The Best Ice Cream and Dessert Parlours in Durham

Whether it is a scoop to carry along the river on a summer afternoon or a towering sundae to round off a night out, Durham has the sweet stuff covered. The city's ice cream and dessert parlours range from a retro American-style diner over Elvet Bridge to the bright, buzzy dessert bars down at the Riverwalk. Here is where to go for the best ice cream and desserts in Durham.

Split & Glory, Elvet Bridge

Split & Glory is an American-style ice cream parlour and milkshake bar on the top floor above Chapters Tea Rooms on Elvet Bridge, right in the heart of the old city over the river. The retro fit-out, with a jukebox, black-and-white tiles and red leather booths, makes it a fun place to linger over gelato, towering sundaes, milkshakes and other sweet concoctions.

The central Elvet Bridge spot is a couple of minutes from the Market Place and the riverside walks, so it is a natural reward at the end of a wander round town. Opening hours can be shorter in winter, so it is worth checking ahead.

Best for: Best for a proper ice cream sundae in a fun, retro setting.

YuMe Desserts Parlour, The Riverwalk

YuMe Desserts Parlour sits within YuMe World in the Riverwalk, a lively riverside entertainment complex, and brings a bright, neon-lit dessert menu to the centre of the city. There is gelato in flavours from vegan vanilla and strawberry fudge brownie to Kinder Bueno, plus mango sorbet, loaded soft-serve tubs, waffles, sundaes and milkshakes.

The setting, with games and activities alongside, makes it a natural stop for families and groups after the cinema or the shops. It stays open late into the evening, so it works for pudding after dinner as well as an afternoon treat.

Best for: Best for a loaded gelato or sundae with plenty going on.

Kaspa's Desserts, The Riverwalk

Kaspa's Desserts is the Durham branch of the national dessert-parlour chain, a short walk from YuMe in the Riverwalk. The menu is a full spread of indulgent puddings, from sundaes and waffles to crepes, cookie dough, ice cream and thick milkshakes, in the bright, buzzy style the chain is known for.

With long evening hours and a central riverside location near the cinema, it is an easy choice for pudding after a meal out or a treat during the day. It is popular with younger diners, so expect it to be busy at weekends and in the school holidays.

Best for: Best for a big, indulgent dessert with friends.

Where to go for a scoop

Durham's sweet spots each have their own flavour: Split & Glory for a retro ice cream parlour experience over the river, and YuMe and Kaspa's for the bright, loaded dessert menus down at the Riverwalk. All three are central and family-friendly, and the Riverwalk pair keep late hours if the craving strikes after dinner.

Know a Durham ice cream or dessert spot we should add? Get in touch and we will take a look.