50 Best Ice Cream Shops in Philadelphia

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

“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!“

“I got to try your Earl Grey tea ice cream over the summer, and recently tried your London Fog ice cream bars, and they're both awesome!! Thank you for creating these!!“

“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.)“

“Best Gelato I've had, Cherry...(I will be trying all flavors). Best in the city in my opinion!! The Soft Serve is soft, thick and creamy, so delicious!! The prices are very reasonable and the portions are plentiful. Nice, friendly staff, clean establishment. My family and I have made this our #1 Ice Cream 🍨🍦 Spot!!!! 😋“

“DELICIOUSLY GREAT WATER ICE GO GET YOURS very friendly service thanks for stopping in charleston wv“

“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. 🎃“

“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!“

“This ice cream, funnel cake and water ice shop is fantastic! The staff are super fast and always make sure you’re satisfied with your order. There’s a wide variety of delicious choices on the menu, and everything tastes amazing. The employees are not only polite but also really funny. I highly recommend this spot — I’ve been coming here for years, and it’s always worth it!“

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

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

“My husband and I absolutely adore Curly's Carnival Eats and Creamery! It’s our favorite place to escape and indulge our inner kids. The atmosphere is vibrant and nostalgic, perfectly capturing the fun spirit of the fair without the crowds. Every bite from the perfectly crispy funnel cakes to the decadent, creative ice cream flavors, is a celebration.

The portions are generous, the staff is cheerful, and it’s truly a unique spot that we look forward to visiting every time. If you want great desserts and fantastic carnival classics, make sure to bring your partner, family, friends, etc and check out Curly's! Highly, highly recommend!“

“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.“

“Got a double of the Merci Boku 2.0. Was the right amount of Cinnamony, caramelly indulgence with cake chunks. Will definitely go back for new flavours next time I'm around. Decided it was good enough for a picture after a few too many bites.“

“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! 😊“

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

“Another beautiful event at Gran Café L’Aquila for our annual department dinner. For the second year in a row, their team made the planning process incredibly easy, assisting with the delicious menu, wine selections, setup, and flawless service. Everything was handled with care and professionalism. There’s nothing better than hosting an event and being able to truly enjoy it alongside everyone else.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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“

“Love! The Cosmic Beets ice cream sandwich was delicious! I was hesitant to order it, but so glad I did. Hoping to see dark chocolate ginger on the menu again soon.“

“I love this spot. My go-to order is the Earl Grey bubble tea topped with the Vietnamese iced coffee ice cream. It’s perfectly balanced: the tea’s floral notes shine through while the ice cream adds a deep, mellow sweetness that never feels overpowering. I’ve been back a few times now, not just for the sweet treats but for the aesthetics—the desserts look gorgeous, and the space itself is bright and great for hanging out with friends. It’s become an easy favorite!“

“Jeni’s has become my favorite ice cream to eat whether I’m buying it in a grocery store, ordering delivery or going to the shop with friends for a cone. What makes it even more exceptional is the top notch customer service! Friendly, kind and knowledgeable staff makes the experience an 11/10 every time!“

“We love coming to Vita! Whether it’s a quick stop for their home made gelato or a night out for dinner, we know we are always going to get a solid product. The pasta is very fresh, and they offer a variety of other Italian dishes which always hit the spot. And the gelato is 10/10. Best spot in Philly!“

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

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

“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 love this place all the yummy 😋 ice cream“

“wow I outsold work for you and make bananas chocolate“

“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“

“Amazing ice cream place! I went here and got the Lemon Bar and Almond Brittle half scoops in a waffle cone, both delicious. Here they usually do half scoops, so I got two flavors. Lemon bar was sour and creamy. The almond brittle was crunchy and had a sweet caramel flavor. A two-half-scoop treat is the perfect dessert after dinner“

“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!“

“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.“

“Can not go wrong ordering any dessert from Bredenbeck’s. We get all our daughter’s birthday cakes and go there for ice cream during the summer.“

“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.“

“Service with kindness great flavors no one else has“

“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.“

“It's an awesome place to bring your family for ice cream and chocolate treats. The workers are awesome it's a friendly environment not to mention the ice cream and smoothies are really great. My kids love this place“

“Me and my family was visiting from Dallas Texas . I was Googling Water Ice this business came up . I went to 22nd Water Ice for two days while visiting Philly my kids enjoyed ? this place. Prices are very affordable. Next time in Philly we will come again. Thanks Thomas for great Customer Service. More Blessing to this business ??“

“Delicious ice cream and they deliver!“

“my favorite place in Philly for matcha! matcha quality is authentic and ceremonial grade and you can definitely taste it. I got the matcha bomb latte and the milk was not overpowering and the drink was not too sweet at all. would recommend to anyone looking for real, strong matcha.“

“I ordered a smoothie today from this location. The manager, Peter, was very clean. He changed his gloves a few times within my order and another person's order. Peter, spoke well English and I was able to communicate with him well. He was very honest when I gave him too much money during my transaction. I would definitely go back to this location again in the future.“

“We ordered 2 scoops with Sea Salt Caramel & Chocolate Chip Ice Cream in the Chinese takeout containers! The place is old fashioned with soda fountains. Something to be mindful of is that there’s standing room but no indoor seating. Ice cream was incredible!“

“mixture of flavors freeze ur brain and all ur senses #ScoopDeville #buzzybooth“

“Best ice cream I have had in a while! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I went there without much expectation and took the coffee fudge truffle in a chocolate dipped cone. It was very creamy and thick in consistency (in a good way). The cone was super crisp and they gave 2 scoops of ice cream. It was a lot but I enjoyed every bite of it. The flavor was great! Would love to come back and try more flavors!“