What is your favorite flavor of summer? Mine? Ice Cream. Specifically mint chocolate chip or peach.
Use our round up of our favorite independent ice cream shops to enjoy frosty, creamy goodness. Got any scoop shops to add to our list?
We also have a list of the Best Frozen Yogurt in the Twin Cities… OR make your own summer treat at home with this super simple and a delicious recipe for homemade strawberry ice cream from SheCooksDesign. I’m sure once you got this recipe down, you can try your hand at vanilla, chocolate, or any other flavor that fits your fancy.
Thanks to our Summer Fun Guide Partner
Want to slurp down some free ice cream? Check our Free Ice Cream Days, Ice Cream Socials and Cheap Cones page.
The Best Ice Cream in Minneapolis
Bebe Zito Ice Cream
704 W. 22nd Street | 501 30th Ave SE | Eat Street Crossing Food Hall on Nicollet Ave (Also in Woodbury)
The scoop: Seasonal flavors are their jam as well as serving options for gluten free, dairy free, and vegan ice cream lovers, focusing their efforts on 5-10 flavors at a time.
Dream Creamery
816 NE Lowry Ave, Minneapolis, MN
The scoop: Located in the Holland neighborhood of NE Minneapolis, 22 flavors rotate with the seasons served in cups and sugar cones. If you want to be really adventurous, you can try one of their Fun Buns:
Savory milk bun brushed with sugar and warmed in a fun bun press. The inside of the bun is filled with a scoop of ice cream of your choice. Comes with a side of chocolate sauce.
Fletcher’s Ice Cream & Cafe
The scoop: Serving ice cream, pastries, and coffee, this gem is focused on special dietary needs without sacrificing taste.
La Michoacana Purepecha
701 E Lake St., Minneapolis, MN (also in Eagan and St. Paul)
The scoop: The founders of this shop are immigrants from Michoacana, Mexico and share the authentic flavors of their childhood. Treats include ice cream and fresh popsicles and aquas frescas and yogurth and snacks.
Milkjam Creamery
2743 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN
The scoop: Ice cream shop with unique adult combos and kid-approved flavors.
Minnesota Nice Cream
807 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis, MN (Also in Stillwater seasonally)
The scoop: Opened in 2016, this soft-serve cone emporium include 3 free toppings with each order. You can get your treat in a cone, dish, malt, shake or float.
Pumphouse Creamery
4754 Chicago Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
The scoop: I think this is the most natural-ingrediented (is that a term?) ice cream shop I have been to. I thoroughly enjoyed this destination. Currently open for take home pints and quarts from 12-6pm. Keep in mind that since everything is natural, your ice cream may not look the way you expect. The mint chocolate chip is not green because green food coloring is the epitome of not natural.
Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream
4321 Upton Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55410
1007 Franklin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
The scoop: At the corner of Hennepin and Franklin in Minneapolis and in Linden Hills, Sebastian Joe’s is a Twin Cities destination for any ice cream lover. It is exquisite, expensive, and exclusive. Try their ice cream sandwiches and Brr Bars!
Sonny’s Cafe
3403 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN
The scoop: Serving gourmet flavors of ice cream, gelato & sorbet – Sonny’s claim to fame is whipping up over 1,000 different flavors throughout the year. This is where you could easily find menu flavors like honey lavender.
Treats Cereal Bar & Boba
314 N 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN (Also located at Mall of America, St. Paul, Blaine)
The scoop: Mixing breakfast cereal with delicious ice cream. Could there be anything better? And Boba ice cream, too. Treats goes above and beyond what you can imagine.
The Best Ice Cream in St Paul
2 Scoops Ice Cream Eatery
921 Selby Ave, St. Paul, MN
The scoop: Family owned and operated 2 Scoops has homemade waffle cones and 18+ ice cream flavors.
Cold Front
490 Hamline Ave. S, St. Paul, MN 55116
The scoop: Cold Front is in the Highland neighborhood of St Paul. Delicious, inventive flavors, an old-fashioned malt shop vibe and their “Snowball Flights” – each one includes four mini-cones — make them distinctive.
Conny’s Creamy Cone
1197 N Dale St., St. Paul
The scoop: Conny’s claim to fame is her 27 flavors of soft-serve ice cream offered at great prices – kids scoops starting at just over a dollar. Open seasonally starting in late March.
Grand Ole Creamery
750 Grand Ave., St. Paul & 4737 Cedar Ave. S, Minneapolis
The scoop: Grand Ole Creamery is a delightful icon of Grand Avenue and now it’s in Minneapolis, too, by Lake Nokomis. Check out my review here. Offering online ordering & curbside pickup.
Nellie’s Ice Cream
2034 Marshall Ave. St. Paul, MN
The scoop: Nellie’s is the sister store to Nelson’s Ice Cream and serves amazing ice cream as well as ice cream sandwiches.
Nelson’s Ice Cream
The scoop: My first visit to Nelson’s blew my mind. Order the kiddie size. Trust me on this one. Just order the kiddie size.
Pasticceria in Cossetta Ailmentari
211 7th St. W, St. Paul
The scoop: In the heart of the Cossetta Ailmentari between the market and the eatery, you will find the Pasticceria full of baked goods and gelato. Need I say more?
Scoopz Ice Cream dba LaCuchara
579 Dale St. N, St. Paul
The scoop: “Scoopz “LaCuchara” Ice Cream is the first black owned homemade Mexican Ice Cream in the Twin Cities.” -from Facebook Page
Wonders Ice Cream
298 University Ave, Saint Paul & Mall of America
The scoop: Rolled ice cream is a new phenomenon that I had the privilege of experiencing for the first time on the streets of Thailand. And it was amazing! I’m so excited that we have a rolled ice cream shop in St. Paul now.
- Wonders Ice Cream
The Best Ice Cream in the Twin Cities North Metro
Ice Cream Shops in the Northwest Metro
Big Dipper Creamery
1250 126th Ave NE, Blaine & North Oaks
The scoop: Serves homemade old fashioned ice cream; open seasonally.
Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop
1625 Cty Hwy 10 Spring Lake Park, MN (locations in Bloomington, Richfield)
The scoop: Old fashion soda fountain, made to order treats.
Flamingo’s Ice Cream and Treats
7229 University Ave. NE, Fridley
The scoop: Hand-dipped ice cream made in house. Open seasonally in Amy’s Chocolates
Two Scoops
1918 – 2nd Ave S, Anoka | 215 Central Ave, Osseo
The scoop: Featuring Chocolate Shoppe ice cream from Madison, Wisconsin and gourmet popcorn. Two Scoops is a fun small town stop!
Ice Cream Shops in the Northeast Metro
Cup and Cone
2126 4th St., White Bear Lake
The scoop: This yummy soft serve joint is the pride of White Bear Lake. The prices will have you crying tears of joy. Open seasonally.
Minnesota Nice Cream
308 Chestnut St E, Stillwater, MN 55082 (Open seasonally)
The scoop: Opened in NE Minneapolis in 2016, the Stillwater location is open seasonally. This soft-serve cone emporium include 3 free toppings with each order. You can get your treat in a cone, dish, malt, shake or float. Yum, yum!
Nelson’s Ice Cream
920 Olive St. W, Stillwater & Snelling Ave, St Paul
The scoop: Serves Cedar Crest ice cream. First-time visitors, all I want to suggest to you is that you should get the kiddy size — please just trust me on this one! Open seasonally.
Schoony’s Malt Shop and Pizzeria
384 Bench St., Taylors Falls
The scoop: Serves Cedar Crest ice cream so it’s fantastic. Over 50 flavors for you to choose from and has a fun atmosphere.
Selma’s Ice Cream Parlor
3419 St. Croix Trail S, Afton
The scoop: The oldest ice cream shop in Minnesota serves Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream from Madison, Wisconsin. Selma’s is a great deal and a sweet stop after visiting Afton area attractions such as AFTON STATE PARK or the CARPENTER ST CROIX VALLEY NATURE CENTER.
Reader Recommendation! LUV Ice Cream
2587 7th Ave E, North St Paul (also online and at local grocery stores)
Reader Andrea recommends LUV Ice Cream as an “amazing” and “creamy” sugar free option.
The Best Ice Cream in the Twin Cities South Metro
Ice Cream Shops in the Southeast Metro
Bebe Zito Ice Cream
9000 Hudson Rd #620, Woodbury, MN
The scoop: Seasonal flavors are their jam as well as serving options for gluten free, dairy free, and vegan ice cream lovers, focusing their efforts on 5-10 flavors at a time.
Hometown Sweets
Mik Mart Ice Cream
Ice Cream Shops in the Southwest Metro
Wheel Fun Rentals Malt Shop (f/k/a Malt-Tees Malt Shop)
6335 Portland Ave, Richfield
The scoop: Make a whole summer day at RICHFIELD VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK – swim at the pool, play a round of mini golf at MALT-TEES MINIATURE GOLF, rent a surrey bike from Wheel Fun Rentals and top it all off with an old-fashioned malt from this ice cream joint. Open seasonally.
The Best Ice Cream in the Twin Cities West Metro
Adele’s Frozen Custard
800 Excelsior Blvd., Excelsior
The scoop: I remember going to Adele’s when I was a little girl, but that was the last time I was there. Until last summer, and the custard was just as tasty as I remember it. If you like rich and creamy frozen desserts, you will love Adele’s treats.
Edina Creamery
4940 France Ave, Edina
The scoop: Serves homemade ice cream. We had this years ago on an anniversary that was way before children. Must have been delicious or it wouldn’t have stuck with me all these years!
Sweet Science Ice Cream
3919 Market Street, Edina, MN
The scoop: All-natural and locally sourced ingredients made in small batches. All ice creams and swirls and cookies and sauces and crunches are made by hand. 96% of flavors are gluten-free.
FIND MORE THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS!
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We like the flavors at 2 Scoops Ice Cream in St. Paul. 921 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN, https://2scoopeatery.com, 651.645.0227. The ‘Exhausted Parent’ flavor is perfect after a busy week!
Thank you Sy. That sounds like the perfect flavor for all of us!
Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you, Jon Eric Bradley! I know it was a labor of love for Gianna to taste test all of these ice cream parlors. But seriously, I think she’s due to re-visit these shops this coming summer. What do you think?
I noticed LUV ice cream cafe was not on here. It’s in North Saint Paul. Granted it is a sugar free Ice Cream shop but the ice cream is amazing and so creamy. If you haven’t tried it, I recommend.
Thank you, Andrea! I’ve added your recommendation to the article.