July marks the beginning of National Ice Cream Month, and what better way to celebrate than highlighting the best ice cream joints in town? These spots offer sweet treats that will keep you satisfied all summer.
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream
3114 Corrine Drive, 321-226-8685
If you’re craving local, handcrafted ice cream or sorbet, Kelly’s is the spot. With unconventional flavors, like the blue velvet-based “Cookie Monster,” rotating seasonal picks, like Pumpkin and Candy Cane, and classic favorites, there is a scoop for everyone. The company also has an ice cream truck that travels around Central Florida.
Photo via Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream/Facebook407 Cafe
6784 Lake Ellenor Dr, (407) 296-0044
407 Cafe prides itself in having the best gelato and crepes in the Central Florida area. All of the gelato is handmade and you can even order a gelato shake. This spot also offers mini sweet treats, including small pastries and macaroons, and a full service menu. In a hurry? Grab some “TOGO gelato.”
Photo via 407 Cafe/FacebookDomu
East End Market, 3201 Corrine Dr Suite 100 (407) 960-1228
Domu’s soft-serve cones are tastefully small, not the giant whoppers you’ll find some places, but that’s fitting in a bar/restaurant. They serve as appetite-whetters or meal-enders, not the main event. But like most dishes served in Sonny Nguyen’s realm, this ice cream packs a concentrated punch of flavor. Tastes rotate constantly, but recent featured flavors have been Vietnamese coffee, raw milk with honeycomb, and taro studded with Fruity Pebbles.
Photo via Domu/FacebookEdy’s Ice Cream and Subs
7527 International Dr, (407) 355-0508
Edy’s has been a favorite for so many families for decades. Whether you prefer classic or slow churned ice cream, the storefront on I-Drive has something for everyone, offering flavors that highlight chocolate, vanilla, fruit and other fun flavors. It also offers sugar-free and yogurt options.
Photo via Edy’s/FacebookGelato Fiasco
25 W Crystal Lake St #160, (407) 203-6828
This Maine-based franchise offers more than 20 flavors of gelato and sorbetto made fresh every day. The owners bring some of their favorite Maine recipes to Orlando so that locals can enjoy some signature treats from the Northeast. Bonus: the creamy gelato also comes in homemade waffle cones.
Photo via Gelato Fiasco/FacebookGinther’s Swirls Ice Cream
11036 International Dr, (407) 477-1212
Ginther’s provides soft serve swirls to cool down your summer days. Top them off with sprinkles, toppings or dips. Still not satisfied? Choose from a variety of mouthwatering sundaes and specialties, including a banana boat or parfait.
Photo via ginthersswirls/InstagramGoff’s Drive In
25 W Crystal Lake St #160, (407) 203-6828
Goff’s has become an Orlando staple. Many Orlando residents go to Goff’s not only for the ice cream but for the memories. This little walk-up ice cream stand has been around since 1948, and is still serving up the best sundaes on Sundays to this day.
Photo via lemmegetme407/InstagramDaJen’s Vegan Cafe & Creamery
323 E Kennedy Blvd Suite F, Eatonville, FL (407) 286-4983
Jenn’s “Rum Raisin’ the Roof” Irie Cream is so crazy-creamy it’s converted non-vegans. (And the raisins are soaked in rum for three weeks). She brings Jamaican flare to Orlando and offers some pretty good grub, too.
Photo via DaJen Eats/FacebookThe Greenery Creamery
420 E. Church St, (407) 286-1084
They get a lot of attention for their black ice cream (including from us), but we really love Greenery Creamery for their equal attention to vegan flavors and their sparkly crystal toppings. If Jem & the Holograms were an ice cream cone, they’d be a strawberry-rose and cherry-almond double dip with house-made crystals and sprinkles.
Photo via The Greenery Creamery/FacebookI.CE.NY
4954 New Broad St, (407) 853-4532
Indulge in some rolled or smashed ice cream that features your favorite toppings at I.CE.NY. The freezing technique used to make this ice cream results in a smooth, fun texture unlike other ice cream shops. Watch as your treat gets rolled into curled cylinders and topped off with your favorite candies and even cereal, like the “Fruity Loops,” which consists of a sweet cream base, Fruit Loops, rainbow sprinkles and Airheads.
Photo via I.CE.NY/FacebookInsomnia Cookies
131 N Orange Ave, (407) 512-9237
Many flock to Insomnia for the warm, gooey cookies. However, adding ice cream to the mix helps cool it down and creates a great summer option. Insomnia offers a variety of “wiches” that feature two of its signature cookies with your choice of ice cream in between. You can also skip the cookies and order a just the ice cream, but why would you want to do that?
Photo via Insomnia Cookies/FacebookJ-Petal
5135 International Dr Suite 7, (407) 866-0605
The latest Asian sensation taking over the nation (well, Orlando anyway) is Thai rolled ice cream, and J-Petal serves it up with gusto. Their “Green Hulk” tops rolled sheets of Oreo-banana-matcha ice cream with candied walnuts and brûlée marshmallows.
Photo via J-Petal Orlando/FacebookKilwins
122 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL (407) 622-6292
The minute you walk into Kilwins, the smell of homemade waffle cones and fudge will have you cutting the line. Cool off with the 32 flavors provided and grab some made-in-store treats like caramel corn, caramel apples, fudge, brittles, or delicious chocolate-covered indulgences on your way out.
Photo via Kilwin’s Winter Park/FacebookMidnight Sun Ice Cream Sandwich Co.
See website for traveling schedule
How do we love thee, Midnight Sun? Let us count the ways. Midnight Sun’s ice cream sandwiches are huge, and the flavor combinations are, well, insane – like Parmesan-medjool date ice cream, strawberry-pine nut macaroons or malted vanilla-chocolate chunk-bacon buttercrunch ice cream on coffee-potato chip cookies. Whew.
Photo via midnightsunic/InstagramMike’s Italian Ice
4546 S Semoran Blvd, (407) 658-4453
With more than 25 flavors made daily, Mike’s Italian Ice is the perfect place to go for a refreshing treat this summer. This spot offers soft serve, Italian ice, gelato, and combinations of them all mixed together. Don’t settle for just one flavor or treat when you can have all your favorites in one dessert. We recommend ordering a Gelati – a mix of Italian ice and gelato.
Photo via Mike’s Italian Ice/FacebookQuickly Boba & Snow
3214 E Colonial Dr, (407) 270-4570
This joint serves up more than just Boba tea. Locals love the macaroon ice cream sandwiches at Quickly Boba, which features scoops of creamy ice cream between two massive macaroons. Choose a flavorful macaroon and mix it with your go-to ice cream for a refreshing summer snack. Wash it down with some coffee and other specialty drinks.
Photo via Katie B./YelpSnow City Ice Cream
8935 Conroy Windermere Rd, (407) 217-7663
Snow City is home to the stir fried ice cream, which is mixed with your choice of toppings and rolled to perfection. This spot also offers Poke Bowls and Bubble tea to accompany your custom-made summer sweets. We recommend topping your treat off with fresh fruit, like strawberries or bananas.
Photo via Snow City Ice Cream/FacebookThe Soda Fountain
2525 Edgewater Dr, (407) 540-1006
The Soda Fountain is so much more than just ice cream. The sundaes offered here are to die for, including picks featuring Nutella, peanut butter, warm brownies, chocolate turtle and of course, some ice cream on top. You can also get your favorite flavors mixed in a milkshake or order a sorbet spritzer with sorbet and soda.
Photo via The Soda Fountain/FacebookTwistee Treat
131 N Orange Ave, (407) 512-9237
Twistee Treat is a local favorite offering everything from classic soft serve to ice cream tacos. You may recognize this ice cream shop by its signature building design that looks like an ice cream code. However, it’s not all show. The smooth, creamy flavors will have you satisfied all summer.
Photo via Twistee Treat USA/FacebookWondermade
214 E 1st St, Sanford, FL (407) 205-9569
The only thing better than artisan marshmallows is locally made artisan ice cream based on those marshmallows. Wondermade, the Sanford-based makers who have garnered a national following with their booming mail-order marshmallow business, also serve ice cream at their brick-and-mortar store (it’s a little treat just for locals). Traditionalists can go for salted caramel or blueberry cobbler, but adventurers should try the avocado, cornbread or maple bacon flavors.
Photo via Wondermade/Facebook