You scream, I scream, we all scream for Dole Whip — and ice cream. July 21 is National Ice Cream Day and the entire month of July is National Ice Cream month, so it’s time to celebrate. Here’s the scoop, these are our personal favorite spots. We know, we already missed your favorite before this list has even started. Please let us know your favorite ice cream shop in the comments! We’re always looking for new spots to add to our frozen dessert map.
Without further adieu, here are the best ice cream spots in the Burg. And, because we live in Florida, it’s ice cream weather year-round, so we recommend you bookmark this list.
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FYI: Every WEDNESDAY at @Pacific_Counter – Buy any bowl or roll and get a FREE 4oz Dole Whip 🍍☀️👀💁🏻♀️ #ad pic.twitter.com/Z1zRbLL2MH
— I Love the Burg! (@iLovetheBurg) July 17, 2019
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Pacific Counter
We know, this isn’t technically an ice cream shop, but it serves Dole Whip and so naturally it hits the top of our list. The tropical vegan and gluten-free treat is super light and incredibly refreshing on a boiling summer day, Pair that with a poke bowl and a sake slushie for our favorite full meal in St. Pete.
You can also save a few bucks if you visit during their summer happy hour. They’re selling drinks for just $2.50 from 3-7pm every day throughout the summer. On Wednesdays, enjoy a free cup of Dole Whip with the purchase of any bowl or roll.
Pacific Counter, 660 Central Avenue
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Plant + Love Ice Cream
We had no idea how good vegan ice cream could be until we experienced Plant + Love. The EDGE District’s vegan ice cream shop has one of our favorite aesthetics in the Sunshine City. We swear we’re going to buy one of their tie-dye tees the next time they’re for sale. But we’re here to talk about ice cream.
Want unique flavors? Try the golden milk CBD scoop and the bananas foster ice cream. Somehow, this spot even improves upon the classic mint chip, we’re thinking it’s due to that generous chocolate chip to ice cream ratio. Pardon use while we crunch.
Plant + Love Ice Cream, 953 Central Avenue
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Beans & Barlour
Boozy ice cream, need we say more? Beans & Barlour is Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory meets Candy Land, but with booze of course. Story Stuart’s creations never cease to amaze us. Hard seltzer sorbet floats? Yea, they got that. Chocolate cups on chocolate dishes filled with boozy chocolate ice cream? Yea, they got that too.
Stuart also just launched boozy ice cream cakes, in case you want to be someone’s hero on their special day. The menu is sprawling with options for vegan and gluten-free diners too. It’s the Treat Yourself capital of the Burg.
Beans & Barlour, 538 1st Avenue North
IceBurg
Ice, ice(Burg), baby. This Central Avenue ice cream shop always puts a song in our hearts. Maybe it’s because of the rolled ice cream tacos. The crunchy and colorful waffle taco shells, mixed with cookies and cream rolled ice cream is our mood in dessert form. The small spot on the 400 block is super creative and it’s a mesmerizing experience to watch them craft a ice cream on the below 0 pans.
We never leave without adding a few sour rainbow ropes on top of our taco. It’s the hot sauce of the gummy kingdom. This spot also offers the ever popular Taiyak fish cones and cotton candy halos to wrap around your favorite soft serve.
IceBurg, 449 Central Avenue, Suite 102
Urban Creamery
The concept known for its killer BBQ took a leap into the ice cream world a couple years back and we’re glad they did. They make some of THEE fluffiest waffles in all the land and the homemade flavors are undeniably good. The snickerdoodle ice cream will transport you right back home to a crisp November day. The key lime is summer incarnate and our personal favorite — and we doubt we’re alone in that regard.
Yes, they even have vegan options! Varieties include green tea and orange creamsicle. If you’re down for a dairy overload, consider sipping on thick chocolate shake.
Urban Creamery, 689 Central Ave
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Sweet Stack Shack
Forget cones. We’re all about ice cream sammies, especially when it involves fresh made soft gooey brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Sweet Stack Shack made a splash in the EDGE District upon its arrival. The shop lets you customize your own dreamy ice cream sandwich.
You start by choosing the “buns,” either cookie or brownie. We always go with brownie, but you do you. Then you choose your ice cream. The flavors here range from butter pecan and strawberry swirl, to coffee toffee and birthday cake batter. Finally you load it up with whatever toppings you please. Captain Crunch Cereal, Fruit Loops, coconut flakes, Butterfinger pieces, Heath Bar, Oreos and M&Ms are all available. Once you’ve made your glorious ice cream sandwich, it’s put in a hot press.
Sweet Stack Shack, 1041 Central Avenue
Nan’s Plant Based Ice Cream
Nan’s is one of the OG plant based ice cream shops in the Burg. You can indulge in everything from strawberry cheesecake to AH-mazing Snickers ice cream. They’ve been known to pop up at markets across Tampa Bay, but now you can try their plant based ice cream flavors at Urban Creamery! The plant based ice cream pints and shakes are also available at Vegan International Co. in Tampa.
What do you need to try when you visit? The cherry pie milkshake, of course. It’d make Agent Dale Cooper damn proud. The ube ice cream we tried back in April is probably our favorite scoop of all time.
Nan’s Plant Based Ice Cream, 689 Central Avenue
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iChills
This family-owned and operated ice cream shop gives us all the feels. The small shop off 4th Street offers delicious Working Cow Ice Cream as well as a wide variety of frozen yogurts. The cute mascots may or may not elevate our tasting experience.
In the past, iChills has also offered Amish ice cream. The taste was revelatory! What brings us back time and time again are the chocolate waffle cones. Seriously, we’d just load one of up with gummy worms and go to town, the ice cream is a pleasant and welcome bonus.
iChills, 7901 4th Street North
Old Farmers Creamery
We have to pay homage to the legend that is Old Farmers Creamery. It’s a hard to miss spot. It’s the giant red barn on 4th Street North, but instead of horses and chickens, it’s loaded with a huge swath of fresh made, award-winning ice cream.
The royal blue Cookie Monster ice cream, the banana bread pudding scoops, the chocolate ice cream snickers blend, and the caramel-cinnamon swirl scoops are all to die for.
Old Farmers Creamery, 2531 4th Street North
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