Bar Ape Gelato — Restaurant in Toronto

If it was up to me I would give this place less than one star with the service I have received but it is mandatory to leave at least one star in order to leave a review. Last night I was out with a group of 15 people and we all wanted to go out for dessert. I suggested to go to Bar Ape because I went to a dinner party in April and the host was serving their coconut cornettos. I wanted to double check if they had any vegan ice-cream flavours in stock because I live far from the shop and due to all my severe allergies I did not want to risk getting sick or going all the way down to Toronto if they did not have any vegan options for me. When I called I asked the boy I was talking to what flavours they had in stock and he told me I had to come to see. I had to beg him to tell me what ice cream flavours were in the shop as I do not live close by. He finally answered me and told me the three options very smugly as if he was doing me a favour. I could not hear him over his giggling with his friends so I asked him to repeat a flavour and then he hung up on me!!! I called back the second time because I thought it was an accident and the SAME BOY proceeded to pretend to be the answering machine!!! As he started pretending to be the answering machine I told him I knew it wasn’t the answering machine and he was just pretending and he started laughing at me so obnoxiously!! I asked him who pretends to be an answering machine and hangs up on a customer? He then blamed it on me saying that he told me the flavours three times even though I couldn’t hear because he was giggling with his friends! My friend had to call again twice in hopes of speaking to someone else because he kept declining my calls after that, and he lied and told her that he was the manager first and then changed his answer to be the owner while still laughing and hung up on her too. I emailed the company about my horrible experience and the owner made up a fake excuse saying that google accidentally listed their business number as a man's personal number. He then caught himself in his own lie as the number listed was answered by "Hello Bar Ape" and by saying that he was beside his employee when he did all of this. He justified his employee's behaviour and turned the blame on me as he claims his employees can't be expected to answer questions over the phone as they will inevitably lose their patience. Their long-winded excuse does not dismiss the fact that the person on the phone was RUDE, ARROGANT, and CONDESCENDING!!! Sorry the employee lost his patience to list a whole THREE vegan flavours so their potential paying customer does not get an allergic reaction or waste their time and money going to the shop since they do not live close. The fact that the owner defends this kind of behaviour over the customer speaks volumes about the caliber of this company. Would not recommend this place to my...

Located just north of St Clair on Rushton, Bar Ape is definitely one of my favourite places for gelato in the city mainly due to the exquisite creative flavour combinations that they come up with and how wonderfully they execute all their flavours. They have both gelato bars and soft serve gelato for $5 each.

My favourite bar would have to be the Lavender Yogurt (one of their limited featured flavours). The lavender has a penetrating floral flavour and is extremely aromatic. It pairs well with the yogurt coating which tones down the spicy floral notes with some creamy smoothness. I particularly liked that the lavender aftertaste stays with you long after you've finished eating the bar.

The Chocolate Hazelnut and the Pistachio flavours are ones that are on their regular menu. Again, both flavours are on point and extremely authentic - the essence of the nuts really comes through in both bars. The pistachio gelato is smooth and creamy and the outer coating also has small bits of pistachio nuts incorporated into the shell.

The Chocolate Hazelnut has an extremely aromatic hazelnut gelato center which is well complimented by a dark chocolate coating with hazelnut bits.

I usually like to stock up on some of the gelato bars and take them home with me since I'm not in the area as often. While I'm there, I usually like to get the soft serve and eat it on the benches in front of the store. The soft serve comes in a variety of interesting flavours and varies from day to day. For those who are vegan, they also periodically come out with vegan flavours so again, it's best to follow them on instagram so you know when to drop by.

Whichever one you choose to get (bar or soft serve), you will not be disappointed. Bar Ape is open for part of the year - usually around May to the end of September. And they're always changing up their flavours. Keep an eye on their instagram account to see what flavours they have that day and get there fast if you really want that particular flavour - they tend to sell out...

Bar Ape is truly one of Toronto’s gems and easily one of the best spots in the city for gelato. Tucked away in a small but charming space, it has built a reputation that’s completely deserved. Every visit feels special, the quality, the creativity, and the care that goes into their gelato is on another level.

What makes Bar Ape stand out is the focus on seasonal flavors and high-quality ingredients. Instead of offering dozens of options, they keep the menu tight and thoughtful, rotating flavors regularly so there’s always something new to try. Whether it’s a classic fruit sorbet or a more unique flavor combination, everything tastes incredibly fresh and balanced. You can really tell they prioritize flavor over flash.

The texture of their gelato is also worth mentioning, smooth, rich, and perfectly creamy without being heavy. It’s the kind of gelato you’d expect to find in Italy, and it’s impressive to see it done so well here in Toronto.

It’s true that the wait times can be long, especially on summer evenings, but that’s part of the charm , and honestly, it’s worth the wait if you want truly great gelato.

The atmosphere adds to the experience too. Even though the shop itself is small, it has this cozy, welcoming vibe, and the staff are always friendly and patient in helping you choose a flavor (which is tough, because they all sound amazing). The soft-serve and gelato bars they do are also fantastic, simple, portable, and just as high-quality as their scoops.

Bar Ape has become a must-visit spot for me whenever I’m in the area, especially on warm summer nights. It’s the perfect place to bring friends, impress out-of-towners, or just treat yourself. With its commitment to quality, seasonal creativity, and consistently amazing gelato, it’s no surprise that Bar Ape is considered by many to be the best gelato in Toronto.

If you love gelato, or even if you just have a sweet tooth, Bar Ape is an...