Ice Cream in the City Heat

Ice Cream in the City Heat
Culture Cousine Bratislava Warsaw Budapest Prague
26 / 08 / 2025

Ice Cream in the City Heat — Secret Facts, Weird Flavors & Where to Get the Best Scoops in Prague, Bratislava, Warsaw & Budapest

It’s hot, you want ice cream. But not just any ice cream — we’re talking about those crazy, weird, sometimes delicious, or totally out-there flavors, plus the best local spots where our hotel folks swear by their favorites.

A Quick Ice Cream History Lesson — With a Twist

Did you know ice cream’s been around since medieval China? Back then, they mixed ice with soy milk — basically the OG vegan dessert. Arabs spiced things up with saffron and fruit syrups when they brought it to Europe. And around 1500 in Syria, someone got the bright idea to make Booza — a stretchy, chewy ice cream that’s basically the ice cream version of bubble gum. Pretty cool, huh?

Oh, and if you think sweet is the only way, think again. In the 1800s, people actually made oyster ice cream. Yep, oysters. You might want to skip that one.


Wild & Weird Flavors That Actually Exist

Forget your vanilla and chocolate, here’s some real talk:

  • Horse meat ice cream? Yep, it’s a thing in Japan (called basashi). Brave souls only!

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  • Spaghetti & cheese ice cream? Venezuela’s Coromoto shop serves pasta IN your ice cream. No joke.

  • Garlic ice cream? If you like vampires to stay away, this one’s for you — popular in Gilroy, USA. After a break of a few years, the famous Gilroy Garlic Festival was back this July 25–27, 2025, at Gilroy Gardens! Known as the “Garlic Capital of the World,” Gilroy was ready to welcome garlic lovers with all their favorite crazy treats — including the infamous garlic ice cream. So if you’re a fan of bold, weird flavors or just want to experience one of the quirkiest food festivals in the US, this is the perfect summer event to add to your bucket list for the upcoming year. 

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  • Wasabi ice cream? For when you want your ice cream with a punch.

  • Durian ice cream? Southeast Asia’s “smelly king” fruit turned into a dessert. Love it or hate it.

  • And yes, there’s also squid ink, lobster, charcoal, curry, hummus, and crocodile egg ice cream. Don’t ask how they come up with this stuff.


Our Local Ice Cream Hotspots — Because You Deserve the Best

Prague

  • PuroGelato  — a quick stroll from Mamaison Hotel Riverside. They also have a self-service ice cream station where you can serve yourself your favorite flavors and pick toppings your way. Their secret? Pure cream and natural flavors, no additives or E-numbers. Their pistachio? Legendary.

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  • Crème de la Crème — founded by Honza Hochsteiger, a passionate artisan and vocal advocate for making ice cream only from basic, high-quality ingredients without using so-called “bases” — the white ice cream mass that’s simply flavored during production. Their spot on Národní třída is always buzzing with fans, and the branch on Francouzská street near our Mamaison hotels is just as popular.

Bratislava

  • Arthur Gelato — located at Rybárska brána 9, this stylish spot offers homemade ice cream made from natural ingredients, without eggs, including sorbets and vegan options. Known for their striking black ice cream and black cones, they serve generous portions packed with original flavors. Their specialties include Belgian chocolate, salted caramel, and coconut shell charcoal powder ice cream. The elegant interior even features 24-carat edible gold chandeliers, making your ice cream break truly special.

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  • Luculus — about a 15-minute walk from Mamaison Sulekova. The staff here can’t get enough of their paprika-basil flavor. Yeah, that’s a thing.

Warsaw

  • Magia d’Italia Gelati Café — an exceptional spot serving ice cream made according to traditional Italian recipes. Their menu includes original flavors like roasted almond and plum-in-chocolate. For adults, they offer whiskey or fig-in-rum flavored ice cream. The flavor list is impressively long and changes seasonally based on fresh ingredient availability. Every effort is made to make your visit extra special!

  • Pracownia Kuncer — for fancy cakes and ice cream that locals swear by.

  • Cukiernia Luka — classic local joint with flavors you won’t forget.

Budapest

  • Ko Fagyi — known for using fresh, local ingredients without artificial additives, Ko Fagyi offers unique flavors like elderflower, blackberry, rum and fig cream, and sugar-free pistachio or rose flavour. Their cozy spots are favorites for locals seeking bold, natural ice cream with seasonal variety.Perfect for those who like their ice cream with a twist.

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Insider Tips From Our Hotel Team

  • Pavel from Mamaison Prague says: “If you haven’t tried PuroGelato’s pistachio, you’re missing out.”

  • Jana in Bratislava swears by the paprika-basil combo at Luculus — “It’s the perfect mix of sweet and spicy.”

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