The flavours here are as true to type as any around. Summer favourite: White nectarine sorbet. Mado Cafe, 63 Auburn Road, Auburn There's a wonderful stretchiness to some of the ice-creams here thanks to the addition of salep made from dried, ground orchid tubers. It's mostly in the maras variety – the cafe's best seller. Summer favourite: Turkish apricot

Frangipani Gelato Bar, 1/2 Ocean Grove Avenue, Cronulla A tiny place just back from the beach hand-mixes its ice-creams and uses fresh fruit and juices. Summer favourite: Lemon sorbet.

Art of Gelato Michelangelo, 7 Alan Street, Fairfield This factory shop has a few popular flavours available for eating on the spot, the chocolate with a hint of bitterness being a standout. Summer favourite: Vanilla.

Gelato Messina, 241 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst Seasons influence the choice offered here but the chocolate fondant is a year-round favourite. Summer favourite: Passionfruit sorbet. Serendipity Ice-Cream, 333 Enmore Road, Marrickville.

It's a tough call to pick the winner here but English Toffee Crunch, Death by Chocolate, Black Sesame and Ginger would be up there. Summer favourite: Coconut and kaffir lime sorbet.

Passionflower, Shop G12 Capitol Square, 730-742 George Street, Haymarket

This is an archetypal ice-cream parlour but with an exotic Asian twist. Try an elaborate dessert including fruits, syrups and jellies. Summer favourite: Mango sorbet.

Gelatiamo, 362 Pacific Highway, Lindfield

Terrazzo floors and wrought iron chairs fit the decor brief perfectly and the flavours based on Australian ingredients sing. The illy coffee one is like an espresso in a cone. Summer favourite: Watermelon sorbet.

Gelatomassi, 262 King Street, Newtown

Sticky date and chocolate mud are a couple of the cake-inspired flavours offered here. The pannacotta flavour's a signature. Summer favourite: Chocolate.

Glace, 27 Marion Street, Leichhardt

This place does ice-cream as works of art. Petit fours, cakes and bombes in myriad flavours. Intense mixed berry sorbet is a standout as is liquorice ice-cream. Summer favourite: Vanilla.