Penguino Ice Cream Cafe serves ice cream at 85 Montgomery Square in Nelson South, a short step from central Nelson, and holds a 4.7-star Google rating. There is no standalone website, so its Facebook page is the place to look for updates.
At any good ice cream shop, the display cabinet tells you most of what you need to know. Dense gelato kept flat in metal pans usually means small batches made nearby, while tall pastel mounds often signal plenty of whipped-in air. Colours should echo the real fruit, and in Nelson — berry and stone fruit country — the best shops let the season steer the flavours. Regulars ask for a taste before committing, and favour busy days when turnover keeps the tubs fresh.
Steps from Trafalgar Street's shops and the Saturday market, it is a handy cool-down in the heart of Nelson.