The 12 best ice cream bowls - grab a spoon and dig in to our style edit

The 12 best ice cream bowls chosen by the Livingetc team to elevate dessert to an artform where everything you eat looks good

ice cream bowls
(Image credit: Wayfair, Walmart)

Ice cream bowls, sundae dishes, call them what you will - these classic items evoke warm feelings for retro ice cream parlours, Grease-style diners, high days and holidays. 

Whether you love a mood-boosting affogato, a single scoop of vanilla, or an all singing and dancing sundae with hot fudge sauce and sprinkles, there's an ice cream bowl to suit. 

From cut glass crystal and bowls with gold-plated rims to colorful glass or fun footed and pedestal styles, these sundae dishes can be teamed with your best dinnerware sets or enjoyed on their own.

Here's our selection of the best ice cream bowls from the best home decor stores

Best colored glass ice cream bowls

Best clear glass ice cream bowls

Best cut or moulded glass ice cream bowls

Best porcelain ice cream bowls

What do you call the small dessert bowls?

Small dessert bowls, especially those on a pedestal, or made of glass are often referred to as ice cream cups or sundae dishes. The clear class enables you to see the layers of ice cream, fruit and toppings, while a pedestal brings a sense of occasion, adding to the feeling of indulgence and enjoyment of the dessert.

'Single portion desserts will often be in smaller bowls or plates, up to 18cm,' says Micaela Philippo, global girector F&B gevelopment at Carte Blanched. 'At Seabird in London, we love to serve ice cream in retro styled, stainless steel ice cream cups.'

Jacky Parker is a London-based freelance journalist and content creator, specialising in interiors, travel and food. From buying guides and real home case studies to shopping and news pages, she produces a wide range of features for national magazines and SEO content for websites


A long-time contributor to Livingetc, as a member of the team, she regularly reports on the latest trends, speaking to experts and discovering the latest tips. Jacky has also written  for other publications such as Homes and Gardens, Ideal Home, Red, Grand Designs, Sunday Times Style and AD, Country Homes and Interiors and ELLE Decoration.