How to Pick a Gelato Stop in George Town: Italian Classics, Soft Serve and Local-Fruit Sorbets Compared

The Italian Classicists

If you want dense, silky gelato in the traditional sense, two names come up again and again. Mojo Ice Creams Gelato & Cafe on Jalan Sungai Ujong is described by many locals as their first answer for gelato in George Town, churning house-made classics like dark chocolate and pistachio alongside gula melaka and sea salt, and doubling as a cafe with coffee and waffles — tastings are offered before you buy. Ciao Gelato Penang on Lebuh Victoria works in the Italian small-batch style with a silky texture, rotating chocolate, pistachio and fruit sorbets, and its late hours make it dependable for a post-dinner scoop. Project Gelato on Lebuh Chulia appeals to purists who want intensely flavoured scoops, including deep chocolate, though hours shift and it closes on Wednesdays.

Real-Fruit Sorbets and Local Flavours

For something brighter and more Penang, Mimiya (by Fruitmade) on Lebuh Cannon near the street art builds its ice cream around real fruit rather than syrups — fresh mango and durian are the signatures, with actual fruit chunks on top. It's a natural pit stop on the heritage trail, though it gets busy at peak hours. If your taste leans local, note that durian, gula melaka, sea salt, teh tarik and tropical fruit sorbets now sit comfortably beside pistachio and stracciatella across the George Town scene.

Soft Serve and the Adventurous Batches

Ludwig Softserve on Lebuh Armenian does things differently: light, airy soft serve with rotating flavours from clean Hokkaido milk to matcha, black sesame and local fruit — quick and affordable on cones or cups. On the experimental end, Hema Hema Ice Cream on Lebuh Campbell churns adventurous small batches that change often, but it only opens Thursday to Sunday, giving it a catch-it-while-you-can cult appeal. Shin Shin Gelato on Love Lane mixes creamy classics with lighter fruit options and stays open until late for the after-dark crowd.

Sit-Down and Neighbourhood Options

A few shops suit a longer pause. The Ais & Hani, also on Lebuh Campbell, pairs house-made ice cream with a proper coffee menu in a cosy corner shop — good for groups wanting both dessert and caffeine. Further out, Frozen Love Ice Cream in Kampong Malabar is a handcrafted neighbourhood shop with classics and local specials, keeping late Friday and Saturday hours for after-supper visits, while Glace Artisans on Beach Street offers a dressier presentation with weekend late hours.

Practical Advice for a Gelato Crawl

• Budget roughly RM9–RM16 for a single scoop at most George Town artisan shops, with double scoops and premium flavours like durian at the higher end.
• George Town's walkability makes a crawl easy — two or three stops fit into a single afternoon. A common tip is mixing one local flavour with one classic.
• Check hours before you go: Project Gelato, Frozen Love and The Ais & Hani all close one midweek day, and Hema Hema is weekends-only.
• Halal certification varies by shop, so confirm directly if it matters to you.

One more selection tip: ask for a taste before committing. Several shops offer samples, and with rotating menus that change often, yesterday's best flavour may not be today's.

Visual note: this AI-generated illustration is not a photograph from a visit to the listed venues.

Sources

• Top 10 Gelato in Penang 2026 - My Weekend Plan.