Dino's Cafe in Argyll & Bute

Wonderful traditional Italian cafe, great ice cream and delicious cake, recommend the fruit slices made on the premises, if there's any left.

I worked here in the late 80's and the ice-cream is just as delicious as it was then 😋😋 I love this place, I go everytime I'm in Helensburgh. It's a family run business and they put their hearts and souls into it and it shows ❤️

Worked here in the 90's and the ice-cream is just as good now as then. An amazing family run business for over 50 years. Great people, amazing choice. I recommend a single bought with the classic vanilla ice-cream 😋😋😋😋

You just can’t beat hand made ice cream in a poke hat. Today went for Run and Raisin and my partner had vanilla with the compulsory ‘99’ chocolate. Seating inside and out with views over the water. Staff attentive and served quickly. Can be a bit pricey but it is home made!

this place is just magical. the service is impeccable and as well with the food. I've been here several times with family and friends and every time, it is just as good as the other times. I, personally, get the chocolate ice cream as it's one of their best and just tastes amazing. it has the nice ratio of watery and solidness. doesn't melt too quickly like others are saying....you should definitely come here!!! don't trust strangers!!!! trust me, it's the best place for ice cream 🍦🍨

Husband and I were in Scotland for our honeymoon and stopped here at the end of a day sight seeing. The owner was immediately very friendly and fun to talk to, and as it was close to closing and no one else was in the store we were able to have a lovely conversation. He gave us samples of the ice cream, and both flavors we got were delicious (I don't remember them both but one was peanut brittle and it rocked.) Great ice cream, friendly owner, 10/0

We come here most weekends for a takeaway coffee and ice cream. It is honestly the best coffee in helensburgh, the ice cream is home made and delicious. Also good range of sweets for the kids! They also serve hot rolls and the square sausage and bacon is really good quality. Only downside is they never seem to have crispy rolls but that's just my preference. Staff are friendly, prices are very reasonable. Lovely traditional cafe. We love it. Well worth a visit, and make sure you get a coffee!!

We visited this place and purchased a coffee for my husband, I didn't have anything to eat or drink, Americano was not on the menu but they happily made it when I went to pay the lady charged me £6 which I thought was quite expensive, when I mentioned it to my husband outside he suspected I had been charged for 2 coffees on returning to the cafe to question it the same lady had surmised I had had a pot of tea and charged accordingly I did get the overpayment refunded to me rather grudgingly. Customers need to make sure they are charged for what they purchase only and finally some of the staff could do with being a little more customer friendly.

Some of the nicest coffee in the town.

Amazing ice cream and really lovely service. I had the vanilla ice cream as recommended, it was perfect!

Nice clean cafe very pleasant quick service

I've heard good things about the ice cream from this place. I was keen to try it but unfortunately, I've been left disappointed. To be fair, the ice cream was not too different from ice cream in many other places I've tried recently. There has definitely been a change in the ice cream being sold - a lot of sugar and flavourings and not much 'real' ingredients. It's not cheap either and for the price, I would expect better quality ice cream. I asked for a one scoop tub of fruit punch. I was given a large two scoop tub of the stuff - it seems that there is no one scoop option! I chose not to finish the ice cream...it was just sweetener, colourant, flavourings, no fruit. Shout out to places like Luca's, Di Rollo's and Alandas on the east coast maintaining quality ingredients.

Honestly Best ice-cream I have tasted since I can imagine. A load of flavours to choose from and LOTS of sweeties to the left of the enterence!

Nice Toffee ice cream with a hint of butter taste ! The owner was so friendly to us :) Recommend

Such a friendly environment with outstanding staff, exceptional customer service and super delicious ice creams.

We hadn't been to Helensburgh since the late 1980s, and we were pleasantly surprised to see how much it has retained its seaside charm whilst improving its facilities. Our dog Glen loves ice cream so we decided that he needed to try out Dino's. He was not disappointed

Great choice of ice cream and food, wonderful staff, nothing to much trouble.

Place looked OK and coffee was fine but that was the good news. Bad news was that out of the three toilets (2 toilets plus a disabled one) one was out of use and only the disabled one had loo paper. I was also wishing we had gone elsewhere when we saw one of the staff was 'cleaning' tables with what looked like a very small cloth that he used on each one. No spray cleaning at all something that is now the norm. We will not return.

Totally refurbed and looking splendid. Perfect cafe. Historic is the word, opened 1924.Great for any time of day, especially breakfast.This is an old fashioned ice cream shop, coffee shop and restaurant all in one. Coffee is served in proper mugs and service is excellent. Perfectly situated on Clyde estuary waterfront at Helensburgh.

The ice cream is absolutely delicious. For the ice cream lovers is a mandatory stop. The doses are big and the surroundings are lovely for the eyes.

The best ice cream in Scotland is at this shop, it's worth buying it once (Vanilla Ice Cream).

Zero stars. Rude staff. Ice cream melting before we got out the shop! Watery and not creamy at all. Astounding that they charged £20 for four small ice creams and ANOTHER £2 for a blob of raspberry on the top (50p per cone). Awful staff, awful ice cream (learn how to make it) and 50p for a spot of raspberry is an absolute rip off!!!! Avoid.

Dino's is an absolute must visit if you are anywhere near Helensburgh, Special mention for the Tablet ice cream which is absolutely different level

Lovely view sitting outside. The mint choc chip cone I had was woeful. Two choc chips in total and the mint tasted like cheap toothpaste.

Ice cream and sorbet was nce enough but paid for 2x2scoops and got 1.5 x2 scoops. Staff not that friendly and not great toilets.

Fantastic little cafe, Great filled rolls. Young lad who served us was very professional and friendly. Ice cream was fantastic.

Traditional Italian-style seaside ice-cream cafe. Ice-cream was very good. Also a big shelf of traditional boiled sweets in jars. Like setting your watch back 50 years, and well recommended.

Best Scottish tablet ice cream I've ever had.

Day tripper from the city. Expensive. Not for us when returning to the town.

My wife enjoyed her strawberry ice cream but my chocolate ice cream was the worst I've ever had. Sickly sweet and it had lumps of ice in it, yuck, had to throw it away

Had a day trip to Helensburgh on 5 June and stopped here for ice-cream. It was great. I had the tablet one and also the dark chocolate. Both were excellent. Service was good too. A few tables and chairs outside so we were able to sit in the sun. Recommended.

The best ice cream in the world ❤️🍨🍨❤️❤️🇮🇹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Dino's vanilla is the best ice cream in the world. Plain wafer perfection, always have to visit.

Had sundaes to take away. Really enjoyed them - lovely ice cream.

Excellent place for ice-cream and candies. Black current and vanilla were the best. I love the experience. Good place to be with family nice seating arrangements

To be honest the Ice Cream ( Rasp Sorbet and Chocolate ) was good, but the guy acted like he had a problem with it . Everyone got 1 scoop bc thats what they wanted and i asked for 2 , the guys responds quote " They get 1 and u get 2 , i dont think you need that because its unfair and you need to earn it" acting like im over weight or something. But yeah

Never go to Helensburgh without a visit to Dino's . Their home made ice cream 🍦 never fails. Food great to. Staff always welcoming. Definitely recommend a visit.🍦⭐🍦⭐

Excellent ice cream and excellent ice

Went here to have the ice cream. Dino’s is absolutely quality! Staff is great and very helpful. Loved it and will definitely come back!!

Nice place with amazing ice cream, good coffee and nice atmosphere

Not expensive. Inside and outside seats, weather permitting. Spotless. Ordered two toasties, two teas, a latte and a scone. All was served within 10mins. Was a quiet Monday afternoon. Staff were great. Would definitely recommend and will return.

Stopped.for coffee, cake and ice cream. Efficient friendly service. Ice cream delicious.

Great place to eat and gelato bonus

Ordered a £6 tub which is huge as was sharing with family so asked for 5 of the small plastic spoons (the ones you get of tasting ice cream, the same size as the little forks in chip-shop), for the owner to interrupt the server to tell me they charge for plastic spoons then said its the government that make them, the server then went on to mumble something about its because of Gop20. He never said the price then said that will be £2 l was so shocked l paid it as how else was l meant to eat the ice cream? They never even gave a spoon for free to eat the tub so what are you meant to do with the ice cream wait for it to melt to drink it. Absolutely crazy prices this might be a now law but 40p is the price you have set and it is ridiculous.

Sat in for lunch one day and had tasty enough soup, followed by some brilliant ice cream. Mint ice cream was best I've tasted (very powerful flavour!). Young staff on duty were friendly, although drinks didn't arrive til after we'd finished our soup. Went by a second time to get takeaway ice creams. Owner was behind the counter and seemed just as disinterested and grumpy as other reviews suggest, but the ice cream was still top notch. Mixed bag, but I'd go back for the ice cream.

On a day out in Helensburgh with my son who has complex needs and 5 year old daughter. Staff, including owner were absolutely the most rudest people I have ever had the misfortune of coming across . My son, who has very complex needs and requires high level care was so excited to see all the sweeties and took me over in thar direction. In the meantime, the boy on the front desk (who looked like he would rather be anywhere but there) took an order from my 5 year old child, without me giving the go ahead, passed her her ice cream without my say so, who does that? Fair enough... I took it from her and passed it back to the server as we were not ready and asked he put sauce on it for her and a napkin as it was dripping everywhere. In the meantime my son who is only 13 and 6ft tall but as explained has complexities including learning disabilities was so excited to choose his ice cream. They have a holder with three different sizes of cones in it for choosing on display. Now I have no idea if they are a permanent feature, how long they have been on display, but on choosing my son pointed at the one he wanted and touched the display verbalising he wanted 'that one'. The server behind the counter made a huge deal about the fact my son, who has limited communication, touched a scabby cone that had been sitting no doubt all day minimally or could be weeks as far as I am concerned. I apologised and said I would pay for the cone but still this server went on and on and on about it. In the meantime my son is becoming agitated and upset. The owner (awful man) then came up and started talking about they know about autism and the usual 'i have a neighbours friends girlfriend who has autism'. At this point I'm like, why are you talking about autism? Why are you judging my son and presuming what his complexities are? They would not stop. I suffer from anxiety myself, its very hard getting out and about and I don't expect special privileges I just would expect a bit of understanding. So picture the scene I'm trying to stay in control of my son's escalating behaviours and upset, these reo behind the counter are making a situation out of nothing really, I've already said I would pay for the Cone on display and i just want to get out with my children. This server behind the counter then picks up the cone on display puts one scoop of ice cream in it and hands it to my son who has Pica also and impulsive behaviours so started eating it. Im like, I said I was going to pay for it, not to eat it I obviously didn't want my son eating something that as previously mentioned could have been on display on their counter for an hour, a day, a month, who knows? Just an absolute nonsense and no need from start to finish. We don't often have days out and it was supposed to be a wee treat for the kids and just ended up being an awful experience. I am so angry at the ableist judgemental, lack of interest of the owner and also its like they would rather be anywhere but there, and I can guarantee I wish I was also. Avoid this place like the plague if you have a vulnerable family member. It probably doesn't sound alot to some, but if you have experience of Learning disabilities you will know exactly how escalating and triggering this would have been. Just no need for any of it at all.

Worst vanilla ice cream I have ever had . No taste and strawberry flavour not much better. Tasteless and gritty. Returned to shop to complain. Staff not interested. Put ice cream in bin no offer of replacement or money back. Won’t be back.

Incredible ice cream especially the chocolate mud flavour 😍 lovely and polite staff and beautiful sea views

Absolutely amazing ice cream,lots of variety full of flavour,fast service even when busy

Very rude owner and staff, food is VERY over-rated. Recently added ‘anti-police’ signs to the premises and openly shouts ‘NO POLICE WILL GET IN HERE WITHOUT A WARRANT’… disgusting behaviour for our small community and alarming that he has that attitude.. look him up on google would be my advice to see why he is so against the police. Visit Vanilla icecream instead, 5 doors along, MUCH better!!

Amazing choice of ice creams and cones to go with them. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their ice cream! Really tasty. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Helensburgh

It may be the place to go and get your ice cream however don’t be tricked into thinking the sit in menu will be as good. I went today with my son and my elderly mother we ordered sandwiches x 2 and a cheeseburger for my son - it was probably the worst food experience I have ever had £5.50 got me a tostie that was 2 sides of bread cut up to make it into 4 pieces with a leaf of salad and the smallest portion of coldslaw I have ever seen. To my amazement my son ordered a glass of milk - it was a small glass and they charged £2.00. When I challenged the waiter his response was - inflation just the same as gas prices increasing ! The ice cream might be good but the rest is a shambles - You should be ashamed !

I have been buying ice-cream from Dino's for the last 47 years. As a world wide traveler there is no other ice-cream like it in the world. My family travels from Fife every month to stock up and the staff are always helpful and friendly and wrap the tubs up well for the journey back home. The recipe and way the family makes the ice-cream is top secret! Sending best wishes to the owner and staff with a huge thank you! Please keep making the best ice-cream in the world!

After reading some of the reviews about Dinos,we have been going there for the past eleven years and have never had one complaint about the food or the staff. We are not even from helensburgh,we travel from perth and this is the first place we go for our coffee or breakfast. SO DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE REVIEWS. Big thank you to all staff for making us feel welcome.

Owner is a horrible lunatic, do not waste your hard earned cash on this place! Google the owner, this may explain why he is so horrible to everybody.

I’ve tried all the ice cream in Scotland and this is by far the best. Renaldos in Ayr was a close second until they sold out to the factory bought stuff. Dinos is home made by an Italian family. Don’t go anywhere else for ice cream, you’d be cheating on your tastebuds.

Owner/manager was rude from the second we entered the premises with 3 friends. Ladies who were sitting having a coffee also commented on his appalling manners, rudeness and shocking attitude. Think they wished they hadn’t ordered. The most miserable male behind the counter who should...

Went in with some friends and the owner started filming us then told us we were not welcome and demanded we leave! Won’t be back!

Visited with a group of work colleagues and was immediately accosted by the very rude owner. He then preceded to film us before even speaking to us. He then told us we were not welcome despite the fact we had just entered and demanded we...

Very rude owner. Attempted to buy ice cream and was refused forno reason. Thereafter went to Vanilla, a few doors up. Great customer service from the ladies within.

We were looking for a bite to eat and a coffee and came across this place, I soon wished we had kept on walking , the old lady serving demanded payment up front because we were seated outside ( had a dog ) . I...

We sat outside in the sun when we visited. Their ice cream is amazingly delicious and the man who was serving us was really friendly too. The service was really quick and efficient, best ice cream parlor in Helensburgh!! 🍦😋

Fantastic ice cream, however outside seating area is filthy. It is appreciated that rates are paid to the local authorities however some hot soapy water and a brush wouldn't go amiss . Not good for visitors.

Amazing ice cream, large choice of flavours, very friendly staff, incredible views to boot. Hadn’t planned to stop but we were driving past and it caught our eye, very glad we gave it a go!

The Man with glasses was so bubbly and kind. As soon as we came in he made us feel very welcomed as we were not around the area. The ice cream was so delicious with dairy alternatives and you can tell it is made fresh and they love what they do!

I honestly love this shop its theeeeee best ice cream shop in Glasgow very nice man that ownes it super friendly always smiling and has some fantastic flavours of ice cream and selection of sweets and cake everyone has to visit this wee shop remember bring me a tub bk for my feedback lol

We called in for breakfast our first time here. We ordered the fried breakfast which when it was served was lying in a thick bath of fat. The bacon was fatty, the egg was awful brown and full of fat, the rest was awful. We...

Great service, amazing ice cream

The queue was quite large but as expected. There was a nice selection of flavours available. The lotus flavour was great and the price was not bad.

10/10 as usual... Best ice cream anywhere. 🍨😀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The ice cream was great and the name of the shop has got a very special meaning to me so yes, it's a place where u need to absolutely stop.

Well this time I went for Nougat Wafer with Bounty Ice Cream! OMG It was awesome. I love the regular Ice cream but fancied a wee change and boy did it deliver! Amazing! Thanks yet again but come on where is the "Nutty" Ice cream!

The manager, if you can call him that - old man glasses and pink t shirt today, is without a doubt the rudest individual I have ever met. How this man is still in business is beyond me. People like him, do not deserve customers...

Dino’s ice cream was recommended by a friend. Huge queue but worth the wait. The traditional vanilla ice cream was absolutely yumcious. In the world of traditional ice cream I’d vote it up there with Colpi’s of Milngavie. Can’t wait for next day trip to...

This old establishment has had a monster of a refurb and is really amazing inside now. Lovely pictures adorn walls the interior is bright but not too modern. There is a lovely confectionary shop area also.Great ice cream with many flavour choices. I had a...

My wife and I chanced on this spot driving through. My fresh baked scone was excellent - still slightly warm and my wife's millionaire's shortbread delicious. Coffee was very good - hot and flavoursome. Service was brusque and starved of pleasantries but it was quick.

I concur with previous reviewer. These owners are just despicable. No customer service skills whatsoever and downright rude. Particularly the 50 something Italian Male. Been going for years and each time say never again because of his bad attitude but end up going in. Determined...

Visited Dinos today with my family, can confidently say we will never be back! Purchased our Ice Creams and went to sit at a table, ordered by an older lady to “move” and take “the front table” (should add that all tables in the establishment...

After a visit out to Loch Lomand, me and my family decided to drive over the hill and in to Helensburgh for a spot of lunch and a walk around before traveling home. Weather was not the greatest, so just decided upon having a ice...

And, they sell it in tubs!!! Stopped in on a recommendation - and the best way to judge is the homemade vanilla. Oh my. Delicious to the last bite! If you're adventurous, do what the locals do and get a 'nugget' - vanilla ice cream,...

I have to second the below review and say that the tablet at Dino's is the best I've ever tried! It crumbles so beautifully in the mouth - you really have to try it for yourself.I live close and can't resist getting a delicious homemade ice cream and pack of tablet, probably more regularly than I should!The service is lovely and the decor is charming. With cute little ice cream chairs and a tradtional feel.

Not only does this cafe do the best ever tablet it also has the best ice cream, lots of flavours to choose from but you can’t beat the original.

Went for a family visit to the bay, great day out started off well with an Ice cream from famous cafe Dino's, recommend the treacle toffee, summer fruits was yummy too.

To be honest, we just wanted some ice cream, so popped in here to taste. They have a great choice and a range of tub sizes! Bear in mind they only take cash, so no cards....

Had a lovely ice cream to finish off our fish and chips from earlier. Raspberry ripple tub for me and double nougat for my greedy hubby (although he ended up wearing a lot of it!)

We visited Dino’s for dessert after a meal elsewhere in Helensburgh. It was past 8.30 and the seating area was in darkness so we ran with our ices through the pouring rain and ate them in the car instead.A man, I believe Dino, was standing behind the counter on his iPad and didn’t look up to even acknowledge our presence but the lady was helpful enough.Hubby had a scoop of strawberry (nice) and summer fruits (amazing!) and I had a scoop of Bounty (beautiful) and chocolate (rich, dark and to die for!). We also took a few of their home made meringues back with us which were deliciously chewy in the middle and highly recommended.The only things to improve our score would be having the seating area available and a friendlier service.

We all enjoyed our ice creams (kids and adults) and they were reasonably priced. The quality is the most important thing, however acknowledging the customer in some way goes a long way. The two women serving were morose and unfriendly. The next time we went for an ice cream we went to the one a few doors down and the ice cream was equally good but service was infinitely better.

Just love this place and it never ever disappoints! Behind every successful business is a good woman and Karl's wife is amazing!

The cafe is depressing and anytime I’ve sat in I have felt like I’m inconveniencing them in some way. The ice cream however is excellent, so I would recommend takeaway. Avoid the coffee though- really milky and weak.

Carla and Ronnie and Amy have been the best ice cream in Scotland for 30 plus years. You can’t go wrong.

Have been visiting this cafe for 40 years and tonight came again with my 93 year old aunt, who waited outside in her wheel chair whilst I went in to buy ice cream, in front of me in the queue was a heavily pregnant young woman with a young toddler about 2 years old who needed the toilet. This was after she had made her purchases. She was told the toilet was out of order and could use the public toilets, but these had closed as I could not access them for my aunt's use. The young woman said I was in ere last night and come regularly because my son likes your icecream and your toilets are always out of order. The woman behind the counter told her I dont have time to clean toilets, the man in charge presumably her husband was just as rude.The young woman was clearly distressed that they denied paying customers the use of the toilet facilities. I left the shop without making my purchase and went to a restaurant to enable my aunt to use the toilet. I remember this current owners father from way back he was a miserable individual aslo. You were always made to feel they were doing you a favour selling you an icecream. Well I will not be visiting this cafe again. Infact Argyll and Bute council's environmental services should be inspecting these premises out of office hours to check their "OUT OF ORDER TOILETS" NOT and should be asking the current owners how regularly the toilets are not available and what they are doing about it. If the cafe owners are unable to provide toilet facilities to paying customers, then they should be forced to cease business.

My daughter had a banana split and I had the knickerbocker. Both were very nice. My daughter wanted tap water but was refused. Apparently, despite the fact it’s a cafe with mains water and I could see the sink with taps and dish washing facilities, they don’t provide it!!! Rather than complaining I bought a bottle of water. So that was their tip gone!!! I’ve never been refused tap water since the changes were introduced. I won’t be back if they adopt that attitude. There was a cafe next door also selling ice cream. They can have my custom next time!!

Seems strange that lunch for a family with icecream could cost you over 30quid but they only take cash!! Sat in the cool icecream cone seats outside. Bounty icecream was delicious and a generous portion.

🍦yummy ice cream! Always look forward going to Helensburgh for it. Bought two 99s last night and a big flask full of Vanilla too. More to eat today!! 😀 Thank you!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We had single scoop cornets which were very generously sized. Not the tastiest ice cream we have ever had but worth a visit. Staff were friendly.

We visited this afternoon for ice cream. We both got the mint choc chip ice cream and the mint flavour was so overpowering that the ice cream was inedible. I would usually never complain about ice cream and never have, and whilst it might sound ridiculous that I have said the mint flavour was too overwhelming, it was so much so that we were unable to eat it.

The elderly woman serving us has no manners and no customer service. Our order was all wrong as she wasn't really listening when taking it. Won't be returning so disappointed as the kids loving going all year round

Dinos advertises that it is open from 9am till 9 pm 7 days a week ....but on very regular occasions they seem to shut whenever they like 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm just whenever it seems to suit them....so dont take their closing times for the truth .....i cant imagine how many people have travelled to get their ice cream just to be let down .....very very ignorant in my opinion

Karl and Fiona make the best ice cream in Scotland! We visit most weeks. They are very friendly and welcoming. Also good for a light lunch, Fiona's home made soup is excellent.

The vanilla ice cream from here should carry an addiction warning.