FFTC’s Guide to the Best Ice Cream Shops in the Twin Cities

Four flavors of ice cream cones from Cold Front in St. Paul, Minnesota

What is your favorite flavor of summer?  Mine?  Ice Cream. Specifically mint chocolate chip and peach.

Nothing is more perfect for summer than ice cream cones or shakes or sundaes or banana splits or waffle cones or dishes or…. you name it. If you want to enjoy frosty, creamy goodness, our round up of our favorite independent ice cream shops features the best ice cream around town. 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 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.

 

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

LaLa Homemade Ice Cream

3146 Hennepin Ave South, Minneapolis
The scoop: With 16-18 rotating and creative flavors mad with the finest ingredients, you don’t know what you’ll find including concoctions like Purple Reign, Good Girl, and Charlotte’s Web. Find LaLa at Farmers Markets around the metro, too.

Minnesota Nice Cream

807 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis (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. Yum, yum!

Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream

4321 Upton Ave. S, Minneapolis OR 1007 Franklin Ave S, Minneapolis
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. And did I mention incredibly delicious? Try their ice cream sandwiches and Brr Bars!

Sonny’s Cafe

3403 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis
The scoop: Personally, I still need to get here.  Anyone want to come with? 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.

Milkjam Creamery

2743 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis
The scoop: Ice cream shop with unique adult combos and kid-approved flavors.

Pumphouse Creamery

4754 Chicago Ave. S, Minneapolis
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 mint chocolate chip uses food coloring.  


The Best Ice Cream in St Paul

Four flavors of ice cream cones from Cold Front in St. Paul, Minnesota
Cold Front

Cold Front

490 Hamline Ave. S, St. Paul
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.

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.

Ice cream cup with cookies from Wonders Ice Cream in St. Paul Minnesota
Wonders Ice Cream

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 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.

Blue Sun Soda Shop

1625 Cty Hwy 10 Spring Lake Park, MN (locations in Bloomington, Richfield)
The scoop: Look for Ice Cream Float days when Blue Sun will add a free scoop of ice cream to any soda purchase!

Flamingo’s Ice Cream and Treats

1258 East Moore Lake Dr., Fridley
The scoop: In the location of what was Grandpa’s Ice Cream, you can find hand-dipped  ice cream made in house.  Open seasonally.

Two Scoops

1918 – 2nd Ave S, Anoka
The scoop: Featuring Chocolate Shoppe ice cream from Madison, Wisconsin, Two Scoops is a fun small town stop!

Ice Cream Shops in the Northeast Metro

Ozzie’s Great American Ice Cream

4687 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake
The scoop: Serves Cedar Crest ice cream. Cash only, ATM is onsite.

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.

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.


The Best Ice Cream in the Twin Cities South Metro

Ice Cream Shops in the Southeast Metro

Hastings Dairy Store

1701 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033
Formally known as the Hastings Co-op Creamery, their chocolate shakes are simply THE BEST we’ve ever had. Ice cold and refreshing. A small size is super satisfying and just over a buck!

Ice cream cup from Hastings Dairy Store in Hastings Minnesota
Hastings Dairy

 

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.

Girls enjoying a snack and malts at Malt-Tees in Richfield, Minnesota
Malt-Tees Malt Shop

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!


FIND MORE THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS!

GET STARTED PLANNING YOUR BEST SUMMER!

Everything under the sun you need to know about family fun this summer in the Twin Cities.
Beat boredom and fill your long school break days exploring the best the Twin Cities has to offer in the way of parks, swim spots, community entertainment and local festivals
with our ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SUMMER IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS.

Family Fun Twin Cities Ultimate Guide to a Summer to Remember - Background Waterpark Slide

2 thoughts on “FFTC’s Guide to the Best Ice Cream Shops in the Twin Cities”

  1. 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.

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