clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

The 16 Hottest Ice Cream Shops in the US Right Now

View as Map

It's hot out there, and as you celebrate your last long weekend of Summer 2013, you may be inclined to get some ice cream. Eater has rounded up 16 worthy ice cream candidates that opened across the country over the past year or so, and you have a wide array of options.

Like ice cream sandwiches? Head to the Baked Bear in San Diego to get custom built ones. Floats? How about Michael White's the Butterfly in New York City? Boozey ice cream? Fifty Licks in Portland. Gelato? The Art of Flavors in Las Vegas. Crazy flavors? Izzy's in Minneapolis is your best bet. Any possible combination of cupcakes and ice cream (cupcake sundaes, cupcake sandwiches, cupcake shakes, cupcake etc.)? Sprinkles Ice Cream in Dallas. And the list goes on.

Below, the Eater National Ice Cream Heatmap. Any obvious omissions, head to the comments. And have a happy Labor Day weekend.



· All Eater Heatmaps [-E-]
· All Ice Cream Coverage on Eater [-E-]

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop

Copy Link

Yes, this is an ice cream shop at Disney World. La Glace is a new addition to Epcot Center's France area, and they're keeping an eye on being super traditional. Stressed out moms and dads, do note you can get a shot of liqueur poured over that scoop.
[Photo]

Art Of Flavors Gelato

Copy Link

Restauranteur Felix Arellano (Viva Las Arepas) has opened his first gelateria, serving gelatos and sorbets that are made in-house. Chef Desyree Alberganti makes flavors both traditional (hazlenut, dark chocolate) and more modern (s'mores).
[Photo]

The Baked Bear

Copy Link

Ice cream is great and all, but sometimes it's better between two cookies (or brownies, as the case may be). The Baked Bear serves "custom ice cream sandwiches" with cookies including snickerdoodle, funfetti, and waffle, and has traditional ice cream options such as rocky road, cookie dough, and strawberry cheesecake.
[Photo]

The Butterfly

Copy Link

Michael White's new Wisconsin-influenced restaurant and bar features an array of updated classic desserts. Included: a float with vanilla ice cream, Dr. Pepper, and chocolate chip cookies; the "Hot Blonde" with salted caramel and brown butter pecan ice cream over a blondie; and the Coppa Cola, with Coca-Cola flavored ice cream, caramel popcorn, whiskey cream, and cherries.
[Photo]

Cone Gourmet Ice Cream

Copy Link

Cone is an Irish-influenced ice creamery started by Irishman Sean McGuire. They serve their spin on the famous 99 Flake and something called an "Irish Breakfast Sundae," which is their Irish Breakfast ice cream, a maple bacon ice cream, hot fudge, and cornflakes.
[Photo]

Doi Moi

Copy Link

Vietnamese-inspired Doi Moi is going the soft serve route, with a rotating cast of flavors from pastry chef Brittany Frick (formerly of Estadio). There will be treats to go with the ice cream, including fried bananas and coconut tapioca soup with corn.
[Photo]

Fifty Licks

Copy Link

The brand spanking new brick-and-mortar location of food cart Fifty Licks at 2021 SE Clinton St. offers their ice cream as well as ice cream cocktails.
[Photo]

Izzy's Ice Cream

Copy Link

St. Paul's favorite ice creamery has expanded to Minneapolis. Izzy's goes deep with dozens of flavors, including classics (butter pecan), new spins (burnt caramel), and mysterious flavors that must be tried to be understood (Swedish garden party? "Spongebob"?).
[Photo]

Kuma Snow Cream

Copy Link

This is not technically ice cream: Kuma (Japanese for "polar bear") serves creamy shaved ice in five flavors including mango, kuma snow, taro, strawberry, and green tea. Owner Jet Tila has eyes on expansion, with locations in New York and Los Angeles already planned.
[Photo]

You're going to need a lot of ice cream to get through Phoenix's heat, and Melt is happily providing. Serving ice cream and gelato in housemade waffle cones, Melt will also make your ice cream into frozen flower bouquets if that's the kind of thing you're into.
[Photo]

OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

Copy Link

Care for a scoop of chorizo caramel swirl? This Brooklyn ice cream shop from wd~50 alum Sam Mason scoops flavors both wild and more traditional (mint chocolate chunk, chcolate) in a rotating menu. The bases are made from local dairy, and OddFellows also serves sorbets in flavors like celery and strawberry tomato.
[Photo]

Quenelle

Copy Link

Quenelle is the new frozen dessert boutique from Lukshon/Father's Office pastry chef John Park. Gelato flavors include PB&J, apricot cheesecake, Thai iced tea, and more.
[Photo]

Sprinkles Ice Cream

Copy Link

Sprinkles cupcakery expands with their first location of Sprinkles Ice Cream outside of Southern California. Yes, there are cupcake sundaes, and, apparently, lines out the door.
[Photo]

Sweet Cow

Copy Link

The second location of this Louisville creamery took a big leap by entering the Denver market. Success there (along with ice cream flavors that veer more traditional than wild, though they include things like sweet corn and strawberry margarita) means the nascent ice cream chain already has its eyes on expanding to Boulder.
[Photo]

Tin Pot Creamery

Copy Link

Former Facebook pastry chef Becky Sunseri opened Tin Pot to serve her creative takes on ice cream, with flavors including Lavender Blueberry Swirl and Earl Grey Tea.
[Photo]

The Parlour

Copy Link

This first brick-and-mortar location of Durham's Parlour ice cream bus serves ice cream made from local dairy and offers up flavors like Vietnamese Coffee, Roasted Peach, and Summer Corn With Blackberry Swirl.
[Photo]

Loading comments...

L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop

Yes, this is an ice cream shop at Disney World. La Glace is a new addition to Epcot Center's France area, and they're keeping an eye on being super traditional. Stressed out moms and dads, do note you can get a shot of liqueur poured over that scoop.
[Photo]

Art Of Flavors Gelato

Restauranteur Felix Arellano (Viva Las Arepas) has opened his first gelateria, serving gelatos and sorbets that are made in-house. Chef Desyree Alberganti makes flavors both traditional (hazlenut, dark chocolate) and more modern (s'mores).
[Photo]

The Baked Bear

Ice cream is great and all, but sometimes it's better between two cookies (or brownies, as the case may be). The Baked Bear serves "custom ice cream sandwiches" with cookies including snickerdoodle, funfetti, and waffle, and has traditional ice cream options such as rocky road, cookie dough, and strawberry cheesecake.
[Photo]

The Butterfly

Michael White's new Wisconsin-influenced restaurant and bar features an array of updated classic desserts. Included: a float with vanilla ice cream, Dr. Pepper, and chocolate chip cookies; the "Hot Blonde" with salted caramel and brown butter pecan ice cream over a blondie; and the Coppa Cola, with Coca-Cola flavored ice cream, caramel popcorn, whiskey cream, and cherries.
[Photo]

Cone Gourmet Ice Cream

Cone is an Irish-influenced ice creamery started by Irishman Sean McGuire. They serve their spin on the famous 99 Flake and something called an "Irish Breakfast Sundae," which is their Irish Breakfast ice cream, a maple bacon ice cream, hot fudge, and cornflakes.
[Photo]

Doi Moi

Vietnamese-inspired Doi Moi is going the soft serve route, with a rotating cast of flavors from pastry chef Brittany Frick (formerly of Estadio). There will be treats to go with the ice cream, including fried bananas and coconut tapioca soup with corn.
[Photo]

Fifty Licks

The brand spanking new brick-and-mortar location of food cart Fifty Licks at 2021 SE Clinton St. offers their ice cream as well as ice cream cocktails.
[Photo]

Izzy's Ice Cream

St. Paul's favorite ice creamery has expanded to Minneapolis. Izzy's goes deep with dozens of flavors, including classics (butter pecan), new spins (burnt caramel), and mysterious flavors that must be tried to be understood (Swedish garden party? "Spongebob"?).
[Photo]

Kuma Snow Cream

This is not technically ice cream: Kuma (Japanese for "polar bear") serves creamy shaved ice in five flavors including mango, kuma snow, taro, strawberry, and green tea. Owner Jet Tila has eyes on expansion, with locations in New York and Los Angeles already planned.
[Photo]

Melt

You're going to need a lot of ice cream to get through Phoenix's heat, and Melt is happily providing. Serving ice cream and gelato in housemade waffle cones, Melt will also make your ice cream into frozen flower bouquets if that's the kind of thing you're into.
[Photo]

OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

Care for a scoop of chorizo caramel swirl? This Brooklyn ice cream shop from wd~50 alum Sam Mason scoops flavors both wild and more traditional (mint chocolate chunk, chcolate) in a rotating menu. The bases are made from local dairy, and OddFellows also serves sorbets in flavors like celery and strawberry tomato.
[Photo]

Quenelle

Quenelle is the new frozen dessert boutique from Lukshon/Father's Office pastry chef John Park. Gelato flavors include PB&J, apricot cheesecake, Thai iced tea, and more.
[Photo]

Sprinkles Ice Cream

Sprinkles cupcakery expands with their first location of Sprinkles Ice Cream outside of Southern California. Yes, there are cupcake sundaes, and, apparently, lines out the door.
[Photo]

Sweet Cow

The second location of this Louisville creamery took a big leap by entering the Denver market. Success there (along with ice cream flavors that veer more traditional than wild, though they include things like sweet corn and strawberry margarita) means the nascent ice cream chain already has its eyes on expanding to Boulder.
[Photo]

Tin Pot Creamery

Former Facebook pastry chef Becky Sunseri opened Tin Pot to serve her creative takes on ice cream, with flavors including Lavender Blueberry Swirl and Earl Grey Tea.
[Photo]

Related Maps

The Parlour

This first brick-and-mortar location of Durham's Parlour ice cream bus serves ice cream made from local dairy and offers up flavors like Vietnamese Coffee, Roasted Peach, and Summer Corn With Blackberry Swirl.
[Photo]

Related Maps