The Best Ice Cream Shops in Philly and the Suburbs

What could be better than a tasty treat from Scoops de Ville?
What could be better than a tasty treat from Scoops de Ville?
8/26/21 - By Kristen Sullivan

The heat and humidity of the Philadelphia area can sometimes be unbearable. What better way to beat the heat than cooling off with delicious ice cream? We have rounded up some sweet ice cream spots to visit throughout the summer months. From cone and cups to sundaes and milkshakes, everyone in the family can find a refreshing treat.

Now the big questions: Which flavor will you chose, and more importantly, will you order jimmies or sprinkles to top it off? Read on to discover some of our favorite places to get frozen delights. 

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For other ways to stay cool, visit our posts on Best Swimming LakesFree Splash Pads, Spraygrounds, and Sprinklers, Best Free Swimming Pools, and Free Beaches in New Jersey.

For more dining or dessert options with kids, see our rundown of the best brunch spots for Philly kids, vegan and gluten-free bakeries in the area, and even the best places to dine outside with kids.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in the City of Philadelphia

Artic Scoop

1812 E. Passyunk Avenue
This shop serves unique flavors of ice cream in warm Hong Kong-style egg waffles and Thai-inspired coconut bowls. Frozen treats are also served in cones with flavors such as orange creamsicle, dark chocolate, green Tta matcha, pink vanilla, and red velvet. 

Bassetts Ice Cream

Reading Terminal Market, 11th and Arch streets
Known as America's oldest ice cream company, Bassetts Ice Cream is a fifth-generation business, providing customers with its world famous ice cream treats. In addition to classic vanilla and chocolate, popular flavors include birthday cake, cinnamon, salted caramel pretzel, green tea, and Guatemalan ripple. Seasonal flavors include egg nog and pumpkin.

C & C Creamery

5461 Ridge Road
Open every day of the week, this ice cream shop has homemade, hand-dipped, ice cream, but it also offers water ice, hand-dipped yogurt, and soft-serve ice cream. Plus, patrons can select from oodles of toppings and candies. Yum.

Philly Flavors

2004 Fairmount Ave.
Philly Flavors also boasts a large menu of cold treats, including Italian ice (water ice), soft-serve and hard ice creams, gelato, and more. Patrons can satisfy a frozen treat craving at nearly any moment since the store is open every day of the week until 11pm.

Scoop DeVille

111 S. Independence Mall E.; 1109 Walnut Street; 538 South Street
"Life is short... eat dessert first." And at Scoop DeVille, you call the shots. Choose your base and mix-ins and get a custom flavor created just for you. Plus, there are pick up and delivery options, including extended delivery reaching 60 miles outside of the city. A new South Philly location is said to be opening soon.

Sweet Charlies

1601 Race Street; 1921 Walnut Street
Known as Philadelphia's first hand-rolled ice cream shop, Sweet Charlie's makes its frozen treats right before your eyes. Patrons can select from among 11 delicious flavors to make combinations such as Off Duty, featuring coffee and donuts; Monkey See Monkey Do, with nutella and bananas; and Love Park, which has chocolate, pretzels, and peanut butter. There are locations throughout the country and we are fortunate to have two shops right in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Franklin Fountain

116 Market Street
This old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda shop offers customers a walk down memory lane as well as refreshing desserts. The Franklin Fountain is especially known for its ice cream sodas. This shop's window is open for walk-up customers, but patrons can also order online for pickup or delivery. Cash and credit are accepted.

Weckerly's Ice Cream

9 West Girard Avenue; 265 S 44th Street
A husband-and-wife team is behind Weckerly's exquisite ice cream. Now with locations in Fishtown and West Philly, customers can expect freshly prepared ice cream and new flavors weekly. Weekend specials are regularly offered. Weckerly's famous ice cream sandwiches are available at many locations throughout the city such as DiBruno Brothers, Green Line Cafe, and Lil' Pop Shop. Out in the suburbs? You can find Weckerly's in select stores such as Kimberton Whole Foods.

Zsa's Ice Cream

6616 Germantown Avenue
From Thursday through Sunday, Zsa's Ice Cream is open for pickup or walk-up orders. Patrons can enjoy pints of specialty ice creams such as funfetii cake, sweet cream vanilla bean, and buttered Bbrown sugar peach. Sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, and DIY cones round out the menu.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Bucks County

Dairy Delite — Levittown

7504 Old Bristol Pike
Located near Sesame Place, this is a good spot to stop for a refreshing treat. New flavors such as hand-dipped caramel poretzel or soft-serve lime, and vanilla twist can be found on the menu. Patrons report large servings provide good value. 

DelVal Creamery — Doylestown

2100 Lower State Road
Visitors to DelVal Creamery can expect Uncle Dave's homemade ice cream with fresh ingredients from the farm. Treats are served up in cones, cups, and shakes.

Moo Hope Ice Cream — New Hope

22 South Main Street
Located in the heart of New Hope, Moo Hope Ice Cream makes all of its ice cream, water ice, and yogurt on the premises. This family-run business aims to please with weekly updates to its flavors. Since indoor seating is not being offered as of August 2021, the takeout window and curbside pickup are available. 

RELATED: Where to Get Your Chocolate Fix in Philly 

 
Delight in a fudgy scoop of organic ice cream from OwowCow Creamery. Photo courtesy of OwowCow

OwowCow Creamery — Chalfont, Easton, Ottsville, Wrightstown, Lambertville, NJ

This organic ice cream shop features a variety of unique flavors, including 12 signature core options such as cashew caramel, cookie monstah, honey lavender, and "I Hate Chocolate."

Zebra-Striped Whale — Newtown

12 South State Street
A family-run business, Zebra-Striped Whale has both ice cream treats such as shakes and floats as well as coffee delights. Celebrating a birthday? Custom cake orders can be placed and kids (and adults) can even rent out the place for a party.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Chester County

D'Ascenzo's Gelato —West Chester

132 E. Gay Street
With 24 flavors, such as butter cookie, stracciatella, mocha espresso, and caramel sea salt, made fresh daily with locally sourced ingredients, patrons might struggle with what type of ice cream to chose. A husband-and-wife team are behind this business, which has been serving up frozen treats for 10 years.Vegan options are also available.

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt — Berwyn

576 Lancaster Avenue
What started out as a young couple serving ice cream at a gas station in Ohio has blossomed into a franchise with a shop in Berwyn. With classic sundaes, four-scoop samplers, Handel's Hurricane, and smoothies, there is something delicious for everyone in the family. Ice cream is made fresh daily. You can place your order online in advance so it is ready when you arrive.

La Chispa Creamery — West Grove 

302 East Baltimore Pike
Right off Route 1, ice cream lovers can find this little shop filled with decadent frozen treats. The menu features chilled desserts such as vanilla bean creme brulee and coconut rice pudding; coffees, smoothies, and freezes. But, patrons come for the signature shakes that are almost too beautiful to eat. Try the cookie monster, fruit pebbles, or toasted smore. Delish!

La Michoacana Homemade Ice Cream — Kennett Square

231 East State Road
Offering a variety of exotic flavors of ice cream, water ice, and popsicles, La Michoacana is open seven days a week. Sugar, regular, waffle, and pretzel cones are on the menu along with brain freezes, aka. slushies, and Cazuelas, a sundae featuring three scoops of ice cream and five toppings. For something different, give the sweet corn ice cream and chili powder a try.

Scoops 'n' Smiles — Malvern, West Chester

327 E. King Street; 6 E. Gay Street
Open year-round, and serving up tasty Pennsylvania Dutch ice cream, this  family-owned business has two locations: one right on bustling King Street in downtown Malvern; and the other in the heart of West Chester.

The Station Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Shoppe — West Grove

100 Railroad Avenue
Located near the railroad tracks and the Avon Grove Library in southern Chester County, this family-run business offers delicious hand-dipped ice cream with a variety of flavors and cones.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Delaware County

Chill Out Ice Cream — Ridley Park

12 Acres Drive
Voted favorite ice cream parlor from 2015 to 2020, Chill Out Ice Cream is the perfect place to, well... chill out. With more than 125 flavors of soft-serve ice cream, as well as water ice, and hand-dipped flavors, you'll have a hard time choosing. 

Cocco's Gelatria — Primos

550 S. Oaks Street
This popular local spot is known for producing an authentic Italian gelato as well as fruity sorbets, specialty sundaes, and homemade baked goods. You can even order Fido a doggie gelato, which comes in six different flavors. Orders can be made for pickup or delivery.

Crave Creamery — Springfield

1158 Baltimore Pike
Serving ice cream and gelato, there's no shortage of flavors to choose from at this yummy spot near the Springfield Mall. Open for takeout, this spot also offers water ice and smoothies.

Parlour — Ardmore

18 W. Lancaster Avenue
This gourmet ice cream parlor is open every day from 1pm to 10 pm. It features unique flavors such as Earl Grey with honeycomb and lemon blueberry basil swirl in addition to more classic flavors like milk & cookies and chocolate peanut butter. Just looking for a little treat? Try a mini-cone for $1.

The Sugaree Ice Cream and Candy — Newtown Square/Wayne 

3117 West Chester Pike/134 N. Wayne Avenue
This ice cream shop features Bassets hand-dipped ice cream, Morrone's water ice, and soft-serve gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free options. This spot is known for novelty and nostalgic candies as well.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Montgomery County

Freddy Hill Farms — Lansdale

1400 Sumneytown Pike
Named "Best of Philly" by Philadelphia Magazine, Freddy Hill Farms provides customers with dipped ice cream, milkshakes, flurries, and ice cream cakes.  After getting some ice cream, be sure to check out the other activities at the farm like mini-golf and batting cages.

Petrucci's — King of Prussia, Phoenixville

670 Henderson Road; 472 Nutt Road
With a location in King of Prussia, Montgomery County and Phoenixville, Chester County, this spot makes the list for its classic offerings such as vanilla bean and butter pecan hand-dipped ice cream as well as its homemade water ice flavors such as bada bing cherry and Swedish fish. Of course, floats and shakes are on the menu, too.

Scoops — Conshohocken

515 Fayette Street
This ice cream shop is family-friendly and dog-friendly, too! Choose from ice cream treats or water ice, and enjoy the weather on one of its outdoor benches. Hit an ATM before you arrive as Scoops is cash-only.

Sprinkles Ice Cream Shoppe — Elkins Park

908 Township Line Road
Open year-round, this traditional mom-and-pop ice cream shop offers flavors such as birthday cake, death by chocolate, salted caramel, and strawberry Ccheesecake. Sprinkles is cash-only and pet-friendly.

Sweet Briar Ice Cream and Cafe — Ambler

11 Lindenwood Avenue
In addition to serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sweet Briar Ice Cream and Cafe is known for its refreshing ice cream offerings. For a healthy alternative, be sure to try one of its satisfying smoothies.

RELATED: Restaurants in Philly Where Kids Can Eat Free 

 
Zwahlen's offers more than just ice cream. Enjoy chocolate, cupcakes, and its signature chocolate-covered apples. Photo courtesy of Zwahlen's

Zwahlen's Ice Cream and Chocolate Co. — Audubon

670 Shannondell Blvd.
This family-run business features two favorite products: ice cream AND chocolate. Each day, a different flavor is offered such as krispie treat or very chunky cherry. Guests can enjoy plenty of seating both indoors as well as outside on the patio, weather permitting. You will definitely want to grab one of its many flavors of chocolate-covered apples to take home.

The Best Ice Cream Shops Near Philly in Delaware

Ice Cream Delight —Wilmington

1 Ice Cream Drive
Decisions, decisions... there are more than 52 flavors from which to chose at Ice Cream Delight, appropriately located on Ice Cream Drive. There are even fat-free and sugar-free options.

Woodside Farm Creamery — Hockessin

1310 Little Baltimore Road
Using milk from the farm's 30+ Jersey cows, Woodside Farm Creamery's ice cream is certainly a special treat. Guests can expect banana splits, milkshakes, ice cream cookie sandwiches, and even ice cream pies.

Top image by  Cait Sumner for Mommy Poppins 

Places featured in this article:


The Station Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Shoppe

Zwahlen's Ice Cream and Chocolate Co.