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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.