If you scream for ice cream
Al Meylas 
Get the scoop: Ice cream macarons
Putting a creative spin on the ultimate combo of cookies and cream is the team at Meylas, the creative and stylish lobby café in Four Seasons Abu Dhabi. These new ice cream macarons include a wedge of flavoured ice cream between two macaron halves to create beautiful bite-sized treats. Choose from a range of tantalising flavours such as baklava, rose petal and sesame, pistachio, Madjoul dates, camel milk and roasted saffron. Al Meylas serve some of the tastiest treats in town, but they’ve just taken things up a notch.
Price varies. Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island (02 333 2222).
Amorino
Get the scoop: Amarena Cherry
Ice creams come in all shapes, sizes and flavours. Proof of that is in the delicate creations from Italian gelateria brand Amorino. Its signature flower-shaped scoops can be made from single or multiple flavours and decorated with toppings such as macarons and fruit. For a truly authentic Italian experience, pick the Amarena Cherry flavour – it combines the deliciously tangy cherries with wonderfully creamy gelato. The perfect antidote to the sweltering summer.
Dhs19 (small), Dhs28 (regular), Dhs35 (large). Yas Mall, Yas Island (02 235 6632).
Azkadenya
Get the scoop: Rose Osmaliyah
Few things go together as well as Henry and Bergkamp, the Queen and Prince Philip and Mercury and May. Cookies and ice cream are one such winning combination. And hitting the sweet spot on our list is this entry from Jordanian necomer Azkadenya, in Marina Mall. Osmaliyah is an Arabic version of the classic ice cream sandwich. Wedged between two layers of crisp kunafa dough is a scoop of luscious ice cream. Patrons can pick between three flavours – rose, vanilla or chocolate.
Dhs33. Marina Mall, Al Marina (02 621 2788).
Catch 
Get the scoop: Mochi ice cream
This trendy restaurant is known for its top-notch seafood creations and beautiful, fine-dining setting. But its crafty inventions run much deeper as is evidenced by its take on mochi ice cream. For the unfamiliar, mochi is a soft, sticky rice cake made from short-grain glutinous rice. For mochi ice cream, a layer of mochi goes around flavoured ice cream creating a tasty package. Flavours include green tea, coconut yuzu and lychee.
Dhs59. Nation Riveria, Corniche Road West (02 611 0909).
Stars ‘n’ Bars
Get the scoop: Chocolate chip ice cream sandwich
From popular Yas Marina hangout Stars ’N’ Bars comes this delicious next entry. Another take on the ice cream sandwich, two cookies are used to hold together a slice of vanilla ice cream. But these aren’t just any cookies, they’re the beloved chocolate chip variety – chewy and delicious. A bunch of fresh berries and swirls of chocolate sauce upgrade this nostalgic indulgence, and we’re not complaining.
Dhs45. Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 565 0101).
Todd English’s Olives
Get the scoop: Date ice cream
Trust the charming Todd English to create a treat that pays tribute to the humble date – an important symbol of the region. This sweet scoop blends sticky dates with home-made ice cream. The treat is made more indulgent with a couple of chocolate-coated dates on the top. Because, you know, everything in life is better with chocolate.
Dhs15 (per scoop). Venetian Village, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, Khor Al Maqta (02 404 1941).
Vasa Vasa
Get the scoop: Sicilian brioche with ice cream
You don’t have to travel too far from the mainland to get an authentic taste of Italian gelato. The choice of flavours at Vasa Vasa is expansive and all natural. You won’t find any preservatives in its mix. The Milanese owner has her own factory in Italy, from where all the ice creams are shipped over. So, drive over to the beachfront promenade at Al Raha, order yourself a Sicilian brioche that comes filled with your choice of ice cream, maybe an espresso, too, and watch the waves roll into the beach – it’s the perfect weekend treat.
Dhs35. Al Muneera, Al Raha Beach, Al Raha (02 555 6484).
Shake it up, baby
Burger 28
As the name suggests, Burger 28 is best-known for its, erm, burgers. But step inside and scan through its menu for the special loaded shakes. There are three to try but our favourite is the Lotus biscuit option (you can never go wrong with Lotus in our book). This offering is topped with Lotus spread and biscuits, Flake chocolate and M&Ms.
Starting from Dhs25. Just off 28th Street, MBZ City, opposite Al Ain University, Mussafah (02 631 5738).
Central Grounds
There are no fewer than seven freakshakes available at the Marriott Hotel Downtown’s coffee shop, each with its own fillings and toppings. Chocolate lovers may have a tough time picking from the list that includes a Mud Pot with chocolate brownie and fudge, and Choco-nut, which features a white chocolate and coconut combination. For a more zesty take, opt for the citrus shake that is made with lime-flavoured ice cream, spoons of lemon curd and lemon meringue sticks.
Dhs45. Marriott Hotel Downtown, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 304 7430).
Delecto
There’s been a lot of sweet talk about Abu Dhabi’s newest café and confectioner, Delecto. The multinational team in the kitchen churn out fresh batches of delicacies from Turkey and Tunisia, and other Arabic sweets. But its extravagant freakshakes have been drawing customers in since its opening last month. The base of Delecto’s popcorn freakshake (pictured on page 13) is a blend of vanilla ice cream, milk and ice. A drizzle of popcorn-infused syrup and chocolate sauce is added next to flavour the creamy mixture, before it is decked up with whipped cream, crunchy caramel popcorn, three homemade neon-coloured macarons (and more of that popcorn-infused syrup). You’ll need to double up with a spoon and a straw for this one.
Dhs28. CI Tower, Al Bateen Street, Al Khalidiyah (02 496 3444).
The Coffee Club
The menu may have this categorised as a chocolate frappé, but the addition of pieces of brownie make this more than a cold cup of joe. A true delight for any chocolate lover, the sides of a beaker are first drizzled with chocolate sauce. Next, a concoction of milk, chocolate sauce and ice gets poured in, before brownie bites, whipped cream and, you guessed it, more chocolate sauce top if off.
Dhs34. Various locations, including: Opposite Spinneys, Al Forsan Village, Khalifa City (02 556 6167).
U-turn Diner
While you might usually head here for your burger and fries fix, the shakes at this retro-themed diner are also worth checking out. And they aren’t just freaky, they’re also monster-sized. And with names like King Kong and Chocolattack you can expect nothing less than a sensory overload. Load up on the Strawberry Fantasia that includes strawberry ice cream, a flavoured cupcake and fresh berries at the top. Need we say more?
Dhs49. Golden Tower, Near Al Mamoura Building, Al Muroor Road (02 418 2500).
Frozen to the core
Sofra Bld
The Shangri-La venue proves all that glitters is gold with their frozen yoghurt waffle cone. The Blaze of Gold comes laced with 24-carat gold leaf and is topped with strands of sweet saffron. It is only available at the restaurant’s Friday brunch, so while you can only have this indulgent dessert once a week, you can have as many servings as you like. The choice of toppings includes nuts, chocolate chips and candies.
Dhs285 (soft drinks), Dhs365 (house beverages), Dhs495 (bubbly). Fri 1pm-4pm. Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri
(02 509 8555).
The Frozen Yogurt Factory
The Frozen Yogurt Factory’s Marina Mall location makes it the perfect pit-stop for you to refuel at in the middle of a hectic shopping spree. Once you’ve picked a flavour you get to customise your cup with as many toppings as you like. Here you pay by weight, so if you have a couple of big scoops and load it up with all kinds of sprinkles, chocolates and sauces the price can rocket up. As can your waistline.
Prices vary. Level 1, Marina Mall, Marina Village (02 658 0060).
Yogo Day
Stop by at this mall store for a healthy pick-me-up treat after a long day at the office. Vats of fresh, skimmed yoghurt are blended with milk to produce a fat-free yoghurt that is fortified with probiotics. Fruit purées are used to add flavour to the creations, too, making them even fresher. Dress your cup up with pieces of fresh fruit to keep things extra healthy. Or if you’re in the mood for a little indulgence, slide over to the containers with chocolate, nuts, dried fruits, sprinkles and candy and fill your boots (well, cup).
From Dhs12. Various locations including Al Wahda Mall (055 318 6379).
