50 Best Ice Cream Shops in Philadelphia

“Pasta making class Olivia was excellent. She understands the regions of Italy and was able to prep and explain with ease and grace. A participant asked about cacio e pepe, which was not on the agenda, and Olivia quickly prepared the basic but difficult to nail sauce. It was spot on. Would def recommend HBB to friends and family. One suggestion though - supplying guests with aprons would be helpful!“

“Amazing definitely go try rainbow or cotton candy. Great sized!“

“Seaport, Boston location. Staff MADE SURE I was picking the flavor that I really wanted. They wanted me to feel like a welcome tourist. Mission Accomplished.“

“Get the sorbetto! Great food, great service.“

“One of the best ice creams I’ve ever had anywhere. Hands down. (Two ultimate favs are the Earl Grey with Honeycomb and the Pistachio. Just perfect.)“

“Water ice and ice cream yummy!!!“

“Very good water ice, thank you“

“CASH ONLY UNDER $10

Best hard ice cream around. They have seasonal flavors, and only close “for the season” for like 3 months. Their prices are super super cheap, got a 6 flavor sample platter for like $8.

I’ve also had their ice cream cake which is super good as well.

Line can get quite long, even on weeknights in the winter and fall. But that means they’re doing something right.“

“I’ve never been welcomed into a space with as much warmth as the moment I entered this Van Leeuwen. Valerie greeted us with so much energy and the biggest smile. I will absolutely come back here because of this experience! Thank you, Valerie!“

“I gave 5 stars because of the alone hardworking girl. Please can you schedule someone else to help her. She is doing a great job but there is always line.
Nice flavors nice location very close to smart kids at UPenn but again always line of people.
PS. I got the fall flavors : hazelnut & pumpkin. 🎃“

“Came here with my date for water ice and honestly loved it. Great flavors, great atmosphere, and the owner was really genuine and friendly. It’s always nice supporting a place where the customer service matches the quality of the food. We’ll definitely be back.“

“Siddiq's is a West Philly gem! The flavors are always creative and delicious, and the staff will encourage you to sample anything.“

“So thrilled to have Curly's Carnival Eats right in my neighborhood! I met Yanni when he bought his Jeep he told me all about this place. Loved the fries Loved the atmosphere and the hospitality from the whole family. I'm planning to stop again tonight for the funnel cake and to purchase my coworkers some cookies. Is Curly's Carnival Eats the Best? Boy I Guess!“

“Great Ice Cream, friendly staff, good prices, & quick service“

“Good food. Good selection. I got a pumpkin spice gelati.“

“Absolutely delicious locally homemade ice cream. Great addition to the neighborhood, but also a destination worth traveling to!“

“Best pretzel I have ever tasted and at a great price!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Van Leeuwen Ice Cream – A Love Letter in Every Scoop

If heaven had a freezer, it would be stocked with Van Leeuwen.

I came in for a treat and left with a religious experience. Their Coffee Affogato flavor is everything an espresso-lover dreams of—intensely bold, silky, with that creamy finish that wraps your tongue like a velvet curtain call. It’s not just coffee ice cream—it’s an Italian café pressed into a cone.

Then there’s Pistachio—not the artificial neon green kind, but the real-deal roasted pistachio essence. Nutty, rich, and quietly luxurious. It’s like they churned up a Mediterranean summer and handed it to me in a biodegradable cup.

But the showstopper? Marionberry Cheesecake. A fever dream of tart berry swirls and thick cheesecake folds, each bite a layered masterpiece. It’s tangy, it’s sweet, it’s slightly sinful—and completely addictive.

The staff were kind, the shop smelled like toasted sugar and happiness, and every flavor felt like it was made to be somebody’s favorite.

Glowing doesn’t even begin to cover it—Van Leeuwen is a shrine to the art of ice cream. Run, don’t walk.“

“I came here while visiting Philly and it is such a good find! They have such fun ice cream flavors and it’s constantly changing. I had lemon crème ice cream which had lemon bar pieces in it and it was so unique and delicious. Will be coming back when I’m in town again.“

“Walked by here yesterday with my boyfriend and was pleasantly surprised they were open this time of the year. Customer service was excellent and the place was super clean. The workers had gloves on and the owner who took our order couldn’t have been any more nicer. We got a brownie delight sundae which was amazing, a gelati made with their home made water ice… and 6 cookies that were served warm! The apple pie cookie and blue berry muffin cookie were so YUM!! We will definitely be going back! 😊“

“Had a great day with my kid. Ended the evening at Weckerly’s. The Ice Cream Sandwiches were great. Fun time, highly recommended.“

“Ever since I first tried this ice cream shop in 2025 I've been in love with it!! I a worried that they were going to have to close at the end of the year, but they're under new ownership! Despite new owners, they still have their original flavors and have even added some new ones!! My favorite OG flavor is their Lemon Buttermilk, and my two new favorites are their Matcha and Thai Tea! This visit I got the matcha and Thai tea on a fresh waffle (as pictured). Nothing but good vibes and delicious flavors here!!“

“I love this place all the yummy 😋 ice cream“

“Delicious! Great service right to your door!“

“I absolutely love Kilwins in Midtown Village. I came across this location early this year after going for wine with some friends at Vintage Wine Bar. I got some of the butter peanut ice cream, fudge for my little ones, and chocolate covered pretzels. When I tell you that ice-cream hit! It's so fresh and not too sweet. The hand dipped Graham crackers, pretzels, Rice crispy treats are divine! The seafood chocolates were so good. The chocolatier explained it as having the same consistency the inside as a butter finger. He was so spot on. It was such a different kind of chocolate experience. Lori the owner and her crew are so welcoming and friendly. A trip to Kilwin's is worth every cent!“

“Absolutely one of my favorite places to eat Authentic Italian food in Philly! I literally stop in every single time I'm in town. The food is just perfect, authentic and I love how they have a new menu every week or so for different regions! Beyond excellent service. Award winning gelato must be mentioned with the great choices at the store market on the 1st level!“

“I'm just rating the name. A star will be deducted each time ICE passes by without being mooned.“

“I tried the tequila and mamay, omg, so delicious. The woman there was very pleasant a d helpful with choices. Thank you for making my ice cream just right! Definitely recommended“

“Was in town for a conference at the Marriott across the street and was completely amazed by the market and saw what looked like really good authentic ice cream so gave it a try… and found it to be just as amazing as the market. I went with the crowd favorite, salted caramel pretzel and it was full of chunks and flavor. So good. Definitely recommend!“

“. I love the unique flavors, and the amount of variety there is. They are all different and delicious in their own ways. My personal favorite is the brambleberry crisp! The only reason I’d give it a 4 instead of a 5 for the store itself is that the ice cream shop is on the much pricier side, and their pints are the same price as their 2-3 scoop options. I now opt to buy them by the pint.

. Everyone here is always so upbeat and friendly. They let you try as many flavors as you want which is so nice, and they are so patient and quick as you try a bunch!

It is very bright and vibey in here! There are standing counters you can eat at and it is overall nice.

Highly recommend this spot if you are around the area! A unique and delicious ice cream shop, just keep in mind that it is on the pricier side.“

“Rita's water ice I like what they have I tried the coffee one it was really good“

“We love surreal and miss it now that it moved away from our area. No other ice cream place has the unique flavors and combinations of Surreal. The Earl grey Vietnamese coffee or the Matcha and Tarro flavors are the best.“

“Without a doubt, the best Italian Water Ice around!“

“Such good ice cream and so many gluten free and dairy free choices clearly labeled! Employee that helped us had great customer service! Super kind was happily greeting all customers that came in. She asked us all if we wanted to try anything too.“

“so good. I just found their products at GFS. Very delicious. I'll be ordering it often.“

“Not only did the owner of this store go out of his way to get me a cake made when I screwed up and ordered too late but all of our guests said it was the best ice cream cake they ever had. I have locations closer to me but this is the one we will be going to from now on and I am telling all of my friends and family the same.“

“Had a great day with my kid. Ended the evening at Weckerly’s. The Ice Cream Sandwiches were great. Fun time, highly recommended.“

“I love this place all the yummy 😋 ice cream“

“Writing this review as I'm eating my hoagie because it's THAT good - haven't even finished it yet. I took it home to go. The bread they have is amazing, I got the seeded roll. And the ingredients taste so fresh and high-quality. I got the Turkey'd Out hoagie which is one of their specialty hoagies and i highly recommend it. You can also add some extra toppings to your liking. The hoagie was bigger than I expected which is great because I eat a lot. I will definitely be coming back as soon as I can to try the other specialty hoagies.

In addition to the food - amazing/friendly service, very clean inside.“

“I've been waiting on this location to open up and boy was it worth the wait!!! Dre's has the BEST water ice and ice cream in Philly... and if your looking for gourmet ice cream try the sweet potato pie or banana pudding flavor they are to die for I noticed it at the retail location but it can also be found at all Browns Family Shop-rite stores.“

“I have only try four different flavors and they’re delicious 😋 next time I may have to order a bigger size 🥰“

“they have the best yogurt in town“

“This bakery never disappoints! Both of my girls loved your Gryffindor cupcakes at Harry Potter days in the early 2000s. You made a gorgeous celestial cake for my oldest during the pandemic and, most recently, a beautiful and delicious 25th birthday cake with the F1 theme she asked for. Thank you for such consistent quality over the years! ❤️“

“Literally one of my top 10 favorite places in Philadelphia! Absolutely authentic Mexican ice cream and little snacks- like corn on the cobb, fruits prepared with Chile and the works, chips with the works. This is what we actually eat in México! I would recommend it to anyone!Este lugar es el mejor! Uno de mis lugares favoritos en Philadelphia!“

“Everyone was extremely nice, the service was attentive and quick. The space itself was very cozy and despite being loud from all of the other people, the acoustics of the room made it so you could hear the other people at your table just fine.

The food and drinks were amazing. The gelato was really impressive. And our server Alex, who helped me decide half of what I got, made it unforgettable. Will definitely be back whenever I'm in Philly.“

“I’ve come here a few times and have had pleasant experiences all the times I’ve come here. The last time I came here I got a turtle sundae and my friend got the black and white milkshake and they were both really good, highly recommend. Would come back again.“

“best sorbet around. and the berries and toppings are outstanding.“

“Service with kindness great flavors no one else has“

“I went inside Rita’s today with my mom. The shop was small and cute. I told one of the workers that I applied for the job as a part time team member. They said that they will look at applicants next week. Anyways, I ordered a cotton candy Italian ice and it was delicious. I would recommend going there.“

“The best ice cream I tasted in Philly. I ordered the coconut ice cream with almond toppings. Do note that the almond toppings are very expensive. The taste of the coconut ice cream is delicious. I will definitely come back again when I visit Philly the next time. The shop is small and is decorated nicely.“