{"id":942996,"date":"2026-07-18T08:54:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T08:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/942996\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T08:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T08:54:31","slug":"where-to-find-the-best-ice-cream-in-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/942996\/","title":{"rendered":"Where to find the best ice cream in Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPetersen’s Ice Cream and Cafe started in Chicago more than 100 years ago. Now, it has four Valley locations, including Scottsdale.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Sara Crocker<\/p>\n

Everyone loves ice cream, right? If not, we have some serious questions. But for fans of the creamy, cold, refreshing treat, there\u2019s nothing like a big scoop on a hot day. Here in Phoenix, where triple-digit days abound, we are also lucky to have plenty of excellent ice cream parlors churning and scooping delicious frozen treats.<\/p>\n

This list goes slightly beyond the bounds of traditional ice cream to include gelato, lactose-free ice cream and soft serve. In our books, these categories of frozen treats all satisfy ice cream cravings and deserve a mention.<\/p>\n

When you next find yourself screaming for ice cream, head to these 10 Valley shops for a scoop.<\/p>\n

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Enjoy gelato with an almost fluffy texture at Allora.<\/p>\n

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Allora Gelato<\/p>\n

6990 E. Shea Blvd., #106, Scottsdale
<\/strong>Allora Gelato <\/a>arrived in Scottsdale in November 2024, taking inspiration from Italian gelaterias while applying a culinarian\u2019s touch to flavor combinations. Options have included mesquite honey lavender gelato made with local honey and a tangy ricotta gelato studded with bits of ripe Croatian fig. These artisan flavors are offered alongside popular mint cookies and cream, chocolate brownie and strawberry dulce, a gelato that uses a tres leches-esque milk base and fresh berries. It\u2019s a perfect pairing with Allora\u2019s hazelnut and orange zest gelato, which tastes like a nutty chocolate-orange. For first-time visitors, start at the iPad screens just inside to select how you want your gelato, be it one scoop or two, in a cup, gluten-free cone or as a cold brew float. Then, join the queue for the gelato counter, where you can sample small spoonfuls of Allora\u2019s beautifully made, creamy gelato. It has a light-as-air, whipped quality that\u2019s evident while the team behind the counter artfully shapes scoops into cones and cups. Each order is finished with a crisp wafer. With such attention to ingredients and details, this gelateria draws a line for good reason.<\/p>\n

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At Cream of the Crop in Gilbert, ask for your ice cream creme brulee style for a crackly, caramel shell.<\/p>\n

Cream of the Crop<\/p>\n

3000 E. Ray Road, Bldg. 6, #103, Gilbert
<\/strong>Tucked inside Barnone, a collection of businesses housed inside an old storage barn in Gilbert, you\u2019ll find Cream of the Crop<\/a>. A rainbow-colored neon sign beckons customers to enter the small space and take a look inside the freezer case. A small but mighty selection of ice cream flavors waits to be made into sundaes, scoops and Cream\u2019s special creme brulee treats, where a topping of sprinkled sugar is blow-torched into crackly caramel perfection.<\/p>\n

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Gelato Cimmino serves an all-Italian experience in Old Town Scottsdale and Gilbert.<\/p>\n

Gelato Cimmino<\/p>\n

7140 E. Main St., Scottsdale
339 N Gilbert Road, Gilbert <\/strong>
Old Town Scottsdale has many options for frozen treats. But Gelato Cimmino <\/a>is one of the very best. This classic Italian gelato shop is bright and airy, with two large freezer cases full of flavors. Take your time and sample a few, savoring the difference between the dark chocolate and milk chocolate or hazelnut, pistachio and Nutella. Opt for something bright and fresh like the lemon, raspberry or cantaloupe. The shop has a location in Gilbert, so Southeast Valley residents can sample the flavors closer to home. The company\u2019s owners hail from Torre Del Greco, Italy, and have imported ingredients and techniques to make their standout treats. A coffee menu offers espresso and affogato options. Order a bottle of Acqua Panna Italian natural spring water to sip alongside the creamy gelato and strong espresso to complete the experience. <\/p>\n

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The Mango Sticky Rice ice cream at LIX Uptown is the perfect way to beat the heat.<\/p>\n

LIX Uptown Ice Cream<\/p>\n

3343 N. Seventh Ave. #3
<\/strong>LIX Uptown<\/a>, a small joint in the Melrose District, is one of the most fun ice cream shops in town. For starters, there\u2019s an inflatable character \u2014 sometimes a unicorn, other times a mushroom \u2014 perched on the roof. Inside, colorful murals swirl around the walls and customers can try their hand at Ms. Pac-Man. The ice cream itself is killer. Most of the flavors lack dairy or lactose, but you\u2019d never tell by the taste. The mango sticky rice swirl is the perfect antidote to Phoenix heat and the Turkish Coffee will brighten your day. This spot is also the perfect after-dinner destination, as it stays open late. Stop by for a scoop until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and until 8 p.m. on Sundays. <\/p>\n

\"TheNovel opened in Phoenix\u2019s Grand Avenue Arts District in 2017.<\/p>\n

Provided by Novel Ice Cream<\/p>\n

Novel Ice Cream<\/p>\n

1028 Grand Ave., #6
40 N. Macdonald #2, Mesa
<\/strong>Dive into some unconventional ice cream flavors at Novel<\/a>, an ice cream joint with multiple hidden shops in the Valley. The original is located in a tiny building on Grand Avenue. Another is nestled at the end of a small alley in Mesa. And soon, Novel is set to open in Peoria and Tempe. All of the locations pack a big punch of flavor, with options including creations like peppermint mocha and peanut butter and jelly. The ice cream shop also frequently collaborates with other local businesses, so make sure to check the seasonal specials. Kick your ice cream creation up a notch by asking for a Dough Melt, a warm doughnut stuffed with your favorite ice cream flavor. Want a waffle instead? Just order the Leslie Knope. Need more convincing? Last summer, Novel was named the best ice cream in America. <\/a><\/p>\n

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Flavors rotate weekly at Onyx. We love the sweet and creamy Thai Tea swirl.<\/p>\n

Onyx Ice Cream<\/p>\n

5813 N. Seventh St., #102
<\/strong>From the outside, Onyx Ice Cream <\/a>looks dark, almost closed, save for a glowing neon \u201copen\u201d sign. Open the door, and the moody vibe continues. Exposed wood beams and black-and-white walls are lit by thin light bars of dancing LEDs. Neon accents adorn the space, along with a lush plant wall and photo backdrop. Where the shop is anything but dark is in its ice creams. These brightly colored swirls of soft serve come in electric purple, orange, pink and green. The cones themselves are jet black. At Onyx, which opened on Seventh Street in January 2025, the desserts are not only visually stunning, they are delicious too. Flavors rotate each week, but we\u2019re partial to the sweet, earthy Thai Tea and the ube, a nutty flavor with hints of warm vanilla. Elevate your colorful treat one step further by adding a toasted marshmallow rim to the cone. <\/p>\n

\"APetersen\u2019s Ice Cream scoops nostalgic vintage vibes and unique flavors, like Marion Blackberry, at its cafes.<\/p>\n

Petersen\u2019s Ice Cream and Cafe<\/p>\n

Mulitple locations
<\/strong>When you walk into Petersen\u2019s Ice Cream and Cafe<\/a>, you\u2019ll be greeted with the vintage sights, sounds and sweet aroma of a traditional parlor. A person-sized ice cream cone with a strawberry scoop stationed out front lets you know you\u2019ve arrived. Baby pink and white stripes decorate the walls inside, and a soundtrack of doo-wop bops croons around the shop. Petersen\u2019s nostalgia isn\u2019t manufactured. The ice cream chain got its start in Chicago in 1919. Like so many Midwesterners, Petersen\u2019s has made a home in the Valley with four locations in Gilbert, Scottsdale and Peoria. The freezer case brims with kid-friendly options, including the multicolored, fluorescent Superman ice cream. Petersen\u2019s hasn\u2019t forgotten about the adults with flavors like tart marion blackberry, dark-chocolatey Bear Claw or toffee ice cream laced with Tennessee whiskey.<\/p>\n

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When asked if you want the surprise at Scoop & Joy, say yes.<\/p>\n

Scoop & Joy <\/p>\n

10135 E. V\u00eda Linda C112, Scottsdale
<\/strong>Scoop & Joy<\/a> is a little bit of a hike for most residents of the Valley. But it is so worth the drive. Located east of State Route 101 in North Scottsdale, this ice cream shop serves a massive amount of flavors and treats, including Dole Whip and baked goods. Pro tip: When the server asks if you want a surprise, say yes. Then your ice cream will transform into a cute character with Animal Cracker ears, marshmallow eyes, and an Oreo cookie smile, the perfect treat for the kid in all of us.<\/p>\n

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The Playdough flavor at Scooptacular is a sweet and colorful treat.<\/p>\n

Scooptacular<\/p>\n

5150 W. Baseline Road, #102, Laveen
4730 E. Indian School Road, #113\u00a0
4600 N. Central Ave.<\/strong>
Laveen\u2019s best-kept secret might just be Scooptacular<\/a>, a small but cheery ice cream shop featuring fun and interesting flavors. At this suburban strip mall ice cream destination, you\u2019ll find made-in-house ice cream including birthday cake, bubble gum, caramel white mocha and Camelback crunch, a brown sugar ice cream with praline crumbles. Our favorite might be Scooptacular\u2019s Playdough, a simple but fun-looking flavor made with three different colors of sweet cream-flavored ice cream. The shop also serves shaved ice, ice cream cakes, sundaes and milkshakes. A second location of Scooptacular serves scoops in Arcadia and for those looking for a treat closer to downtown Phoenix, Scooptopia<\/a>, a small shop on Central Avenue, serves a wide selection of Scooptacular\u2019s flavors. <\/p>\n

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Sweet Republic is a Valley favorite.<\/p>\n

Sweet Republic<\/p>\n

Multiple locations
<\/strong>Sweet Republic got its start in 2008 on Shea Boulevard before adding locations in uptown Phoenix, Tempe and, most recently, Old Town Scottsdale to its roster. Each of these modern, colorful shops brings the local company\u2019s handmade flavors to lines of fans. The large cases hold a mix of staple flavors, such as strawberry buttermilk and brownie fudge swirl, and seasonal treats. All of the flavors can be enjoyed in a cup or cone, or fancied up into a decadent sundae or milkshake. Our favorite addition is Sweet Republic\u2019s fluffy, square marshmallows, which servers add to scoops and gently blowtorch for a perfect summer combo of ice cream and s\u2019mores.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Petersen’s Ice Cream and Cafe started in Chicago more than 100 years ago. Now, it has four Valley…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":942997,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5131],"tags":[5229,5643,1587,23500,980,1589,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-942996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-phoenix","tag-america","tag-arizona","tag-az","tag-dessert","tag-lists","tag-phoenix","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116940144646804159","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/942996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=942996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/942996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/942997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=942996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=942996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=942996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}