Ice Cream Near Me: How to Find the Best Ice Cream Shops
Search ice cream in Google Maps or Apple Maps and you'll see what's around you in seconds. A few extra checks help you find a good one, and avoid walking to a shop that's shut for the winter.
What to search for
Different searches turn up different places:
- ice cream parlour or ice cream shop: dedicated shops, often making their own
- gelato or gelateria: Italian-style ice cream, denser and usually served a little warmer
- soft serve or frozen yogurt: machine-served, often at cafés, kiosks and fast-food chains
- dessert: dessert parlours that serve ice cream with waffles, crêpes and sundaes, and often stay open late
- farm shop ice cream: many dairy farms make and sell their own
Supermarkets and convenience stores are the fallback when everywhere else has closed.
Check opening hours
Ice cream shops are seasonal. Many in seaside and tourist towns close or cut their hours from autumn to spring, and online listings aren't always updated. Check the shop's own website or social media for current hours, or phone ahead.
Spotting a good shop
- Made on site: shops that make their own ice cream usually say so, and their flavours change with the seasons.
- Natural colours: a pistachio that's a muted green-brown rather than bright green often means real nuts rather than colouring.
- Tasters: good shops are usually happy to let you try a flavour before you choose.
- Reviews: look for recent reviews that mention specific flavours.
Dairy-free and allergies
Sorbet is normally dairy-free, and many shops now offer vegan ice cream made with oat, coconut or soy. Ice cream often contains milk, egg and nuts, and the same scoops and counters are used for every flavour, so traces can get into other tubs. If you have an allergy, ask staff before you order. In the UK, food businesses must tell you which of the 14 major allergens are in what they sell.
Ice cream vans
In summer, ice cream vans still tour many residential streets and parks. Routes vary, but some vans post where they'll be on social media.
More nearby food
See our guides to coffee shops near me, Thai food near me and restaurants that deliver.