Scoop and Chill

As a coffee lover, I’ve explored several cafes in Toronto, not necessarily for the better tasted coffee but for interior design (My favourite is the Odin Café). However, as an ice cream enthusiast too I wondered, why not ice cream stores? I enjoy ice creams throughout all seasons, but since heat wave’s been hitting Toronto lately, I had more reasons to flee myself to ice cream parlours. Is this blog about ice creams you ask? You will find out.

I believe good design inspires people daily, and it applies to interior design too whether it’s a restaurant, gallery or, of course, ice cream parlour! I’ve been to some well-designed ice cream parlours in Toronto and I’d like to share three of my favourites that have unique interior design and, obviously, mind-blowing ice creams.

Dutch Dreams
Major intersections: St Clair Ave and Bathurst St


As soon as you enter the shop, you would be amazed by its decorations: Copper kitchenware and cooking accessories hanging on the ceiling along with inflatable chocolate ice cream balloons. The carrot-orange wall with pie-shaped ceramic decorations adds warmth and coziness to the interior, which also possibly represents the prominent colour and food of Netherlands. Aside from soft serve, a variety of Dutch style desserts are offered such as Dutch pancake, banana split and sundae.

Seven Lives Paleteria
Major intersections: Baldwin St and Kensington Ave

Seven Lives Paleteria offers a wide range of ice cream from standard soft serve and popsicles (aka paletas) to Mexican local style horchata. The colourful interior with summertime vibe is augmented by two contrasting pastel blue and hot pink walls, which also reminds me of a classic piece of Mexican architecture Cuadra San Cristobal by Luis Barragan. The bright colours create an inviting and pleasant atmosphere that allows customers to stay and chitchat over ice creams.

Cuadra San Cristobal by Luis Barragan / Architravel

Tsujiri
Major intersections: Dundas St and Bay St

Tsujiri offers various options of Japanese matcha-based desserts from macarons and profiterole to matcha soft serve. Its warm birchwood details along with a small tatami (a traditional Japanese straw mat floor/seating space) accentuates Japanese architectural aesthetics of materiality and simplicity. The only disappointment was struck from limited seating space due to the small parlour size, but then, that’s what Japanese architecture specialises in: making every inch of space count.

Above are the three ice creams I had from the shops mentioned (Rum & Raisin with Cotton candy sprinkled cone, Lime Paleta, and Tsujiri Sundae respectively). Although I’ve only visited three places for this blog, I learned how distinctive and cultural each ice cream parlour can be if you observe its architectural and interior design. If you know any other unique ice cream shop, I’d like to hear from you and try out!