The best ice cream and dessert spots in Southampton

Southampton is quietly one of the best places in the south for a proper dessert, and a recent guide from Hello Southampton, updated in July, maps out eight spots worth knowing. Whether you want a proper sit-down with waffles and sundaes or a quick cone by the water, there is something here for every budget.

At the more indulgent end, Heavenly Desserts on the High Street is an Italian artisan gelato shop that leans hard into the 'dessert parlour' side of things, with waffles, croffles, chocolate fondue and luxury plates alongside the gelato. It is the priciest on the list, running £8 to £18 a head, and the Madagascar Vanilla Gelato is the one to order. If you are after something lighter on the wallet, Scooperb on Spring Road makes its artisan gelato entirely egg-free, with natural ingredients and a strong vegan range that has earned it a reputation as one of the best vegetarian and vegan ice cream spots in the country. The Alphonso Mango Sorbet is the standout there, and it sits comfortably in the £4 to £10 range.

Sprinkles Gelato is the most established name of the lot, founded here in 2012 by three brothers. The Above Bar parlour is the busier of its two Southampton sites, with a huge menu of Italian gelato, sundaes, waffles and crepes, and a Hot Fudge Cookie Dough Sundae that gets a lot of love. It is mid-range, roughly £5 to £15, and runs a couple of nice discounts: 10% off for students every day and another 10% for over-65s at the Above Bar and Portswood stores. The Portswood branch is the quieter, more family-friendly sibling, where the Banana Split Sundae is the one to go for.

For something a bit more local, Fredericks Chocolates in The Marlands Shopping Centre is an award-winning chocolate shop and cafe that makes its own milk, dark and white chocolates alongside artisan gelato and Belgian hot chocolate. The Belgian Chocolate Gelato is the obvious choice here, and it is an affordable family cafe, landing in the £4 to £12 bracket. Over in Portswood, Scoops Gelato makes its Italian gelato and sorbets fresh on site every day and has built a name on generous portions and late hours, with an Oreo Bubble Waffle as its best-known treat. It is open from 7am right through to midnight, which is handy if your craving hits at an odd hour.

If you are out in Shirley, Curly Bites does soft-serve, loaded sundaes and milkshakes alongside a street food menu, with the Biscoff Ice Cream Sundae and Kinder Bueno milkshakes leading the way. And for the most low-key option of all, the Mr Whippy van over at Mayflower Park lets you grab a classic 99 Flake or an ice lolly with a view across Southampton Water, and it is the cheapest of the bunch at £3 to £6. Throw in a mention of Creams Cafe for another dessert and vegan option, and that is a fair chunk of the city's sweet side covered.