Best Gelato in North Downs

"One of the best ice cream parlours in Manchester, Ginger's Comfort Emporium is a Northern Quarter favourite handing out dairy and vegan scoops all year round. With specials including Campari and coconut, Eccles cake and Chorlton Crack (peanut butter and salted caramel), these frozen spoonfuls are always at their best when served in sandwich form. We all scream for these quirky ice cream sandwiches."

"Usually found in an ice cream van during Town Hall’s festival season, Ginger’s now own a diner on the first floor in Affleck’s Palace. Known for their extremely popular ‘Chorlton Crack’, a lush salted caramel and peanut butter combo, Ginger’s wild and wonderful flavours can be obtained at the diner in a toasted brioche, affogato style or in a milkshake. Affleck’s, First Floor, 52 Church St, M4 1PW"

"You’ve probably seen the chic and trendy “ice cream van for the grown-ups. This dessert wagon is mainly to be found after dark, when the children are safe in bed, roaming the streets of south Manchester.”. And now luckily for us they have a permanent residence in the Northern Quarter, on the first floor Afflecks Palace."

"Formerly known as William Sicilian, Sicilian NQ is the first and only true Sicilian restaurant in Manchester – offering up hearty, traditional dishes that aim to encapsulate the culture of Sicily. Think Sicilian wines and beers, antipasti, pasta, cannoli and even lovely traditional Italian desserts that go down extremely well with a good old cup of coffee. Sicilian NQ, 14 Turner St, M4 1DZ."

"Formerly known as William Sicilian Street Food, this authentic Sicilian restaurant popped up in the Northern Quarter earlier this year – renamed and reworked as Sicilian NQ. The lovely little restaurant hones in on the idyllic region’s homely food, bringing dishes such as arancini, cannoli, cipollini, pasta and more to our rainy city. Sicilian NQ, 14 Turner St, M4 1DZ."

"Gino’s is the newbie on Market Street, a small parlour that channels Italy from the music to the ingredients used in the gelato that’s made fresh every day. Tuck into the smooth Ferrero Rocher or the refreshing classic strawberry gelato – or any of the fabulous flavours – in a tub, cone, on a waffle, in a milkshake or even on a pancake."

"Tagg Lane Dairy claim to sell the ‘very best in artisian gelato’, and we certainly agree that it tastes incredible!. Being gelato, rather than ice-cream, it has a lower fat content and a softer texture. Luxury flavours are hand crafted with the finest all-natural ingredients, from the fresh fruit in the fruit flavours to the cocoa in their award winning chocolate."

"Every single one of our luxury flavours are hand crafted with the finest all-natural ingredients we can get our hands on, from the fresh fruit in the fruit flavours to the cocoa in our Award winning chocolate. You can’t rush love. That’s why we patiently churn our Gelato that little bit longer and that little bit slower."

"Oasis is a Chorlton ice cream institution which also offers a variety of sorbets, frozen yoghurt and slushes. Open until 11pm, it’s good at attracting a local late night crowd: just the ticket when you have a craving to satisfy without having to settle for a tub of Ben & Jerry’s. Manchester Rd, Chorlton, M21 9GA"

"Anyone who grew up in Manchester probably spent a good proportion of their teenage years wandering around Afflecks (formally known as Affleck’s Palace). Since its opening in 1981, this warren of independent shops is a perfect alternative to high street shopping in the city, offering everything from rubber jumpsuits to rave gear. Yes, there will always be that side of Afflecks (you’ll also find condoms and sex toys), but there really is something for everyone if you take the time to browse its multitude of market stalls."

"Have you even visited Manchester if you haven’t shared a photograph of the mosaic sign outside Affleck’s?. The iconic sign reading ‘and on the sixth day, God created Manchester’ is surely one of the most popular photos of Manchester city centre on Instagram with many tourists and locals flocking to Short Street to admire the piece of art. Affleck’s, Short Street, Manchester, UK"

"I ended up at the massive building of ‘Afflecks’, which turned out to be “An Emporium of Eclecticism“, meaning it was full of shops selling random shit, basically. Afflecks is an indoor market with dozens of independent stalls, small shops and boutiques, some of them quite strange, but also a lot of them with awesome handmade goods."

"This adorable Green Flag garden is the vestige of an estate founded in South Warrington in the 1830s. The house was occupied by three generations of the Parr family, but was demolished in 1970 after years of neglect. In spite of the disuse, the walled garden survived and is now as beautiful as ever, with three ponds, herbaceous borders, fruit espaliers and vegetable plots."

"An abundance of choice in flavour is available to have in a cone, on waffles, or on a cake of your own choosing. If you ever head to gelato passion, make sure you try out their peanut butter cake with raspberry sorbet. Kind of like a PB&J sandwich deconstructed into ice cream!"