Stay chill at Vancouver’s top frozen yogurt bars
There’s nothing better (or healthier) on a hot summer’s day than a cup or cone of frozen yogurt. But with so many fro-yo shops in Vancouver to choose from, deciding where to go can feel as overwhelming as choosing the toppings for your treat. Luckily, I’ve done the work for you, presenting seven of the city’s best frozen yogurt bars where you can satisfy cravings. [Photo credit: iStock.com/ matthewennisphotography]
Menchies Frozen Yogurt
2315 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2T9Taking a do-it-yourself approach, Menchies gives you complete control over designing your own frozen yogurt masterpiece. Similar to pumping gas, but infinitely more entertaining, self-serve fro-yo stations allow you to fill your cup with a yogurt of your choice (selections range from classics such as vanilla and chocolate to creative seasonal mixtures like candy cane and Canadian maple). Next, hit up the topping bar, and feel free to pile your cup high with Smarties, fresh berries, crunchy coconut chips and more. Menchies charges by weight (rather than topping number) so keep that in mind when loading up on butterscotch sauce.
Scoop
2050 4th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9Locally owned and operated, this beloved Kitsilano fro-yo shop is a neighbourhood favourite; its fostering of community spirit ensures that it stands out among the rest. Grab your favourite flavour, toppings and a spoon, and get comfy with your friends. Board games, magazines, local art and a foosball table make this beloved spot feel just like your living room.
Cultivé Frozen Yogurt
True to their slogan – “guilt-free, delicious and nutritious” – Cultive’s frozen yogurt options are so wholesome they’ll tempt even the most health-conscious Vancouverites. This grassroots shop specializes in quality yogurt that still contains live and active cultures – immune boosting bacteria that are typically eliminated during freezing processes. For tart flavour fans, the menu includes more than a dozen fruity picks (green apple, lychee, kiwi to name a few) as well as sweeter dessert-style options like cookies and cream, dulce de leche, and New York cheesecake.
Yeti Yogurt SFU
8982 University High St, Burnaby, BC V5A 4Y6Located at Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus, Yeti Yogurt’s flavours change daily, and range from mocha, to sugar-free strawberry and mango, to Nutella, tropical, huckleberry, taro and many, many more. A variety of toppings are available, as are modifications for gluten- or lactose-free diets.
Marble Slab Creamery
541 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1E6Made fresh in store, with bona-fide Canadian dairy, Marble Slab’s custom-made frozen yogurts are delicious on their own – but are even better with toppings like Oreo bits or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. If you aren’t familiar with Marble Slab’s style, here’s what happens: fro-yo and toppings are smashed together using paddles on a cold, marble slab, and turned into a thick, chewy treat bursting with flavour and crunch.
La Casa Gelato By International Ice Cream Factory
1033 Venables St, Vancouver, BC V6A 3R9Boasting 238 flavours, this bustling East Vancouver gelateria is known for stocking obscure and – at times – odd flavours such as hummus, wasabi and lavender ginger. For the less adventurous, frozen yogurts (from mango to chocolate and strawberry) are at once creamy and light. And the best part? You can sample as many as you like, for as long as you like, ’til you find your go-to fro-yo for the evening.
