Photo by Caitlin Abrams
cold-front
Cold Front
2 Scoops
Selby Avenue’s scoop shop serves more than 18 flavors of ice cream, plus chili, a brisket sandwich, and multiple kinds of hot dogs. The shop supports the local community through its 2 Scoops for Kids Foundation, because every kid deserves ice cream. 921 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-645-0227, 2scoopseatery.com
Adele’s Frozen Custard
Peddling rich and decadent frozen custard on the shores of Lake Minnetonka for more than 35 years, Adele’s is a quaint throwback to lazier days spent licking melted cream off the back of your hand without a care in the world. Open seasonally. 800 Excelsior Blvd., Excelsior, 952-470-0035, adelescustard.com
Bebe Zito
With three locations around the Twin Cities, you’re never far from a scoop of Bebe Zito’s unique flavors, like chocolate mezcal or lemon olive oil. Into something a bit newer? Bebe Zito has partnered with Cultivated CBD, a local Black-owned company, to create ice cream containing hemp-derived THC for a super chill treat. Get it? Chill… 704 W. 22nd St., Mpls.; Eat Street Crossing, 2819 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; The Market at Malcolm Yards, 501 30th Ave. SE, Mpls., 612-315-5180, bebezitomn.com
Cold Front
This charming St. Paul soda fountain shop serves Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream from Wisconsin and local favorite Backstory Coffee. The team creates their own syrups, house-made chai, and hot chocolate. Try the Snowball Flights—a serving of four tiny cones so you can try a variety of flavors—for a fun little treat. 490 Hamline Ave. S., St. Paul, 651-508-1469, coldfrontmsp.com
Conny’s Creamy Cone
An adorable red-and-white stand just blocks from Como Lake, Conny’s offers 31 flavors of soft-serve ice cream, with unique choices like amaretto, German chocolate, and Irish cream. The best way to experience regular ol’ vanilla, chocolate, and twist cones is swathed in a delicate coating of chocolate, cherry, or butterscotch. Conny’s also serves a vast menu of entrées like burgers and hot dogs, all to be enjoyed on outdoor picnic tables. Open seasonally. 1197 N. Dale St., St. Paul, 651-488-4150, connyscreamycone.com
Dar’s Double Scoop
Dar’s is the quintessential neighborhood ice cream parlor, serving pizza and a long list of fried foods that go perfectly with a scoop or four of ice cream. Deep-fried pickle chips and a root beer float? It’s like the Fourth of July every day at Dar’s. 1048 Rice St., St. Paul, 651-489-2422, darsdoublescoop.com
Fletcher’s Ice Cream
Northeast Minneapolis’s Fletcher’s serves a wide array of ice cream treats, including malts, sundaes, and ice cream sandwiches. A fan favorite is the warm, pillowy waffle topped with a scoop of ice cream and freshly made whipped cream. Simple pleasure at its best. 306 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-751-1739, fletchersicecream.com
wonders
Wonders Ice Cream
Grand Ole Creamery
If it’s good enough to be included in Saveur magazine’s top 12 ice cream stops in the nation, who are we to argue? Grand Ole Creamery has been a staple in St. Paul for more than 30 years, offering 200-plus rotating house-made flavors served in malted waffle cones (look for a Whopper at the bottom). 750 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-293-1655; open seasonally at 4737 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls., 612-722-2261, grandolecreamery.com
Honey and Mackie’s
Located in Plymouth, Honey and Mackie’s serves fun, seasonal flavors like Valentine’s Day’s Single and Ready to Mingle or Taylor’s Thin Mint to honor our favorite time of year, Girl Scout Cookie season. Off topic, but do not skip the specialty french fries. The chili cheese fries make a perfect appetizer for your ice cream entrée. 16725 Cty. Rd. 24, Plymouth, honeyandmackies.shopsettings.com
La Michoacana Purépecha
This favorite East Lake Street joint is owned and operated by immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico, who wanted to introduce the Twin Cities to their favorite childhood treats. The shop serves traditional Mexican treats like paletas—all-natural popsicles made with real fruit, not colored sugar water—as well as ice cream, agua fresca, and other delights. 701 E. Lake St., Mpls., 612-886-3039, lamichoacanapurepecha.com
Licks Unlimited
The public docks in Excelsior hold not only boats but also many strolling lickers who’ve made their way from this iconic, brightly festooned scoop shop down to the water on a perfect lazy summer day. The grandkids have taken over, and now we have compostable cups and a social media game worthy of the myriad wall trinkets. Open seasonally. 31 Water St., Excelsior, 952-474-4791, licksunlimitedmn.com
Mabel’s Ice Cream and Coffee Shop
Named after the family matriarch, family-owned-and-operated Mabel’s is a charming little shop in Bayport, on the shores of the St. Croix River. It serves a rotating list of 24 flavors from Wisconsin’s Cedar Crest Ice Cream. Grab a malt or affogato and pull up a seat on the massive front yard. It’s Americana at its best. Open seasonally. 293 N. 3rd St., Bayport, 651-571-3128, mabelsicecream.com
Milkjam Creamery
Local chef Sameh Wadi opened Milkjam next door to his exceedingly popular World Street Kitchen in 2016, and he continues to delight the masses with flavor and creativity. The Jam Bun, an indulgent ice cream sandwich made with a glazed donut, is a must-have. Count on Milkjam to offer a variety of unique flavors like Thai Tea; Cereal Killers; or its namesake Milkjam, made with caramelized goat’s, cow’s, and sweetened condensed milks. 2743 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-424-4668, milkjamcreamery.com
Minnesota Nice Cream
Yes, the cones here are Instagram-famous, but that does not belie their silky goodness. The funky toppings are where it’s at, so order a waffle cone with vanilla and load ’er up with gummy worms, toasted marshmallows, and a handful of sparkly sprinkles. Go all out—and don’t forget to post. 807 NE Broadway St., Mpls., 612-259-7053; 308 E. Chestnut St., Stillwater, 651-571-3199, mnnicecream.com
sebastian-joes
Sebastian Joe’s
Nelson’s Ice Cream
Nelson’s and little-sis shop Nellie’s are seasonal ice cream magnets, operating at the original Stillwater location since 1923. Their claim to fame is the absurd serving sizes. A “single scoop” is plenty for most reasonable adults, and it can be split into more than one flavor. The kids behind the counters here are pros, piling the creamy spheres up higher than a bucket of Sweet Martha’s Cookies. Open seasonally. 454 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul, 651-313-7268; 920 W. Olive St., Stillwater, 651-430-1103, nelsonsicecream.biz; Nellie’s, 2034 Marshall Ave., St. Paul, 651-645-7839, nelliesicecream.com
Pumphouse Creamery
The team at Pumphouse refers to their product as farm-to-frozen, highlighting the curation of organic, all natural ingredients used in their ice cream. This Chicago Avenue shop recently celebrated its 20th birthday, so help the owners mark the milestone with a few scoops of ice cream made with Minneapolis’s own Brother Justus single malt whiskey. Fun fact: Pumphouse’s owner’s uncle is Brother Justus’s nephew. 4754 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., 612-825-2021, pumphouse-creamery.com
Sebastian Joe’s
Family-run Sebastian Joe’s has been keeping Twin Cities bellies happy since 1984. At two locations in Minneapolis, the cafés serve classics like salty caramel and raspberry chocolate chip, plus the sarcastic Nicollet Avenue Pothole (too soon?) and seasonal offerings like summery mint pink grapefruit and cucumber mint sorbets. The Linden Hills location is a neighborhood summer hot spot, boasting a massive, lush patio. 4321 Upton Ave. S., Mpls., 612-926-7916; 1007 Franklin Ave. W., Mpls., 612-870-0065, sebastianjoesicecream.com
Sonny’s Cafe
Flights to Italy are spendy right now (we know; we check daily), so head over to Sonny’s Cafe for a creamy gelato straight out of a Roman gelateria. In the ice cream biz since 1945, Sonny’s makes artisan, small batch ice cream, gelato, and sorbet from scratch. Get a scoop of Crema, a latte-inspired flavor, and spend the afternoon in the gorgeous piazza. It’s a little bit of la dolce vita right in Uptown. 3403 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-824-3868, sonnysicecream.com
Sweet Science Ice Cream
Founder and chef Ashlee Olds’s passion for creating high-quality ice cream using locally sourced, all natural ingredients with names you can actually pronounce elevates each scoop. Her collab with Five Watt Coffee is divine, as is the (who knew?) vegan chocolate chip. In the summer, dig into pints of fruity sorbet for the ultimate refreshment. 3919 Market St., Edina, 612-217-0070, sweetscienceicecream.com
Treats
Siblings Trisha Seng and Minh Dinh opened the first cereal bar in Minnesota, combining two childhood staples into one creamy treat. A special machine grinds your favorite cereal into ice cream, creating a marriage of soft and crunchy, sweet and creamy. Try a combo in one of their vividly colored waffle cones. 770 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-478-4385; 10340 NE Baltimore St., Blaine, 763-208-1745, treatsmn.com
Wonders Ice Cream
The University Avenue spot was the first rolled ice cream shop in Minnesota. Unfamiliar? Rolled ice cream, created in Thailand, is made by pouring a liquefied cream onto an ice-cold metal surface, adding toppings or fruit, and diligently rolling it into ribbons as it solidifies. The result is velvety little tubes of ice cream that can be topped with additional fruit or sauces. It’s one trend that’s worth the hype. 298 University Ave. W., St. Paul, 763-292-0718, wondersicecreamcompany.com
