Best Gelato in Purley

"When Chin Chin first opened their first place in a former condom shop (yes, really) in Camden their crazy take on making ice cream with liquid nitrogen may have been pre-Instagram but it was still an almost instant sensation. The thing is that it's not just a party trick, the ice cream they make here really does taste smoother because there are no ice crystals. They've also used their USP to devise a clever way of chilling ice cream down to a level that it can actually be sent by post."

"Coffee ice cream, a dusting of cocoa powder and the fluffiest, softest cloud of whipped mascarpone cream, the base of this brilliant tiramisu mash-up is a thick, super rich, brownie-like cookie that is soaked in espresso for an extra gooey texture. The Chin Chin team have truly outdone themselves here. Address: 54 Greek St, London W1D 3DS or 49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF"

"For something a little different, head to Chin Chin Labs, the go-to parlour for liquid nitrogen ice cream in London. Watch as your dessert is frozen to order using a dash of liquid nitrogen, and select from an exciting array of weekly-changing flavours at this cool cafe in Camden."

"A Balham treasure, Milk’s weekend-only specials, announced solely via instagram, have even brunch-deniers queueing on the regular. And with dishes such as buckwheat pancakes with roast apricot, lavender and bitter citrus cream, half-baked almond cake crumb — their reasoning is clear. No faux ‘barista coffee’ here — a good relationship with top Berlin roasters the Barn endures."

"Restaurants Ice-cream parlours Covent Garden. Take your average ice-cream cone, add some lurid-green matcha soft-serve ice cream, top with oreos, choc chips, sprinkles and the like. And then – and here’s the good bit – watch as the servers weave a cloud-like web of candy floss around it all."

"We have to say – these are easily the prettiest and most Instagrammable ice creams and sweet treats you’ll find in London. The candy floss ice cream is a like a work of art, with the only tricky part being getting a perfect photo before the whole thing melts. A delicious scoop of pure beauty."

"Gelupo, opposite Jacob Kenedy’s Bocca di Lupo on Archer Street, has been shaking things up since it first opened in 2010, and continues to do so, thank to punchy flavour combos and a constantly changing roster of specials. Reopened to reassuring havoc in Soho, the specials include the Italian Easter cake Colomba, and a millefoglie with puff pastry folded into custard base."

"The iconic Soho gelateria is taking its ice cream to the streets, with flavours like ricotta with sour cherry and fresh mint stracciatella. A two tub minimum order makes the choosing less taxing, with delivery to all London postcodes available."

"With its blue-and-white tiled decor, you could easily be in Italy and not the middle of Soho. It’s all about authentic Italian gelato here made with fresh and natural ingredients. But strictly traditional this ain’t!"

"The name “La Gelatiera” refers to the traditional gelato churn that’s been used by well-trained ice cream artisans to make gelato for centuries. La Gelatiera carries on that tradition in its laboratory while also incorporating more modern twists through Heston Blumenthal-esque flavours such as basil and chilli or porcini chocolate cream. The latter is a flavour totally unique to La Gelatiera – a blend that marries the earthy notes of a porcini mushroom with sweet and creamy chocolate."

"La Gelatiera make traditional artisan gelato according to their Slow Food philosophy, so all their gelato is egg and gluten free, and lower in fat than most ice creams you’d find in the supermarket. So you can eat more of it, right?. Their East Village store even has its own gelato-making lab so you can watch a fresh batch of ice cream being made whilst you scoff yours down."

"They make traditional gelato that tastes evert bit as good as anything you’d have in Italy. Walking down the streets of London on a sunny day with one of their cones is one of life’s great pleasures. They also do great waffles and other tasty sweet treats but keep your eye on the prize and focus in on the gelato."

"Serving up scoops of joy across London, Snowflake offers over 40 different flavours and a selection of tasty treats that span from blissfully rich brownie sundaes to cinnamon crepes. Offering all the usual classic gelato flavours as well as refreshing sorbets, you’re never too far from one of their shops, with locations in Soho, South Kensington and beyond. Those looking to treat themselves to something a little extra are advised to try their Italian-style hot chocolate, a thick, rich and creamy delight of a dark chocolate drink that any chocolate connoisseur will appreciate."

"For properly posh gelato, head to one of Snowflake’s “boutiques”. You may recognise the name from its most famous creation from a few years back, the avolato, an avocado-shaped ice cream dessert made with the millennial-favoured fruit. Times and fads have fortunately changed though, but diners can still tuck into their crepes, milkshakes and sundaes – these days, they’re more a dessert parlour than than ice-cream parlour, but there’s still plenty of choice to tuck into."

"Fall in love with luxurious desserts at Selfridge's Snowflake. This artisan ice-cream maker offers sweet puddings created from organic milk and nuts grown in the Italian mountains. Choose from waffles, crepes, ice-cream sundaes and vegan desserts."

"A chain on a mission, Leon wants us to eat healthily when we’re on that fast-food treadmill. Ok, lunch comes in a cardboard box with plastic cutlery, but the ingredients are seasonal and eco-friendly, right down to the last green pea. Leon’s worthy message is even easier to swallow when the bill arrives."

"Natural and delicious fast food specialising in hot boxes, wraps and salads, inspired by the flavours, variety and healthiness of Mediterranean cooking."

"Established in 1971 at the site of the eponymous legendary pub, the Orange Tree is known for discovering (and re-discovering) writers and promoting their work. Such artists include Martin Crimp, James Saunders, Vaclav Havel, Fay Weldon and Torben Betts. Voted London’s Most Welcoming Theatre in 2016."

"Why: In spite of being just moments from Shoreditch station, this industrial-chic BBQ smokehouse feels slightly off the beaten track. Whether that’s due to the lack of signage or the achingly hip clientele, we’re unsure, but what we are sure about is the delectable dishes Smokestak serves. We recommend going all-American with the ample feasting menu, which features all the best dishes including bone marrow flatbread, pork belly rib, beef brisket and sticky toffee pudding.Where:Smokestak, 35 Sclater Street, Shoreditch"

"When to go:When you and your mates have something to celebrate – even if that something is just a shared love of barbecued meat. What to have:Haven’t yet tried Smokestak’s signature beef brisket?. Prepare yourself for moist, smoky meat heaped into a bun and topped with barbecue sauce, bone-marrow butter and pickled chillies."

"Smokestak has grown from a charming street cart to a Shoreditch sensation. The BBQ joint offers buttery buns stacked with slices of smoked beef brisket topped with pickled red chillies. There’s a handful of other options but the original itself is one serious sandwich!"

"This family-run locals’ favourite in Shepherd’s Bush is known for its super authentic North Eastern Thai cuisine. The occasionally eccentric service and slightly tired traditional décor only add to the charm. The flavours here are unusual, fresh and deeply satisfying."