From old school creameries to Thai rolled, nitrogen-infused and gelato, the Queen City has plenty of options when it comes to getting your sweet, frosty fix.
Best Chocolates 1. Aglamesis Bro’s, aglamesis.com 2. Maverick Chocolate Co., maverickchocolate.com 3. Esther Price, estherprice.com Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Old Milford Parlor 119 Main St., Milford Sister shop to Pendleton Parlor in Pendleton, Old Milford specializes in the “fusion of espresso and ice cream,” while dabbling in the edible cookie dough business. Choose from “old school” flavors like vanilla or rainbow sherbet or “top shelf” flavors like chocolate brownie or peanut butter pretzel. And don’t forget to top everything with cookie dough. Photo via Facebook.com/OldMilfordParlor
Schneider’s Sweet Shop 420 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Schneider’s Sweet Shop has been an essential neighborhood destination for sugary treats since 1939. The shop offers ice cream, handmade candies — like their signature Opera Creams — and a Northern Kentucky delicacy called “Ice Balls,” which are shaved ice with your choice of flavor and some ice cream. Photo via Schneider’s Sweet Shop Facebook
Loveland Sweets 124 West Loveland Avenue, Loveland Founded in 2006, this nostalgia-inducing confectioner offers a blend of housemade items and an array of other specialty sweets including their small-batch ice cream. Taste a variety of flavors including Nutella and pistachio and take your cone or cup on a walk around adorable downtown Loveland. Photo via Facebook.com/LovelandSweets
Fort Thomas Ice Cream 1013 S. Ft Thomas Ave, Fort Thomas Offering vegan options and popsicles along with their classic ice cream, Fort Thomas Ice Cream serves up over 20 homemade flavors a day on waffle cones. Try unique options like spicy pineapple sorbet or honeycomb, or keep it classic with strawberry or mint chip. Can’t pick one flavor? Try an ice cream flight: four flavors with four toppings. Photo via Facebook.com/fortthomasicecream
Milkman Ice Cream 6063 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge This brand new walk-up, located outside of Pleasant Ridge’s Revolution Rotisserie, offers ice cream and milkshakes on weekends and freshly made donuts on Sundays. With both boozy and non-alcoholic options, Milkman has been selling out almost every weekend since opening, so you know it’s delicious. Try flavors like Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble or Lemon Basil Blueberry. Photo via Facebook.com/milkmancincy
Buona Terra 1028 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout This Mt. Lookout shop features 24 flavors of gelato and sorbetto daily. As for ingredients, it rotates flavors regularly, but maintains staples like caramel and chocolate. For the most part, availability of fresh produce determines the gelato and sorbetto flavors. Keep an eye out for unfamiliar options, including Earl Grey and white chocolate lavender and refreshing sorbetto flavors such as mango passion fruit, melon and blood orange. Photo via Facebook.com/BuonaTerraGelato
La Grassa 7014 Miami Ave., Madeira We know: Gelato isn’t technically ice cream. But it’s close enough. If you wanted to try every flavor of gelato available at La Grassa in Madeira, you could. Entertain no fear of being too picky or taking too long to decide on a flavor — proprietor John Berman wants you to find your favorite. Choose from unique flavors like creme brulee, espresso chip and passion fruit sorbet. Ice cream or not, there’s something for everyone. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Buzzed Bull Creamery 1408 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 6052 OH-48, Maineville Cincinnati-based boozy ice cream chain Buzzed Bull Creamery opened the doors of its first storefront in 2016 and has since opened a second location in Maineville (with several franchises opening across the nation). Known for its liquid nitrogen-infused ice creams and milkshakes, Buzzed Bull serves both boozy and non-boozy creations like Death by Chocolate, Dreamsicle and Honey Bourbon Pecan. Photo via Facebook.com/buzzedbullcreamery
Village Ice Cream Parlor 22 S. Broadway St., Lebanon Lebanon may be a little far north for some, but we can’t leave out one of Greater Cincinnati’s favorite classic parlors. A staple in the Lebanon community since 1969, they offer traditional treats like a Turtle Sundae, plus new creations including a Lemon Raspberry Cloud Sundae — all smack dab in the middle of the picturesque downtown. Photo via Facebook.com/VillageParlor
Pendleton Parlor 1216 Broadway St., Pendleton At Pendleton Parlor, a bona fide second location of Old Milford, visitors can cool down their choice of mint chocolate chip or rainbow sherbet ice cream or opt for some creamy whip with a variety of flavors mixed in ranging from strawberry to Thin Mint. More adventurous customers can opt for edible cookie dough by the scoop, choose to blend the batter into a shake or enjoy it in a sundae or a side by side. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Craft Cream Works 7736 Dudley Drive, West Chester With over 70 flavors in rotation, and new creations popping up all the time, Craft Cream Works has something for everyone: No, seriously, everyone. They have debuted four vegan flavors including Thin Mint and Peanut Butter Oreo to make sure that dairy-free folks can enjoy ice cream as much as everyone else. Non-vegan flavors include creative picks like PB’NJ, Biscoff Cookie and ‘Merica Cheesecake, but these are subject to change since they “keep it fresh.” Photo via Facebook.com/CraftCreamWorks
Scoopz Maineville 34 W. Foster Maineville Road, Maineville Serving up Ohio-based Velvet ice cream, Scoopz’s motto is “Life’s short… Eat dessert first!” Indulge in classic flavors like Moose Tracks and mint chocolate chip, all served up in a fresh-made waffle cone. Photo via Facebook.com/scoopzmaineville
Simply Rolled Ice Cream 32 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine A franchise from Columbus, Simply Rolled Ice Cream offers made-to-order Thai rolled ice cream creations with a vegan-friendly option and over 20 toppings and mix-ins. It also has 10 signature ice cream rolls such as the Pina Colada, Buckeye Madness and seasonal options like Orange Rollsicle and Cotton Candy Fizzaz. All ice creams are priced at $6.50. Photo via Facebook.com/simplyrolledicecream
La Michoacana Ice Cream Factory 1338 Northland Blvd., Forest Park Mexican ice cream chain La Michoacana has a location in Forest Park. The creamery offers a selection of housemade ice creams, popsicles and fresh fruit creations — plus savory snacks as well. Photo via Facebook.com/LaMichocanaIceCreamCincinnatiOhio
Milk Jar Cafe 3880 Paxton Ave., Oakley Previously dubbed Milk Bar, Milk Jar offers Thai-style rolled ice cream along with Bubble Tea and gourmet cereal (but we’ll stick to the ice cream for today). Try combinations like Choco Loco (chocolate syrup and vanilla), Java Lava (coffee and condensed milk), Monkey Business (banana and Nutella) and Campfire Delight (graham cracker, chocolate syrup with a marshmallow on top) or create your own with unlimited toppings. Photo via Facebook.com/milkjarcincy