The best ice cream parlors in Vienna according to our community: From sugar-free hidden gems to classics

If you’re watching your blood sugar, you don’t have to skip the ice cream parlor in Vienna. Zuckero bakes and mixes in Albertgasse (Josefstadt) and Breitenfurter Straße (Meidling) completely without refined sugar. Instead, birch sugar goes into the scoop. The family-run business shines with small, cozy outdoor seating areas where you can relax and sample your way through the flavors. Almost the entire menu is vegan and gluten-free. Prices are a bit above the Viennese average, but in return you get artisanal treats that won’t send you straight into a food coma after just two servings.

Good ice cream doesn’t have to cost a fortune in Vienna. The Perugini ice cream parlor on Brünner Straße has been proving since 1998 that a fair price-performance ratio and genuine quality go hand in hand. Brothers Stefano and Marco Perugini have built an Italian institution here in the 21st district. Your community raves about the shop for its massive portions —one scoop here feels like two normal ones. The best way to get your ice cream is to grab it from the street stall and stroll toward the Wasserpark, or snag one of the few seats in the compact, street-side outdoor seating area.

Can’t make creamy ice cream with oat or soy milk? Sisters Cecilia and Susanna Havmöller proved otherwise in 2013 with the very first Veganista branch on Neustiftgasse. There are now several locations throughout Vienna. No animal products end up in the cup here—just a ton of flavor. The flavors change daily—from matcha to basil to Black Forest cherry. Sustainability is a top priority: the spoons and cups are completely biodegradable. The shops often have only a few seats, so it’s best to enjoy the ice cream while strolling through the district.

When you talk about ice cream in Vienna, you inevitably end up at Reumannplatz. Kurt Tichy opened this parlor in 1952, and the retro flair of the 1950s still radiates from every pastel-colored corner today. The outdoor seating area on the square is huge, yet still packed on sunny weekends. In addition to the standard flavors, most people make the pilgrimage to Favoriten for an invention from 1967: the apricot ice cream dumplings. Vanilla ice cream with a core of apricot pulp in the middle, rolled in a thick coating of toasted nut crumbs. Pretty hearty, absolutely amazing, and reasonably priced.

It doesn’t get much more central than this. The Molin-Pradel family has been running this shop since 1886 and brought the Venetian ice cream tradition right to the Danube Canal. The selection is almost overwhelming—the team juggles dozens of flavors daily in the large display case. The outdoor seating area is right on the busy street, but that’s exactly why it has this urban big-city vibe. The lines at the takeout counter often stretch all the way to the subway station, but the staff scoop the ice cream into the cones at breakneck speed.

Anyone out and about in Ottakring will sooner or later stroll past Mauss on Thaliastraße. Since 1969, the Mauss family has been serving up cool gelato here in the 16th district. Instead of wild flavor experiments, they rely on traditional recipes and genuine craftsmanship. The classic outdoor seating area with its typical Viennese metal chairs is the perfect place to unwind a bit after a long day at work. Prices here remain fair and down-to-earth. The hazelnut and pistachio ice creams, in particular, have long since achieved cult status in the neighborhood.

A summer day in Vienna without the Old Danube is possible, but pointless—and the same goes for Trento in Kaisermühlen. Founded in 1978 by the Pelanda family on Schüttauplatz, Trento serves classic Italian gelato. The spacious terrace exudes genuine 1970s charm and invites you to linger with plenty of room to sit. In addition to the ice cream cones for the walk home, the massive sundaes are particularly popular here. The perfect spot to wind down a day at the Gänsehäufel in complete relaxation.