Chamonix is shaped by ice. From glaciers high above the valley to the many gelaterias dotted around town, frozen things are part of local life. Ice even runs through the history of the region: long before freezers existed, ice harvested from the Mont Blanc massif was transported as far as Paris and the French Riviera.
The best ice cream spots in central Chamonix
Here’s our guide to the best places for ice cream in central Chamonix today, followed by a look at the valley’s remarkable ice-trading past.
🍦 Chamon’ice
Place Balmat
One of the most popular gelato spots in town, Chamon’ice regularly draws a queue in warm weather. Flavours are reliably good across both fruit and cream-based options, with classics like mango, vanilla, Nutella and Kinder always crowd favourites.
Its central location makes it ideal for a post-dinner stroll, and the nearby benches are perfect for enjoying your scoop before it melts.
🍨 La Mer de Glaces
Near the Aiguille du Midi cable car
Slightly away from the main pedestrian street, this is often a quicker stop than some of the more central options. It’s well placed if you’re heading to or from the Aiguille du Midi and want a treat without the wait.
It’s also popular with families, thanks to practical serving options and a relaxed atmosphere.
🍦 Chez Richard
Rue du Docteur Paccard
Best known as a bakery and pâtisserie, Chez Richard also becomes an ice cream stop in high season, with a small cart set up outside. It’s a great place to combine bread, pastries and dessert in one stop.
🍫 Chalet 4810
Rue Joseph Vallot
Chalet 4810 specialises in chocolate and sweet treats, but in summer you’ll often find ice cream available too. The upstairs seating area is a lovely place to take a break, and the shop’s alpine-inspired chocolate creations make it worth visiting even if ice cream isn’t on the menu that day.
🍧 Da Luigi – Dealers de glaces
Avenue Ravanel-le-Rouge
A relaxed, family-friendly spot with generous scoops, crêpes and a sunny terrace. It’s a popular choice for an easygoing dessert, whether you’re with children or just in the mood for something indulgent after a long day outside.
🍦 Maison Glacier
Maison Glacier is a regional artisan producer whose ice creams now appear seasonally in Chamonix cafés and pop-ups. Known for clean flavours and high-quality ingredients, it’s a name worth looking out for if you spot it locally.
A local flavour: Mont Blanc in dessert form
Chamonix celebrates its famous mountain in dessert form with the Mont Blanc. Traditionally made from chestnut purée shaped like a mountain and topped with cream, it has inspired countless variations over the years.
Chestnut ice cream is a natural evolution of this classic, and you’ll sometimes find local chefs offering their own frozen take on the Mont Blanc.
Ice before fridges: a remarkable local history
Before household refrigeration existed, ice was a valuable resource. Just outside Chamonix, near Trient in Switzerland, a system of historic irrigation channels known as bisses once played a key role in transporting water — and ice — from the glacier to the valley.
In the late 19th century, ice was carved directly from the Trient Glacier and transported via these channels to the Col de la Forclaz. From there, it was taken by wagon to Martigny and loaded onto trains bound for cities such as Geneva, Lyon and Paris.
At its peak, tens of tonnes of ice were moved daily. Stored in insulated ice houses lined with sawdust, this ice allowed food to be preserved and chilled drinks to be enjoyed long before modern refrigeration.
From the mountains to the cities
The success of this trade helped supply wealthy households and restaurants across France during the 18th and 19th centuries. Fresh produce lasted longer, cold drinks became fashionable, and ice cream moved from luxury to possibility.
It’s strange to think that something as simple as a frozen dessert today once depended on the hard labour of mountain workers and the slow movement of ice through the Alps.
A sweet legacy
Next time you enjoy an ice cream in Chamonix, you’re tasting more than just a summer treat. You’re enjoying a small part of a long alpine tradition — one shaped by glaciers, ingenuity and a lot of very hard work.
And yes… perhaps Paris still owes Chamonix an ice cream or two.
