The Mother City is brimming with ice-cream parlours, chocolatiers and cookie creators. From cake in a jar to chocolate bunny chows, here’s where to get your sweet fix in Cape Town.

The Creamery (Claremont, Mouille Point and Newlands)

Whether it’s for a late-night waffle, a refreshing scoop after a stroll on the promenade, or a bowl filled with hot cookies and ice cream, these dessert parlours have your sweet cravings covered. Ice cream flavours include classics like peanut butter and sea-salt caramel, while monthly flavours might include popcorn, malted milk, or even jam and scones. Top tip: They have fridges stocked with the latest flavours to enjoy at home.

Ice cream and waffles at The Creamery in Newlands. Photo supplied.

Cookies and Cream (City Bowl)

This sweet spot situated on Buitengracht Street is home to ice-cream sandwiches made with freshly baked cookies and home-made scoops, bubble waffles, and chocolate brownies. Ice cream flavours include Afrikoa’s 55% cocoa, double-cream custard, peanut butter, and cookies-and-cream. As for the chewy cookies, there are chocolate versions, bites with sprinkles, and simple vanilla ones. For extra indulgence, opt for a scoop served in a doughnut.

The bubble waffle cone filled with red velvet ice cream at Cookies & Cream. Photo supplied.

Crumbs & Cream (Canal Walk, Grand West and Sea Point)

This dessert shop is dedicated to all things cookies and ice cream. Go for the warm triple-chocolate cookie with a scoop of mint-chocolate ice cream, or the red velvet option with a scoop of subtle vanilla. Take your sandwich to new heights with a sprinkling of mini Smarties, coconut, or white-chocolate chips. Ice-cream cookie cakes, sweet-bun sandwiches and cookie bowls are also available as vessels for your scoop of choice.

A tower of ice-cream sandwiches at Crumbs & Cream. Photo supplied.

The Dairy Den (Sea Point)

Sea Point’s newest addition is a soft-serve-and-doughnut bar serving all things sweet and indulgent. The doughnuts come powdered in sugar, topped with Oreos or glazed in pink icing, while soft serves are swirled in flavours of vanilla or chocolate, and sprinkled with choc-mint chunks. Your soft serves can even be topped off with mini doughnuts for a touch of extra sweetness.

A post shared by The Dairy Den (@thedairyden) on Sep 26, 2017 at 3:49am PDT

Honest Chocolate Café (City Bowl)

Cape Town’s dedicated chocolate bar is a haven for any cocoa-loving foodie. The indulgent menu ranges from milkshakes, bon bons and macarons to brownies, tarts and dark chocolate cake. Those looking for something a little different can ready their spoons for the bunny chow made with banana bread, chocolate spread, ice cream and a side of spiced nuts.

A post shared by honestchocolate (@honestchocolate) on Jun 9, 2017 at 1:15am PDT

Kristen’s Kick Ass Ice Cream (Noordhoek)

This quaint scoop shop offers a wide range of ice cream flavours, all of which are made from scratch with free-range cream, milk, and handmade ingredients. Fun flavours include cookies-and-cream with homemade Oreos; sea-salt caramel with sea salt flakes; garden-mint chocolate chip with fresh mint leaves; espresso-fudge with Village Roast coffee; and a play on a Twix chocolate, with caramel drizzle, fudge swirls and homemade shortbread.

A post shared by Kristenbatzer (@kristenskickassicecream) on Aug 31, 2017 at 7:35am PDT

Localli (City Bowl)

This luxury dessert patisserie is centrally located in St. George’s Mall and serves a variety of delicate mille-crêpe cakes in flavours from crème brûlée to decadent CocoFair hazelnut chocolate. They also serve locally sourced teas, coffees, hot chocolates, and MCC bubbles to pair with the cakes.

The 85% dark chocolate crêpe cake at Localli. Photo supplied.

Moro Gelato (City Bowl)

This pretty ice cream parlour on Long Street makes exquisitely smooth gelato in flavours that range from pure pistachio to moreish salted caramel. There are also dairy-free options for the lactose-intolerant and refreshing sorbets, made using seasonal fruit. Moro offers three cup sizes: a small cup gives you a choice of up to two flavours; a medium, three flavours; and a large, four. For a bit of texture, grab your cone or cup with a crispy homemade wafer covered in warm chocolate.

My Sugar (Sea Point)

This Sea Point chocolate shop offers more than just exquisite take-home chocolates. Think inspired gourmet shakes and cake jar offerings with flavours of chocolate brownie or miso-caramel with butterscotch popcorn. There is also a range of OTT doughnuts, featuring toppings like lemon meringue, or a crème brûlée filled with custard and topped with caramelised sugar.

My Sugar doughnuts with milk chocolate ganache, caramelised coconut and a drizzle of caramel. Photo supplied.

Unframed (Gardens)

All the flavours at this extremely popular parlour have a perfectly smooth texture while remaining light. Flavours are exciting and may include peanut butter; ‘dirty milk chocolate’, with chunks of brownies from The General Store; or matcha green tea. There are even sorbets with flavours of pear or black currant, and vegan ice creams with options like turmeric latte or dark chocolate. Order a scoop on a sugar cone or in a cup, and choose from toppings like dirty sea-salt caramel, crumbled raw coconut macaroons, or crumbled Amaretti biscuits.

A post shared by Unframed Ice Cream (@lifeunframed) on Sep 30, 2017 at 5:56am PDT

Velvet Cake Co. (Bellville and City Bowl)

Find a spot in this rainbow-hued café and tuck into a slice of pink-frosted cake, or pick up a cupcake and coffee to-go for a quick dessert fix. You can choose between dramatic naked rainbow cakes; Sweetie Pie cupcakes; and red-velvet-and-cheesecake combo cakes. If you prefer to eat your cake with a spoon, there are also cake cups available. Try the rainbow cup, with layers of brightly coloured cake between strata of cream-cheese icing; the lemon meringue cup; or the chocolate-caramel cup with chocolate-cream-cheese icing and Caramel Treat.

A post shared by The Velvet Cake Co ? (@thevelvetcakeco) on Oct 5, 2017 at 2:29am PDT

Have we missed your favourite dessert café in Cape Town? Let us know in the comments below.