Looking for a cold and sweet treat to beat the heat? The Tampa Bay Observer rounded up highly rated ice cream shops across the Tampa Bay region based on Google reviews.
Google ratings were checked at the time of publication and may change. Seasonal flavors are also subject to availability.
Tampa
Kini's Home Style Icecream- 5/5 stars
If you're looking to try something beyond traditional ice cream flavors, Kini’s Home Style Ice Cream offers a menu inspired by tropical fruits and traditional Indian flavors.
In addition to its dairy-based ice cream, the shop also serves handcrafted vegan options made with plant-based ingredients, providing choices for a variety of dietary preferences.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Chocobite
Kesar Pista
Strawberry
Peach
Tender Coconut
Jackfruit
Custard Apple
Rose Petal Pistachio
Oreo Delight
Nutty Delight
Mango
Kaju Draksha
Sapota Chikoo
Pumpkin Spice
Kini’s Home Style Ice Cream is located at 2017 E. Fowler Ave. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
Sea Maids Creamery- 4.9/5 Stars
Sea Maids Creamery offers a variety of unique ice cream flavors, including both dairy and vegan options. The shop also serves freshly baked cookies and other sweet treats that pair perfectly with ice cream.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
SpongeBob
Cookies and Cream
Cake by the Ocean
Seminole Heights Gator Tracks
Mint Chocolate Chip
Cookie Monster
Patrick
Sea Salt Kisses
Vanilla Bean
Sea Maids Creamery is located at 4230 N. Florida Ave. The shop is open Thursday through Sunday, with hours ranging from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 4 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday and 3 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Cream de la Cream- 4.9/5 Stars
Cream de la Cream puts a twist on traditional ice cream by serving handcrafted rolled ice cream made fresh to order. Customers can choose from a variety of rolled ice cream creations prepared on a frozen griddle and rolled into a cup.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Monkey Business
Chocolate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Tropical Blast
Pistachio
Brownie Bites
In addition to rolled ice cream, the shop offers boba tea, matcha drinks, fruit teas and milkshakes.
Cream de la Cream is located at 5220 Bridge St. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 2 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Chill Bros Scoop Shop- 4.8/5 Stars
Chill Bros. Scoop Shop combines traditional Italian gelato-making techniques learned in Bologna, Italy, with premium, all-natural ingredients. Each flavor starts with a simple five-ingredient base, and the company sources many of its ingredients from local businesses.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Bonfire S'mores
Rocket Pop Sorbetto
Black Cherry Stracciatella
Key Lime Pie
Guava Pastelito
Café Con Leche Chunk
Bee's Knees
Double Down Oreo
In addition to its signature ice cream flavors, Chill Bros. also offers vegan options.
The shop has multiple Tampa locations, including South Howard, Armature Works, Bay to Bay, Ybor City and Water Street. Hours vary slightly by location, but most shops are open Monday through Thursday from noon to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m..
Dairy Joy- 4.7/5 Stars
Dairy Joy transports customers back to the 1950s with its retro architecture and classic ice cream flavors. The family-owned Tampa ice cream shop has been serving customers since 1958 and also operates a location in Jacksonville.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Birthday Cake
Bubble Gum
Butter Pecan
Cherry Vanilla
French Vanilla
Cotton Candy
Rocky Road
For those looking for a dairy-free treat, Dairy Joy also offers a variety of snow cones and flavored shaved ice, along with root beer floats and smoothies.
Dairy Joy is located at 3813 S. Manhattan Ave. The shop is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams- 4.6/5 stars
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams has been crafting ice cream from scratch using original recipes developed by founder Jeni Britton for more than 20 years. The company is also a Certified B Corporation, a designation awarded by the nonprofit B Lab for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance.
Some of the shop's seasonal flavors include:
Confetti Brownie Batter
Matchapolitan
Summer Berries & Passion Fruit
Hibiscus Chili Punch
Campfire S'mores
Strawberry Pretzel Pie
Queen Charlotte Sponge Cake
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is located at 305 W. Palm Ave. The shop is open Monday through Thursday from 1 to 11 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from noon to 12:30 a.m.
St. Petersburg and Clearwater
Mayday Ice Cream- 4.9/5 Stars
Mayday Ice Cream was named in honor of the innovative Americans who served the country in Europe during World War II. The shop specializes in homemade ice cream crafted with locally sourced ingredients and house-made sprinkles. It also offers gluten-free and dairy-free options.
Some of the shop's seasonal flavors include:
Blackberry Earl Grey
Lavender High Tea
Society Islands Ube Mochi
Raja Honey
Blue Sky Blues
Brass Pot Thai Tea
Strawberry Dragon
Yuzu Dreamsicle
Mayday Ice Cream is located at 627 Central Ave. The shop is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Wildflower Ice Cream- 4.9/5 Stars
Locally owned and operated, Wildflower Ice Cream serves both dairy and nondairy ice cream made in the New Zealand style. Each order is made fresh by blending a premium ice cream base with the customer's choice of ingredients, creating a smooth, customized treat.
With more than 10,000 possible flavor combinations, there is no shortage of options to try.
Some of the shop's featured creations include:
The Charlie
The Lily
Shortcake
Minty
Sunshine
Salty Sweet
Wildflower Ice Cream is located at 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. The shop is open Sunday through Thursday from 1 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m.
Small Batch Creamery- 4.9/5 Stars
At Small Batch Creamery, the name reflects the shop's philosophy. Ice cream is churned daily in small batches, with an emphasis on quality, texture and fresh ingredients. Every batch is made from scratch using Florida milk and cream, real egg yolks, Florida cane sugar and a hint of salt.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Belgian Chocolate
Blue Kooki Monster
Brazilian Bold
Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Butter Brickle
Butter Cookie Crunch
In addition to its ice cream, the shop serves brownies, cookies, ice cream cakes, Fat Cookies and guava cream cheese pastries.
Small Batch Creamery is located at 5530 Fourth St. N. The shop is open Monday from 1 to 9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9:30 p.m.
La Diperie- 4.8/5 Stars
At La Diperie, customers can create their perfect frozen treat by choosing a soft-serve ice cream base, a signature chocolate dip and their favorite toppings. The company has been crafting customizable desserts since 2014.
Some of the shop's featured soft-serve combinations include:
Kid at Heart
La Diperie
Chocolate A Twist
Friend-Chip Goals
Rainbow Chic
In addition to its signature soft-serve creations, the shop offers hard ice cream, doughnuts, cheesecakes, cookies and other sweet treats.
La Diperie is located at 425 Central Ave. The shop is open Sunday through Wednesday from 1 to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 1 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to midnight.
Bright Ice Cream Scoop Shop- 4.8/5 Stars
Bright Ice Cream Scoop Shop is known for its bold, creative flavor combinations made with locally sourced ingredients. In addition to handcrafted ice cream, the shop serves a selection of signature hot and iced coffee drinks.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Caramelized Bananas with Peanut Butter & Honey
Espresso with Kahlúa
Key Lime Pie
Deepest Darkest Chocolate Secret
Roasted Strawberries with Brown Sugar & Balsamic
Blueberries with Cinnamon
Lemon with Crystallized Ginger
Mint with Chocolate Chunks
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip
Bright Ice Cream Scoop Shop is located at 3701 Fifth Ave. N. The shop is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Mint Fox Cookies and Ice Cream- 4.8/5 Stars
Mint Fox Cookies & Ice Cream is a husband-and-wife-owned shop that has been serving homemade cookies, fresh waffle cones and handcrafted ice cream since 2021. The shop also offers gluten-free options for customers with dietary preferences.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Mint Avalanche
Strawberry
Black Cherry
This $&@! Just Got Serious
Butter Pecan
PB Hearts Chocolate
Fat Elvis
Mint Fox Cookies & Ice Cream is located at 483 Mandalay Ave., Suite 114. The shop is open seven days a week from 2 to 10 p.m.
Haze Ice Cream- 4.7/5 Stars
Haze Ice Cream makes all of its ice cream in-house and also serves Kahwa Coffee, available hot or iced. The shop offers gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options, as well as alcoholic ice cream flavors for adults looking to add a spirited twist to their dessert.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Kahlúa Almond (alcoholic)
Banana Cream
Coconut Cream
Coffee
Cookie Dough
Cookie Butter
Death by Chocolate
Mocha Chip
Haze Ice Cream is located at 15231 Gulf Blvd. The shop is open seven days a week from noon to 10 p.m.
Ice & Cream Creamery- 4.6/5 Stars
Ice & Cream Creamery serves 36 locally made ice cream flavors crafted in small batches using locally sourced ingredients.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Red Velvet Cake
Salted Caramel Peanut
Rocky Road
Butter Pecan
Dreamsicle
Pistachio
Moose Tracks
Ice & Cream Creamery is located at 200 Main St., Unit 109. The shop is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Strachan's Ice Cream & Dessert- 4.6/5 Stars
Strachan’s Ice Cream & Dessert makes its ice cream in-house and also serves homemade fudge, waffle cones and other sweet treats. The shop has been serving old-fashioned inspired flavors since 1999.
Some of the shop's featured flavors include:
Strawberry
Key Lime
Black Raspberry
Orange Creamsicle
Cinnamon
Coffee
Caramel Popcorn
Strachan’s Ice Cream & Dessert is located at 310 Main St. The shop is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Whether it’s a way to beat the heat or satisfy a sweet tooth, the Tampa Bay region offers a wide variety of ice cream parlors for residents and visitors to choose from.
Have a favorite ice cream shop that should be featured? Let the Tampa Bay Observer know, and the publication may highlight reader recommendations in a future roundup.