The choc ice is a design classic. Unlike the humble lolly, with its high-risk, stick-based engineering, here the hard chocolate shell stops ice cream melting off. Get your chocs off with high-end coatings that make a satisfying crack.
Ruby Violet’s Gelollies
Ruby Violet is named after its founder Julie Fisher’s maternal grandmother, who loved a choc ice. This is a fitting tribute — ice cream made in Tufnell Park coated in Belgian chocolate or salted caramel and almond nut brittle.
Info: Tufnell Park and King’s Cross, rubyviolet.co.uk
Pierre Marcolini’s Summer of Dreams
Make your own ice cream and ensure it’s exactly to your tastes at chocolatier Pierre Marcolini’s DIY station. Choose from classic milk chocolate and almond or go for a grown-up coconut, dark chocolate and cocoa nib or white chocolate with toasted sesame. There’s also smoked dark chocolate.
Info: From June 1, 37 Marylebone High Street, W1, uk.marcolini.com
Snowflake’s Cannoli
An Italian take on the choc ice. Gelato is wrapped up in a cone of chocolate with added nuts and chocolate chips.
Info: Across London, snowflakegelato.co.uk
Must-try ice creams - in pictures
Gelateria 3Bis
Lollies that look like expressionist works of art. Typical creations include pistachio ice cream coated in dark chocolate and decorated with white ganache in a nod to Jackson Pollock.
Info: 4 Park Street, SE1, gelateria3bis.co.uk
Chin Chin Labs
Ice cream is frozen to order, with clouds of liquid nitrogen-generated steam, which makes it impressively smooth. Make your own by pouring hot sauce on and watching it form a sweet shell.
Info: 49-50 Camden Lock Place, NW1, chinchinlabs.com
