creams, which remain just as they always were, despite production now taking place – shhhh! – in Suffolk. We’re suckers for the hazelnut. And the pistachio is the biz too.

5. Parliament Hill Café, Hampstead Heath

If sometimes only the guilty, creamy pleasure of a machine-pumped 99/Mr Whippy will do, then this Italian-run park facility is the prime spot for it. Make sure you grab one of the sunny tables out front and people-watch, especially when the Saturday farmers’ market is on.


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