Temperatures are soaring, school holidays are in full swing, and we are all looking for inspiration to treat and entertain the littles… What to do, Mamas? Why not pile into the car to hunt for some some icy treats? From sky-high Knickerbocker Glories, to Indian-style Kulfi on sticks, to frozen yoghurt for a healthier treat, we’ve rounded up the places in Dubai to treat the kids this summer (and ourselves too, of course)…
Thought that ice cream was all about grabbing a tub from a freezer, mamas? Prepare to be enlightened, as Atomic Ice Cream Lab at The Dubai Mall is more of a science lab than an ice cream parlour! Little eyes will shoot open in disbelief as a puff of liquid nitrogen shoots into the air to create a bowl of ice cream in a matter of seconds! There’s no sacrifice on flavour either, with concoctions including Salted Caramel Popcorn and Chocolate Cherry Coconut, alongside classics like Vanilla and Strawberry – and with each portion made to order, you can guarantee freshness too!
Level 2, The Dubai Mall. www.atomicicecream.com
If you’re dining with the family at Bread Street Kitchen at Atlantis, the kids will be delighted when it’s time for dessert, as Gordon Ramsey’s much-lauded restaurant comes with a frozen yoghurt bar, complete with a plentitude of different toppings to finish the meal with a smile. It’s not the cheapest place to dine, granted – so the fact that toppings are unlimited will put a smile your faces too, mamas!
Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah. https://www.atlantisthepalm.com/restaurants/bread-street-kitchen
Fun is the name of the game at branches of Cold Stone Creamery across Dubai, where you can pick flavours and toppings, watch staff chop them together on a cold stone, and then witness your chosen dessert between thrown across the room by staff into pots with amazing skill (watch out though mamas, as we’ve seen them miss a few times!) Choose from plain flavours or ready-designed creations, all at affordable prices to keep costs down this summer.
Branches across Dubai. www.coldstone.ae
Locations don’t get much better than Desert Island, just a few strides away from the golden sand of Kite Beach – and with a menu of child-sized sundaes (alongside larger ones for the big kids amongst us), affordable soft scoop cones, pots of frozen yoghurt, and gelato shakes with creamy toppings, there is no shortage of choice either. We can’t wait until the winter months to make the most of this one!
Kite Beach, Umm Suqeim 1
Thought that gelato was simply posh ice cream? Think again, mamas! Dri Dri is a modern gelato parlour, with two locations at The Beach JBR and Box Park, is very keen to point out the differences in the two desserts. Apparently normal ice cream is made mostly with air, whilst traditional gelato ensures there is no air added in the process – simply a little cream, glugs of milk, and yummy ingredients to create the different flavours (and there are a lot!). The result is smoother, creamier and tastier – and with Dri Dri gelato made fresh in-house with no artificial flavours, colours, or emulsifiers, it feels better treating the littles too!
Box Park and The Beach at JBR. www.dridrigelato.com
If your childhood memories include sky-high Knickerbocker Glories, Banana Splits, and Chocolate Sundaes, Fortnum & Mason is the place to head. Your kids will be smiling ear to ear (not to mention the hubby) – but if you prefer your ice cream in single servings, you can take your pick from an array of different flavours in the creamiest textures and most decadent flavours. And did we mention the simply stunning views over Burj Khalifa? Head over in the morning and you are likely to have the place to yourself to admire the views as the fam delves in.
The Parlour, Fortnum & Mason, next to The Dubai Mall, Downtown. www.fortnumandmason.com/stores/dubai
If the kiddos are ice cream addicts, why not steer them towards a healthier treat for their next icy fix? Fruteiro do Brasil, located alongside the sand at The Beach at JBR, sells a tempting array of frozen fruit sorbets on sticks. Made entirely from fruit pulp hand-made in house, you can be sure they are enjoying nothing but nature’s goodness – but they’ll have no idea as they lick away to their heart’s content. Just make sure you take some baby wipes mamas, as these can get messy as they melt!
Fruteiro do Brasil, alongside The Hilton, The Beach. www.fruteiro.com/juice-bar-fruteiro/dubai
Probably best saved for older kids or date nights with the hubby (unless you fancy the resulting sugar rush when feeding your tots!) Fume’s incredible Monster Shakes truly have to be seen to be believed. The giant frozen milkshakes are topped with full-on desserts – from strawberries and ice cream, to popping cereal, to a chocolate filled ‘bro-nut’. It’s the ultimate frozen dessert – and they are so big, you may want to skip the mains!
Pier 7 and Manzil Downtown. www.fume-eatery.com
Newly opened at Box Park and Mall of the Emirates, GROM is a gelato parlour that specialises in interesting flavours, with plenty of toppings to jazz up your cone or cup (we love the sound of the tiramisu and mandarin!) Better still, the company only uses natural ingredients, without emulsifiers, colours or flavourings, so you can enjoy that second scoop guilt-free! We’ll meet you in the queue, mamas!
Box Park and Mall of the Emirates. www.grom.it/en
We know it’s not the most glamorous location for tucking into your ice cream, but for a pit stop on a strict budget, you can’t beat IKEA. The surprisingly tasty soft-whip cones are just 1 AED each, meaning you can treat the entire family for less than it costs for a takeaway coffee.
Festival City. www.ikea.com/ms/en_AE
Whether you are a big fan of Kulfi or this is your first taste, you won’t regret taking the kiddies to Kulfilicious for a sweet treat. Essentially the Indian version of ice cream, Kulfi is made from caramelised milk that is slowly simmered to gain a sweet and nutty taste. You just need to decide whether to enjoy it in a bowl, with a side portion of fruit, or on a stick. Either way, you will leave licking your lips for more, Mamas – and if you live in Al Nadha or Karama, you can even phone up for deliveries when you are craving something sweet!
Blue Building 3, Al Nahda 2, +971 4 255 8996
There’s only one flavour of ice cream available at this Marina haunt – but don’t let that put you off a visit mamas, as this place is in a league of its own. The super soft scoop vanilla ice cream at Milkcow can be enjoyed alone, with toppings, or by choosing one of the company’s imaginative and delicious creations. Everything from giant candy floss toppings, to slabs of 100% honeycomb is available to add interest to your pot. Coffee lovers will also be catered for, with seriously good brews and blends – and with a branch of Cheeky Monkeys right above it, that could be a whole day of entertainment covered for the littles!
Trident Grand, Dubai Marina. www.milkcow.ae
The recipe for the deliciously smooth and moreish gelato from Morelli’s is a family secret that dates back to 1907, when founder Giuseppe Morelli launched his business in the UK. The kids won’t believe their eyes when they clock the display of different flavours, with everything from traditional vanilla, to flavour-packed concoctions including coconut, lime, and coffee. Heartier appetites can tuck a choice of 25 different sundaes, complete with toppings for the ultimate gelato experience. Pass us a spoon Mamas, we’re digging in!
Morelli’s Gelato, The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and The Beach at JBR www.morellisgelato.com
Sssshhh, don’t tell the kids that this is frozen yoghurt and they’ll never know! The soft, moreish frozen yoghurt at Pinkberry will definitely fool them – and with plenty of healthy toppings too, it really can be a guilt-free treat (we recommend piling on the blueberries). Flavours of yoghurt include original, chocolate, mango, coconut and green tea.
Branches across Dubai. www.pinkberry.com
We already love Reform for its giant food portions, outdoor play area (during the cooler months) and summer tent (while the thermometer is peaking) – and the fact that it has a mini ice cream parlour on site is another big pull for the kiddos. Pick your flavour (there are lots to choose from), add your toppings, and enjoy – it’s as simple as that!
Reform, The Lakes. www.reformsocialgrill.ae
If you’ve strolled the streets of New York City in your past, you may already be a fan of the iconic eatery Serendipity, which has been serving New Yorkers for over 60 years. Now open in Dubai in both City Walk and Festival City, it is definitely the place to head if you want an icy treat this summer – from the company’s famous frozen hot chocolate, to frozen yoghurt in a choice of mouth watering flavours, to towering sundaes that will fill the hungriest tummies, to milkshakes with endless colourful toppings. Put simply, this place is dessert lover’s dream!
Serendipity 3, City Walk and Festival City. http://www.citywalk.ae/dine/serendipity3
Featured image via Pinterest
