When you want to beat the heat with something sweet while in Austin, there’s no better way than with a unique frozen treat. Browse through our list of ice cream shops that are a little above average in the sense that they are more than just a scoop of ice cream in a sugar cone. In Austin, there’s a little bit of everything that you can think of and even more that you can’t. No matter which of this selection you decide to try out, you’re sure to leave completely satisfied.
Manolis Ice Cream Pastries & Cake
4.9 ★
Only the highest quality ingredients are sourced to make everything from scratch at Manolis Ice Cream Pastries, the food truck that you don’t want to overlook. Plenty of seating surrounds this little stop and you’ll be surprised at how expansive their menu can be. Circle Drive is where to find this spot every weekend. Only open Friday – Sunday, catch them from 2 – 11 pm during their available days. Adhering to their schedule is worth the extra trouble once you try anything they have to offer. Inquire about renting their truck if you want to spice up an event and impress your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else with desserts from Manolis.
Luv Fats Ice Cream
4.9 ★
Somewhat new to the scene, Luv Fats on Lamar Blvd has taken a new approach to healthy, dairy free ice cream. Using avocados as their base is the secret ingredient, along with the not so secret locally sourced ingredients. With every part of this small batch served ice cream coming from nearby farmer’s markets, you can almost taste the freshness with every bite. Look out for the pink building that is their home base storefront and come in Tuesday – Sunday from 12 – 7 pm or keep an eye out for stock in various places around Austin.
Zeds Real Fruit Ice Cream
4.7 ★
New Zealand style ice cream made right in Austin’s east side area, Zed’s Real Fruit Ice Cream is where you know the ingredients are sourced locally. Pick your base, some fruit, toppings, and then maybe add on a beer or glass of wine to the order if you’d like and Zed’s will take care of you. Trendy, hip, and perfectly Instagrammable, Zed’s on Harvery St is a quirky spot that you can visit from 3 – 10 pm (open at 12 on the weekends) all seven days of the week.
Jim Jim’s Water Ice
4.7 ★
Since 1994, Jim Jim’s Water Ice has kept Austin “kool” with their variety of water ices and home made ice cream. Water is a little different from your standard snowcone in the preparation and texture, this is more than some syrup squirted on shredded ice. Jim Jim’s pureed fruit ice base is gluten free with no added fats or cholesterol, so you don’t have to feel an ounce of regret with the largest helping. Stop by their shop on 6th street every day from 12 – 8 pm or keep an eye out for their mobile cart at various Austin based events.
Milky Way Shakes
4.7 ★
Non dairy ice cream based in coconut is the secret to Milky Way Shakes Vegan menu tasting better than milk based desserts, with almost every topping being gluten free as well. Grackle Massecre, Oreo Borealis, and Star-Berry Lemon Cloud are only a small portion of their quirky menu selection. You can find this food truck in the Vegan Nom food truck lot on Cesar Chaves st any day from 5 pm – 9:30 pm. They even open at three during the weekend so there’s no reason to skip out on Milky Way Shakes during your afternoon adventures.
Gati Ice Cream
4.7 ★
What began as a way to get rid of some extra mangoes that were going to go bad soon enough has now spiraled into a full service Vegan ice cream, coffee, and gluten free treat shop on Holly St. Inspired by Thai chefs and the use of local ingredients, this supply of sweet treats is always growing and changing to fit with what’s available in the area. You can visit Gati Ice Cream every day from 7:30 am – 9 pm or keep an eye out for their mobile truck. Pick from a rotation of 40 different fully Vegan ice cream flavors like thai tea or Japanese red bean.
Anti Social Ice Cream
4.3 ★
Vegan eating seems like a limited way to those who have never been out to places like Anti Social Ice Cream on Comanche Trail. Generally, people have a knack for scoffing at the idea of ice cream without milk until they try banana based soft serve for the first time. Make your way towards Lake Travis and try out any of their six flavors, all free of animal products, you’ll be a believer soon enough. Be sure to check the hours before coming by, but they are usually open Wednesday – Sunday from 3 pm – 9 pm. Afternoons can only be made more fun with a large scoop of coconut milk based ice cream from your favorite Anti Social folks.
Kwality Ice Cream
2.9 ★
Shakes, sundaes, individual scoops, and even falooda of the highest quality is available at Kwality Ice Cream on Canyon Ridge Dr. Perfect for dessert after eating next door at Spice Indian Cuisine, Kwality is open from 11 am – 9:30 pm with a short break from 2:30 – 5 om every day. Try out flavors and ice cream styles that you wouldn’t regularly consider from their menu full of options. Quality is key at Kwality Ice Cream, you will see why from the first bite.
Frozen Rolls Creamery
4.2 ★
Rolled up with tons (but not too much) of flavor, Frozen Rolls Creamery on Lamar Blvd is a slight deviation from your everyday ice cream place. Something about presenting ice cream in the rolled format makes for a texture that is pleasant and sweet without being too much. Add toppings like graham crackers or reeses pieces to your rolls for an extra kick. Stop by from 5 – 11 pm (open at 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday) any day and take in a fun viewing experience while enjoying fun flavors.
Lick Honest Ice Cream
4.5 ★
Three locations throughout Austin have to prove that Lick Honest Ice Cream should be up high on your list of ice cream shops in the area. Serving up unusual flavors like “Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey” along with “Roasted Beets & Mint” is what has people talking about their flavors. Don’t worry, you can still find classic vanilla and even a few Vegan options that aren’t so initially scary. Any of their various locations in Austin are worth a visit or two. Don’t forget to post a selfie with your new favorite off-the-wall flavor.
Museum of Ice Cream
4.2 ★
While this particular attraction does count as an experience, rather than just another ice cream joint, we couldn’t make this list without mentioning the Museum of Ice Cream. Immerse yourself in an entirely Willy Wonka-esque experience at this Century Oaks Terrace location in Austin. Multiple rooms take you through a world full of ice cream and activities surrounding the frozen treat. Try out free samples and get some popcorn or other snacks during the adventure, you’ll need about two hours to comfortably wander through the whole place. Plan to take lots of photos, every inch of this place feels like a #Portrait photo opportunity. Open every day except Tuesday and Wednesday, check out the website for hours but they usually open up around noon.
Bat City Gelato
4.8 ★
Northwest Austin is proud to have Bat City Gelato sitting right in the Parmer McNeil Plaza, an artisan gelato shop that features some of the highest quality products in the city. After training at the Gelato University in Bologna, local owners Brian and Mary took on the task of a local gelato shop and currently navigates the entire production and sales process together. Ever changing and adding to the menu, Bat City Gelato has been on the scene for just under ten years. Once you take your first bite, you will be rooting for them to stick around for the long haul. Any day outside of Monday, you can grab a scoop from 1:30 – 9 pm.
Churro Co.
4.6 ★
While ice cream by itself is the very pinnacle of dessert base joy, Churro Co on 1st St has taken the classic idea up a notch by adding churros. Unique takes on the flavors we already can’t get enough of line the Churro Co menu and will have you craving a s’mores style Campfire churro. Wednesday through Sunday you can try this ice cream/churro shop out from 4 – 10 pm. This twist on churros will turn you into a fanatic, if you don’t believe us just try to deny the instant obsession.
The Baked Bear
4.6 ★
We’ve all had those standard chocolate “bread” and vanilla ice cream sandwiches that come in the big box from most dollar stores before. While they can be satisfying in the right moments, The Baked Bear takes this concept and adds their own special spin. Custom ice cream sandwiches are what The Baked Bear on Walter Seaholm Dr takes pride in. From 12 pm – 11 pm every day, this cute little spot offers a variety of cookies, ice cream flavors, and toppings all combined in the moment for a dessert that reflects your own unique flavor pallet.
Yo So Cool
4.3 ★
Frozen yogurt has really come up in the last few years as an alternative to ice cream that tastes just as good, if not better than the original. Yo So Cool is no exception to the rule that frozen yogurt is just plain tasty. Pick from 12 flavors and 6 swirls of fat free, non-dairy yogurt bases and then get to loading up from a vast number of toppings. No matter how your taste buds tingle that day, You So Cool is there for you with more selections than most other dessert places. No matter when you’ve got the taste for it, Yo So Cool is open daily from 11:30 am – 9 pm to satisfy whatever it is you are looking for. Look no further than Barbara Jordan Blvd.
CONCLUSION
Well now that’s done, you better hurry up and plan a trip out to get some new wave style ice creams and yogurts. Austin, Texas is one massive town and we are so happy that there’s plenty of room for all of these shops we mentioned and more. While a classic scoop of chocolate or vanilla definitely can’t be beat, we are happy to have such a wide pool of variety to pick from. Take some time to visit as many of these shops as you can, they are all worth at least one trip.
Before you go, don’t forget to take a look through some of our past articles. Here at The Austin Insider, we take the time to answer any questions you might have about what to do while you’re visiting us in Austin Texas.