Best Ice Cream in Whitley Bay
Di Meo's award-winning gelato, The Venetian's classic ices, and Cones at Longsands -- where to find the best ice cream in and around Whitley Bay.
Whitley Bay is a proper seaside town, and seaside towns need proper ice cream. Fortunately, the stretch of Marine Avenue alone has two dedicated parlours within steps of each other, and a third option is a short walk along the coast. Here are the best places for ice cream in and around Whitley Bay.
Di Meo's
Di Meo's on Marine Avenue is the flagship parlour of the Di Meo family, who have been making ice cream to an Italian recipe dating back to 1925. They've been a Whitley Bay institution since 2000, serving locals one scoop at a time from their seafront parlour.
The gelato is authentic Italian -- pistachio, stracciatella, salted caramel, and a rotating selection of more inventive flavours. There's a good vegan and dairy-free range. Beyond ice cream, Di Meo's also serves authentic Italian pizzas and coffee, making it a proper destination rather than a quick-stop kiosk.
The parlour has won national ice cream awards and is consistently rated as one of the best in the North East. If you only visit one ice cream shop in Whitley Bay, make it this one.
Best for: Award-winning Italian gelato since 1925 -- Whitley Bay's best-known ice cream parlour, right on the seafront.
The Venetian
The Venetian is just a few doors down from Di Meo's on Marine Avenue, and it's been a Whitley Bay fixture for decades. This is a more traditional seaside ice cream parlour, serving classic Italian ices, sundaes, and shakes with views out to the promenade and sea beyond.
The choices are generous -- a wide variety of flavours to choose from, served in cones, tubs, or as part of sundae creations. It's the kind of place where the queue on a sunny weekend afternoon tells you everything you need to know.
The Venetian and Di Meo's are close enough that you could try both on the same visit and form your own opinion on which is better. Most locals have a preference, and most will defend it passionately.
Best for: A Whitley Bay fixture for decades -- classic seaside ices, sundaes, and shakes on Marine Avenue.
Cones Ice Cream Parlour
Cones is a newer addition to the coast, sitting opposite Longsands Beach as part of The Tynemouth Castle Inn on Grand Parade. It's a short drive from Whitley Bay, or a pleasant walk along the coastal path.
More than 20 flavours of gelato are made fresh on the premises daily, with options ranging from classic vanilla to playful creations like Unicorn and Cheeky Monkey. There are sundaes and milkshakes too. The location right on Longsands makes it ideal if you're combining ice cream with a beach day or surf session.
Opening hours run through the warmer months: Monday to Friday from noon, weekends from 11am.
Best for: Over 20 flavours of fresh gelato opposite Longsands Beach -- a short coastal walk from Whitley Bay.
Quick comparison
| | Style | Location | Vegan | Price | |---|---|---|---|---| | Di Meo's | Italian gelato | 9 Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay | Yes | ££ | | The Venetian | Traditional ices | 5-7 Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay | Limited | £ | | Cones | Gelato parlour | Grand Parade, Tynemouth | Limited | ££ |
Know another great ice cream spot near Whitley Bay? Get in touch and let us know.