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A scoop of ice cream in a cone with sprinkles on a white background with sprinkles.
Birthday cake ice cream cone.
Milk Jawn

Philly's Essential Ice Cream Shops

The best scoops, soft serve, and gelato in town

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Birthday cake ice cream cone.
| Milk Jawn

Philadelphia was once known as the nation's ice cream capital, so it's no surprise the city is home to many must-try ice cream shops — not that anyone needs a historical reason for craving cold ice cream on a hot summer day. Here are the Philly ice cream destinations worth checking out, whether the goal is fancy flavor combos, rich gelato, an over-the-top sundae, or a simple scoop of vanilla.

Philly is also home to the iconic frozen treat called water ice (or wooder ice, as it’s pronounced locally), which has its own map.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Zsa's Ice Cream

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Zsa’s on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy is always bustling with families and friends looking for a cold treat on a hot summer day. If the rich, delicious ice cream flavors — lemon buttermilk; a rich chocolate sorbet that’s vegan — weren’t enough, Zsa’s now offers ice cream tasting parties in the shop.

C & C Creamery

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Roxborough residents know it well, but any fan of cones piled high with twirls of soft serve should pencil in a stop at C & C Creamery next time they make their way northwest. The family-owned stand has been around since 1955 and makes everything on-site, going way beyond custard to sell hard ice cream, ice cream cakes, water ice, and — like any Philly ice cream shop worth its salt — soft pretzels on the side.

Cloud Cups Fishtown

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Galen Thomas started building a loyal following for his gelato and sorbet with an ice cream cart in 2018. Now, in the former home of Little Baby’s Ice Cream, Cloud Cups has brought frozen treats back to the Fishtown shop next to Pizza Brain. The menu rotates weekly through flavors like red velvet cheesecake and Frosted Flakes, which you can also get as in ice cream float or a Cloudnini, aka an ice cream sandwich on fresh-baked pastry.

Somerset Splits

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Head to Port Richmond’s Somerset Splits for extravagant, indulgent sundaes that will make any summer night feel special. Try the Nutter Butter, made with Marshmallow Fluff, Nutter Butter cookies, and peanut butter swirl ice cream, or the Positive Vibration, with pineapple sauce, coconut, bananas, whipped cream, and a cherry. Keep an eye out for riffs on Push Pops and Choco Tacos, too. Ice cream also comes by the scoop and in milkshakes, but where’s the fun in that?

Float Dreamery

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The vegan ice cream scene is bigger than ever, and Float Dreamery is an excellent local choice for dairy-free gelato. Only available a few hours a week at the Castellino’s window in Fishtown, it’s no wonder Float Dreamery has a devoted following. With rotating flavors like My Thai’p (Thai tea gelato, peanut butter-covered chocolate wafer) and Baklava Corvette (coffee gelato, maple-soaked pecan baklava), preordering online for pickup is well worth it.

Dre's Water Ice and Ice Cream (mobile truck)

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Dre’s is known for its excellent sweet potato pie and banana pudding ice creams, but don’t forget to order Andre Andrew’s water ice, too. They come in all the classic flavors, and then some. Catch Dre’s truck at any number of festivals and events in the Philadelphia area (and beyond) — follow social media to see where the carts pop up next.

Bassetts Ice Cream

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Dating back to 1861, Bassetts is billed as the country’s oldest ice cream company. Its prime Reading Terminal Market location makes it a tourist destination Philly can really get behind. Step up to the marble bar to revel in simple vanilla scoops, nostalgic staples like butter pecan or rum raisin, and rotating contemporary flavors like matcha.

Weckerly's Ice Cream (multiple locations)

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Weckerly’s specializes in French-style ice cream made with local, seasonal ingredients, and it’s superb either by the cup or in one of the ice cream sandwiches. Owners Jen and Andy Satinsky built a fanbase around town before opening a shop in Fishtown and have joined forces with Lil Pop Shop for a sweet shared storefront in West Philly as well.

Gran Caffe L'Aquila

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This multi-faceted Italian coffee shop, wine bar, restaurant, and gelateria in Center City has made a serious name for itself through its exemplary gelato. Courtesy of co-owner and award-winning gelatiere Stefano Biasini, Gran Caffe L'Aquila turns out sweet, savory, and alcohol-spiked flavors that many have deemed the best in town. Try the gelato flight with several bite-size spoonfuls served in a row. Fans can also treat themselves from afar: The online store ships gelato pints nationwide.

The Franklin Fountain

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Few spots do justice to nostalgic soda shop vibes like the Franklin Fountain, an Old City destination from brothers Ryan and Eric Berley. The business only dates back to 2004 but sits in a lovingly renovated and restored historic building. Go for one of the decadent sundaes, like the Stock Market Crunch with rocky road ice cream (invented in 1929), peanut butter sauce, salted pretzels, and whipped cream. The Berleys also run the Franklin Ice Cream Bar next door, several seasonal shops, and Shane Confectionery, which was founded in 1863.

1-900-Ice-Cream

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With dedicated scoop and soft serve shops in Rittenhouse and Ardmore plus a robust nationwide shipping program, 1-900-Ice-Cream is never far from reach. And isn’t that a relief: The menu of rotating flavors is colorful, creative, and jam-packed with exciting ingredients (say, Italian rainbow cookies or habanero chiles).

The Igloo

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The Igloo is a neighborhood staple at 23rd and South in Graduate Hospital. This locally owned shop makes most of its soft serve on-site and draws crowds for its popular outdoor movie nights in the summer.

Cuzzy’s Ice Cream Parlor

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Having previously worked at cult favorite 1-900-Ice-Cream, Cuzzy Angiolillo brought his sweet skillset to his own shop in Queen Village. It quickly became a destination for neighbors and Philly’s widespread ice cream-loving community. Cuzzy’s sells familiar flavors like pistachio and brown butter with high-quality ingredients, including fresh baked goods. Samples are encouraged here, and do get the fresh waffle cone — it’s the best in town.

The Chilly Banana

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Ice cream purists may say that ice cream must be made with milk, even if that milk is dairy-free. But purists be damned. Chilly Banana’s vegan whipped banana ice cream has no dairy and no added sugar and is delicious at that. Find a storefront on East Passyunk and a truck bopping around to different events in town — check social media to see where it ends up next.

La Guerrerense

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A staple of the Italian Market, La Guerrerense draws crowds for its more than 60 flavors of ice cream made with a recipe from Guerrero, Mexico. Many of the flavors in this brightly colored shop are unusual for Philly, like eggnog, cheese, and Angel’s Kiss, a combo of cherry ice cream with marshmallows, dried fruit, and granola pieces.

Milk Jawn

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After building a substantial following through delivery and pop-ups, Milk Jawn opened a much-anticipated scoop shop on East Passyunk. The vibe here is joyful, with fun flavors like birthday cake, malted milk toffee crunch, and vegan Troop Leader (with Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies). Tip: You can still order pints for delivery from Stone’s Beer & Beverage Market in Fairmount.

Arctic Scoop

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East Passyunk’s Arctic Scoop takes its cues from Asian street snacks to create some of the most photogenic desserts in town. Choose a warm Hong Kong-style egg waffle or a Thai-inspired coconut bowl, an ice cream flavor like pandan, and colorful toppings including fresh fruit, Fruity Pebbles, and strawberry drizzle.

Zsa's Ice Cream

Zsa’s on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy is always bustling with families and friends looking for a cold treat on a hot summer day. If the rich, delicious ice cream flavors — lemon buttermilk; a rich chocolate sorbet that’s vegan — weren’t enough, Zsa’s now offers ice cream tasting parties in the shop.

C & C Creamery

Roxborough residents know it well, but any fan of cones piled high with twirls of soft serve should pencil in a stop at C & C Creamery next time they make their way northwest. The family-owned stand has been around since 1955 and makes everything on-site, going way beyond custard to sell hard ice cream, ice cream cakes, water ice, and — like any Philly ice cream shop worth its salt — soft pretzels on the side.

Cloud Cups Fishtown

Galen Thomas started building a loyal following for his gelato and sorbet with an ice cream cart in 2018. Now, in the former home of Little Baby’s Ice Cream, Cloud Cups has brought frozen treats back to the Fishtown shop next to Pizza Brain. The menu rotates weekly through flavors like red velvet cheesecake and Frosted Flakes, which you can also get as in ice cream float or a Cloudnini, aka an ice cream sandwich on fresh-baked pastry.

Somerset Splits

Head to Port Richmond’s Somerset Splits for extravagant, indulgent sundaes that will make any summer night feel special. Try the Nutter Butter, made with Marshmallow Fluff, Nutter Butter cookies, and peanut butter swirl ice cream, or the Positive Vibration, with pineapple sauce, coconut, bananas, whipped cream, and a cherry. Keep an eye out for riffs on Push Pops and Choco Tacos, too. Ice cream also comes by the scoop and in milkshakes, but where’s the fun in that?

Float Dreamery

The vegan ice cream scene is bigger than ever, and Float Dreamery is an excellent local choice for dairy-free gelato. Only available a few hours a week at the Castellino’s window in Fishtown, it’s no wonder Float Dreamery has a devoted following. With rotating flavors like My Thai’p (Thai tea gelato, peanut butter-covered chocolate wafer) and Baklava Corvette (coffee gelato, maple-soaked pecan baklava), preordering online for pickup is well worth it.

Dre's Water Ice and Ice Cream (mobile truck)

Dre’s is known for its excellent sweet potato pie and banana pudding ice creams, but don’t forget to order Andre Andrew’s water ice, too. They come in all the classic flavors, and then some. Catch Dre’s truck at any number of festivals and events in the Philadelphia area (and beyond) — follow social media to see where the carts pop up next.

Bassetts Ice Cream

Dating back to 1861, Bassetts is billed as the country’s oldest ice cream company. Its prime Reading Terminal Market location makes it a tourist destination Philly can really get behind. Step up to the marble bar to revel in simple vanilla scoops, nostalgic staples like butter pecan or rum raisin, and rotating contemporary flavors like matcha.

Weckerly's Ice Cream (multiple locations)

Weckerly’s specializes in French-style ice cream made with local, seasonal ingredients, and it’s superb either by the cup or in one of the ice cream sandwiches. Owners Jen and Andy Satinsky built a fanbase around town before opening a shop in Fishtown and have joined forces with Lil Pop Shop for a sweet shared storefront in West Philly as well.

Gran Caffe L'Aquila

This multi-faceted Italian coffee shop, wine bar, restaurant, and gelateria in Center City has made a serious name for itself through its exemplary gelato. Courtesy of co-owner and award-winning gelatiere Stefano Biasini, Gran Caffe L'Aquila turns out sweet, savory, and alcohol-spiked flavors that many have deemed the best in town. Try the gelato flight with several bite-size spoonfuls served in a row. Fans can also treat themselves from afar: The online store ships gelato pints nationwide.

The Franklin Fountain

Few spots do justice to nostalgic soda shop vibes like the Franklin Fountain, an Old City destination from brothers Ryan and Eric Berley. The business only dates back to 2004 but sits in a lovingly renovated and restored historic building. Go for one of the decadent sundaes, like the Stock Market Crunch with rocky road ice cream (invented in 1929), peanut butter sauce, salted pretzels, and whipped cream. The Berleys also run the Franklin Ice Cream Bar next door, several seasonal shops, and Shane Confectionery, which was founded in 1863.

1-900-Ice-Cream

With dedicated scoop and soft serve shops in Rittenhouse and Ardmore plus a robust nationwide shipping program, 1-900-Ice-Cream is never far from reach. And isn’t that a relief: The menu of rotating flavors is colorful, creative, and jam-packed with exciting ingredients (say, Italian rainbow cookies or habanero chiles).

The Igloo

The Igloo is a neighborhood staple at 23rd and South in Graduate Hospital. This locally owned shop makes most of its soft serve on-site and draws crowds for its popular outdoor movie nights in the summer.

Cuzzy’s Ice Cream Parlor

Having previously worked at cult favorite 1-900-Ice-Cream, Cuzzy Angiolillo brought his sweet skillset to his own shop in Queen Village. It quickly became a destination for neighbors and Philly’s widespread ice cream-loving community. Cuzzy’s sells familiar flavors like pistachio and brown butter with high-quality ingredients, including fresh baked goods. Samples are encouraged here, and do get the fresh waffle cone — it’s the best in town.

The Chilly Banana

Ice cream purists may say that ice cream must be made with milk, even if that milk is dairy-free. But purists be damned. Chilly Banana’s vegan whipped banana ice cream has no dairy and no added sugar and is delicious at that. Find a storefront on East Passyunk and a truck bopping around to different events in town — check social media to see where it ends up next.

La Guerrerense

A staple of the Italian Market, La Guerrerense draws crowds for its more than 60 flavors of ice cream made with a recipe from Guerrero, Mexico. Many of the flavors in this brightly colored shop are unusual for Philly, like eggnog, cheese, and Angel’s Kiss, a combo of cherry ice cream with marshmallows, dried fruit, and granola pieces.

Related Maps

Milk Jawn

After building a substantial following through delivery and pop-ups, Milk Jawn opened a much-anticipated scoop shop on East Passyunk. The vibe here is joyful, with fun flavors like birthday cake, malted milk toffee crunch, and vegan Troop Leader (with Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies). Tip: You can still order pints for delivery from Stone’s Beer & Beverage Market in Fairmount.

Arctic Scoop

East Passyunk’s Arctic Scoop takes its cues from Asian street snacks to create some of the most photogenic desserts in town. Choose a warm Hong Kong-style egg waffle or a Thai-inspired coconut bowl, an ice cream flavor like pandan, and colorful toppings including fresh fruit, Fruity Pebbles, and strawberry drizzle.

Related Maps