36 Best Ice Cream Shops near Lakewood Ranch

“Kate was a pleasure.We came in with 12 people and she handled it all so well. No long wait time, the kids were happy and helped first, I forgot to mention she was the only person working that day. Much praise for her patience, how courteous & kind she was to our big family.“

“The best ice cream in Florida! Generous portions, friendly staff and a wonderful location. You can sit inside or outside, both are fun. Can't wait to go back, yummy!!!“

“The best gelato this side of Italy 😍“

“I submitted a review through Google, but I will include it here as well. I cannot recommend this shop enough. First time coming was in early Summertime. Came in with friends, craving some ice cream. Not only did this place deliver, I have come back time and time again since receiving the same incredible service and atmosphere Ryan and his team brings. The rotating flavors are a wonderful dream of variety. If anyone is ever looking for a place for that sweet tooth, or a beautiful way to end your Downtown venture, achieve Great Heights. You will leave soaring through Great Heights.“

“So happy this is here in our community! The owner, Gary, is always welcoming & only hires the friendliest & most helpful staff! They always make you feel like they appreciate you coming there. Love their Salted Caramel flavor! It is always spotless inside, too!“

“This has become my family’s favorite little ice cream spot! The flavors are amazing! And the staff is always friendly 💕“

“WICKED Huge ice cream!!! 🍨🍦 Crazy!!! Haha! I was told the owners are from New Hampshire! Hello from Cape Cod Massachusetts!! Love the name and super cute!!! Not to mention the portions are wildly HUGE! Like too big haha! Never thought I'd say that! We will be back! The paintings and atmosphere are Wicked cute! Open some more spots!! Looking forward to our next visit!“

“My family and I spent the afternoon at this pleasant ice cream shop. In addition to the excellent quality of the ice cream, the service was fantastic, including the pets. This filled me with joy.“

“Today was our first visit at Ritas. I want to say our ice cream was delicious. We got one cookies and cream shake, one vanilla shake, and a mint custard. I was really impressed to see they made the shakes by hand (with milk, syrup, etc). This is the only place I know of that sells a mint custard!

The only thing I would recommend for the owner is places to sit. When you think about going to an ice cream shop, you think about going and sitting down to enjoy it.. not bringing it back to your car. There’s one bench outside but it was taken. Other than that, great ice cream ?“

“The ice cream is fabulous and the waffle cones are made fresh daily. Chocolate peanut butter was rich and creamy. Mint chocolate chip was very minty and the sea salt Carmel had just the right amount of Carmel & salt very creamy. Very clean, no line with a water cooler to gab a sip if you need it.“

“🍦🍦🍦❤️❤️❤️ Very good ice cream lots of choice and clean store“

“Busy busy busy, day 1 they were out of waffle cones, day 2 they said sorry we're not offering samples at the moment. And the place smells like bug repellent. The icecream is yummy though. Best tasting ice cream. The staff need to get trained for better customer service.“

“🍦🍦🍦❤️❤️❤️ Very good ice cream lots of choice and clean store“

“I come here just for the smell!! The smell of waffle cones in the air is the best part. Everyone is super friendly. There is a chalkboard for you to entertain yourself, and the ice cream is so delish and creamy. Love coming here for a pick me up. Highly recommend.“

“From the moment you walk in, the positive vibes are palpable. To walking up to the counter and having the friendliest of staff greet you. To getting your rainbow cone and just having to smile because of the flavor and the nostalgia of eating an ice cream cone. Great atmosphere. Great Service. Great food!!!!“

“The Custard was really great 😁“

“I just wanted to let you in on a little secret. I have lived in Sarasota for 3 years and i have found the best ice cream shoppe in Sarasota. Pinecraft Ice Cream is the best. Located at 3350 Bahia Vista St. They have a delicious variety of ice cream some even dairy free. My favorite is the soft serve twist. While your there order a pizza from Village Pizza By Emma. Reminds me of the great pizza when I lived in New York. Tell them Bob sent you.“

“Very sweet treat and very yummy !

Vegetarian options: good options for everything

Dietary restrictions: good options

Parking: Good parking

Kid-friendliness: sweet and good for summer

Wheelchair accessibility: Parking for everyone“

“The works are always grinding to push out the cookies of the week for customers. Today I experienced an issue with the third party delivery driver in which my order was ready and not picked up in over 30 minutes. I called the store to see if everything was okay and they offered to call the delivery service for me. After that my new driver successfully delivered my cookies and it came with a special note! Thank you to whom ever I spoke with on the phone and the rest of the crew💕“

“Artisanal Chocolate Heaven in Sarasota – Norman Love Confections

If you’re searching for the best chocolate shop in Sarasota, look no further than Norman Love Confections. As a chocolate lover and dessert enthusiast, I made not one, but two visits during my recent trip—and I’d go back again in a heartbeat.

On my first visit, I picked up a 5-piece box of beautifully crafted artisanal chocolates. Each piece looked like a miniature painting—visual eye candy that delivers unforgettable flavor. Rich, luxurious, and perfectly balanced, these chocolates are made for those who truly appreciate gourmet craftsmanship. Even the elegant boxes are worth saving—so well-designed they feel like gifts themselves.

The mango gelato also blew me away—bright, tropical, and silky smooth. It’s the kind of refreshing treat you’ll crave on a warm Florida day.

The shop is also stocked with a variety of house-made chocolate bars and seasonal specialties, making it easy to discover new favorites or bring home a special edible souvenir. Every bite reflects the brand’s attention to detail and passion for chocolate artistry.

The customer service stood out, too. Xavier, one of the staff members even shared photos of his latte and crepe art, which added a thoughtful, personal touch and made the experience feel extra memorable.

I returned a few days later to pick up a Key Lime Cake and Tiramisu for my family—both were phenomenal. The Key Lime Cake was zesty, creamy, and refreshing, while the Tiramisu was rich, velvety, and indulgent.

Whether you’re a Sarasota local or just passing through, Norman Love Confections is a must-visit for artisan chocolate, luxury desserts, and handcrafted indulgence. It’s a delicious destination for foodies, sweet tooths, and anyone who loves flavor-forward experiences.“

“🇩🇪 Wundervoller Besuch – absolut empfehlenswert! ❤️❤️❤️🙏🇭🇺 Wir waren gestern in diesem liebevoll geführten Laden und sind rundum begeistert! Der Baumkuchen war ein Traum – frisch, saftig und mit viel Liebe gemacht. Dazu ein hervorragender Kaffee, der das Genusserlebnis perfekt abgerundet hat. Besonders hervorheben möchten wir die unglaublich freundliche Eigentümerin, mit der wir ein sehr nettes Gespräch führen durften. Man spürt sofort, mit wie viel Herzblut sie ihr Geschäft führt. Auch der Service war aufmerksam und herzlich – man fühlt sich sofort willkommen. Das Geschäft selbst ist sehr sauber und gepflegt, mit einer warmen Atmosphäre, in der man gerne verweilt. Wir kommen definitiv wieder – ein echter Geheimtipp!“

“Had a great time, at a lovely, fun and imaginative course. I've never seen a mini golf course where flowing water brings the ball to the green. I don't know understand the negative comments - it wasn't worn or old, everything was clean. Pricing was very fair. Ice cream was delicious and the attendant/cashier was friendly.“

“I visited Cold Stone a couple of weeks ago. Although it was a bit tricky to find in the mall, once I found it, it was an excellent experience. I was served quickly and politely, and the ice cream - some sort of seasonal, heavenly, cinnamon roll concoction - knocked my socks off. It was insanely sweet, which is exactly what I was looking for. I ate off of it for 3 days. Amazing. 10/10.“

“Just purchased a birthday cake from Menchies for grandsons sixth birthday. Cake was delicious —decorated so amazingly —Mario theme—big hit at his party!!! Great service ..fun place ..recommend !😀“

“Too many yummy things to pick“

“Homemade popsicles and donuts“

“Best ice cream on Siesta!“

“I discovered Hershey's ice cream a number of years ago and they are now just about the only place that you can get really good peach ice cream. Service was good prices are in line with other places, the location was easy to get to and clean.“

“Such a cool place!!! The employee that served us was amazing, super friendly and helpful since it was our first time here. The desserts were delicious. I can’t explain the texture, it’s like nothing else I’ve ever tried. It’s not like traditional shaved ice. It’s cold but creamy and light. Melts in your mouth. Definitely a must try!“

“Wonderful excellent place ? delicious and natural juices carrot, beet celery, orange, and what can we say about the vegetables freshly cut fresh fruit and above all they have an area for each preparation excellent the treatment I have been attending the place for 3 years I recommend it 100%% %“

“duros preparados con extra aguacate son sabrosos“

“I LOVE ❤️ the donkey!“

“I pass by this location almost every day on my usual afternoon Starbucks Run. Yesterday I happen to notice something seemed different. Behind the counter, and the establishment in general seemed less cluttered and very clean. I happened to be looking over when the young lady behind the counter made eye contact with me and smiled. She greeted me with the biggest Smile and said, “how are you doing today?” And I told her I was great. I mentioned to her how good things were looking over there. She then introduced herself to me as the new General Manager. I believe she said her name was Sarah. I was struck by how confident yet polite and sophisticated this young lady, Sarah seemed to be managing and ice cream store. I told her that I was waiting in line at Starbucks but sometime I would have to come over and try some ice cream. She again smiled, warmly and enthusiastically welcomed to me to stop by sometime on a break. It’s funny how she had noticed in the past week or two I had been going to Starbucks almost every day. Very observant on her part.Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by being noticed and then so graciously being welcomed to stop by. I will most definitely be going to this location the next time I am craving ice cream.“

“large, delicious sandwiches!“

“Amazing ice cream and chocolate! Best in the area for sure“

“I will and do literally drive from Ft Myers just to eat here. Something about the burgers and the fry seasoned shoestring fries..delicious!! P.S they use long sliced pickles which makes the burgers even better!!“