The Top Spots for Ice Cream and Cold Treats in Charlotte

It's hot outside. Give yourself a dopamine boost and cool off with something sweet.

June 10, 2024

Taylor Bowler,

ice cream in charlotte — Morelia allows you to customize paletas with dips, drizzles, and toppings. Photo by Peter Taylor

MORELIA GOURMET PALETAS

1425 Winnifred St., Ste. 104

Unlike American pops, usually just water, sugar, and artificial dyes, paletas are made with fresh, puréed fruits or creamy ingredients like Belgian chocolate or peanut butter. They’re typically displayed in glass cases to show off their vibrant colors, which is exactly how Morelia Gourmet Paletas does it in their South End shop. They’re fun to eat on the go and relatively mess-free—as long as you finish them before they melt.

NINETY’S DESSERT BAR

Multiple locations

This family-owned dessert shop serves handcrafted ice cream, over-the-top milkshakes, and giant cookie sundaes.

Charlotte desserts, cold treats, ice cream

Swirl Dessert Bar’s signature “Squish” is a scoop of ice cream pressed between two cookies. Photo by Peter Taylor

SWIRL DESSERT BAR

Multiple locations

This full-service bakery serves colossal ice cream sandwiches made with two thick, fresh-from-the-oven cookies.

TONY’S ICE CREAM

604 E. Franklin Blvd., Ste. 7111, Gastonia

This beloved family-owned shop serves 28 flavors of ice cream, along with sodas, slushies, and sandwiches.

HONEYSUCKLE GELATO

1115 N. Brevard St. and Ballantyne Bowl (opening Summer 2024)

Stop by this gelato shop inside Optimist Hall for scoops, pints, gelato sandwiches, and milkshakes.

ELIZABETH CREAMERY

1535 Elizabeth Ave., Ste. 100

This neighborhood spot scoops classic flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip and Butter Pecan, but if you’re feeling adventurous, go for the Smurf, Ginger, or Green Tea.

JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS

Multiple locations

Jeni’s has plenty of choices for chocolate and vanilla lovers, but you’ll also find unexpected flavors like Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, Sweet Cream Biscuits with Peach Jam, Coffee with Cream & Sugar, and so many more.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams serves a rotation of bestselling flavors and seasonal items. Photo by Peter Taylor

COCOS LOCOS

4801 N. Tryon St.

This small-batch creamery just north of uptown serves Mexican flavors you won’t find anywhere else in the city.

POPBAR

Multiple locations

This colorful shop serves customizable popsicles made daily from gelato, sorbet, and yogurt.

ARTISEN VEGELATO

301 W. John St., Matthews

This ice cream shop, co-owned by Manolo’s Bakery owner Manolo Betancur, serves vegan, dairy-free, and seasonal flavors like Peppermint Bark, Mango, and S’mores.

KING OF POPS

Multiple locations

This popsicle cart offers flavors like Sweet Tea N’ Lemonade, Key Lime Pie, and Strawberry Lemonade, plus a “King of Pups” treat for your pooch.

THE CRAZY MASON

5965 Thunder Road NW, Concord

Known for its over-the-top milkshakes, this dessert bar uses local produce and toppings from local bakeries to create their “Crazy Bomb” ice cream sandwiches and “Crazy Mason” milkshakes served in Mason jars.

TWO SCOOPS CREAMERY

Multiple locations

Choose from a rotation of flavors, and don’t forget to take pictures of your kids with their favorites in front of the hand-painted murals.

MATCHA CAFÉ MAIKO

8128 Providence Road, Ste. 900

The Arboretum matcha shop serves matcha soft serve ice cream, frappés, teas, lattes, and floats.

THE LOCAL SCOOP

Multiple locations

Every day, you’ll find a rotation of flavors, plus eight different non-dairy options.

SEAMINGLY OVERZEALOUS

701 Keswick Ave., Ste. 102

This frozen dessert shop is 100% dairy- and egg-free, and its flavors are as curious as its name.

COLD HEARTED GELATO

1308 The Plaza, Ste. A

Chef Elinn Hesse, a veteran of Bardo and Counter-, tried a daring concept: gelato that aims for savory as much as sweet. (Think Goat Cheese, Dark Chocolate, and Cherry.)