23 best ice cream spots in Charlotte

Artisen Vegelato

The local gelato shop is co-owned by Manolo’s Latin Bakery owner Manolo Betancur.

• The gelato is made with coconut milk, making it dairy-free and vegan. Flavors include coffee mocha chips and s’mores, plus seasonal flavors. They also serve sorbet.

Bonus: You can also find the gelato at Manolo’s Latin Bakery in east Charlotte.

Stop by: Matthews 301 W. John St.

Calle Sol

Flavors like guava Maria, a cream cheese soft serve ice cream topped with guava and Maria cookies, are one of the many reasons the Latin café and cevicheria is on our best restaurants list.

Stop by: 1205 Thomas Ave.

Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor

The cheesesteak spot serves three soft-serve flavors: vanilla, tropical pineapple vanilla swirl and a vegan pineapple option.

Stop by: Chantilly 913 Pecan Ave.

• South End 2137 Hawkins St.

Go deeper: Real-deal Philly cheesesteak “whiz wit” now open in Charlotte

Dairy Queen

Put down your locally-made pitchforks. This monster franchise makes the local ice cream list for its retro-cool walkup location on Wilkinson Boulevard, which has been in Charlotte since 1947. The property was listed for $1.4 million last fall. Charlotte’s other longtime location off Central Avenue, which was built in 1951 and is now Milkbread, moved to Eastway Crossing.

• The historic significance of the two sites has been documented by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Committee here and here.

Stop by: Eastway 3054 Eastway Dr.

• West Charlotte 2732 Wilkinson Blvd.

Go deeper: Longtime Plaza Midwood Dairy Queen finds a new home

Elizabeth Creamery

This tiny shop — not much bigger than the ice cream counter itself — is a Charlotte classic located steps from the Gold Line. Your visit didn’t happen if you didn't take a photo with the sign.

Stop by: 1535 Elizabeth Ave.

Golden Cow Creamery

Small-batch, handcrafted flavors rotate out regularly, but house favorites like dunkamoos and salted Oreo are always available.

Stop by: South End 170 W. Summit Ave.

• SouthPark 720 Governor Morrison St.
• Uptown 601 South Tryon St.

Go deeper: How to spend 48 hours in Charlotte with Golden Cow Creamery’s Liz and Alex Hannah

Honeysuckle Gelato

Southern-inspired gourmet gelato serving scoops, shakes and sandwiches. Flavors range from lemon raspberry crumble to bourbon pecan praline.

Stop by: 1115 N. Brevard St. at Optimist Hall.

• 15119 Bowl St. at The Bowl at Ballantyne

Go deeper: Everything you need to know about Optimist Hall

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

The Ohio-based gourmet ice cream brand has a cult following.

Stop by: Blakeney 9828 Rea Road

• NoDa 416 E. 36th St.
• Park Road 4203 Park Road
• South End 1920 Camden Road

Marble Slab Creamery

Marble Slab serves around 50 flavors of ice cream with unlimited toppings you can mix in.

Stop by: Plaza Midwood 1509 Central Ave.

• South Charlotte 7800-C Rea Road

Go deeper: Build-your-own ice cream shop opens this Friday in former Nova’s Bakery space

Matcha Cafe Maiko

The matcha shop in the Arboretum serves Japanese-inspired drinks and treats. Think matcha soft serve ice cream, floats, lattes and teas.

Stop by: 8128 Providence Road

Morelia Gourmet Paletas

The Miami-based gourmet ice cream shop serves more than a dozen flavors of fruit-based paletas (Mexican popsicles).

Stop by: 1425 Winnifred St.

Ninety’s Dessert Bar

The family-owned dessert bar serves more than a dozen flavors of ice cream, plus cookies, specialty milkshakes and seasonal baked goods.

Stop by: 9009 J M Keynes Dr.

Ocha Time Tea & Creamery

Head to Plaza Midwood for Vietnamese rolled ice cream and bubble waffle ice cream.

Location: 2001 Commonwealth Ave.

Open Rice Asian Kitchen

Try the bubble waffle – cereal killer at the Metropolitan location. It includes vanilla ice cream, Fruity Pebbles, chocolate Frosted Flakes, cookie crisps, mini marshmallows, condensed milk and a chocolate drizzle.

Location: 1100 Metropolitan Ave.

Go deeper: Now open: Open Rice expands to Metropolitan shopping center

Revival Coffee & Ice Cream Truck

• The truck serves 10 ice cream flavors, plus floats, milkshakes and coffee from Riverbend Creamery and coffee from Pure Intentions Coffee.
• Check their website to find out where they’ll be that day.
• The truck is also available for events.

Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream

The local shop serves a dozen flavors of dairy-free and egg-free ice cream. Their coffee ice cream is made using HEX coffee, another local shop at Camp North End. Flavors range from classics like cookies and cream to fun flavors like peanut butter and jelly.

Stop by: Camp North End 701 Keswick Ave.

• Dilworth 224 East Blvd.
• Plaza Midwood 1308 The Plaza, Suite A

Sprinkle Joy

Alicia Gebo's ice cream truck Sprinkle Joy is popping up around Charlotte serving Two Scoops. 10% of proceeds from every event supports a local community organization.

• Reach out to [email protected] for booking inquiries.
• You can find Sprinkle Joy's schedule on Instagram.

Go deeper: New local ice cream truck Sprinkle Joy serves Two Scoops

Sticks and Cones Ice Cream Truck 

There’s just something about ice cream served out of a souped-up Chevy Express van. Catch it at events and food truck rallies throughout greater Charlotte. The truck is available for private events.

Swirl

Expect everything from custom-blended ice cream to made-to-order cupcakes and cookies.

Stop by: LoSo 2822 South Blvd.

The Local Scoop

Ingredients for their ice cream come from area farms. The root beer for their floats comes from Mooresville. They serve more than a dozen flavors, as well as non-dairy options.

Locations: Ballantyne 5355 Ballantyne Commons Parkway

• Matthews 105 W. Charles St.
• ParkTowne Village 1600 E. Woodlawn Road

Tutti Gelato 

The family-owned gelato shop recently opened in South End, serving more than 20 flavors of gelato, plus vegan options and sorbet. They also serve espresso and will eventually have pastries.

Stop by: 1700 Camden Road

Go deeper: Tutti Gelato shop now open in former Central Coffee spot in South End

Two Scoops Creamery

The local shop known for bold flavors, artistic murals and an iconic dual-top cone expanded from its original shop on Central Avenue to South Carolina. Plus they were one of the local vendors tapped for the 2022 Presidents Cup.

Stop by: Lake Norman 119 Landings Dr.

• Plaza Midwood 913 Central Ave.
• Rock Hill 161 W Main St., Rock Hill, S.C.
• South End 1616 Camden Road

Go deeper: Five things I learned at the soft opening of Two Scoops Creamery

Urban Sweets

The South End shop closed but owner Kristen Stewart still serves ice cream at several events around town. Follow on Instagram to see where she'll pop up next.

Classy Scoops Ice Cream Lounge

The menu has eight rolled ice cream flavors, including a build-your-own option, plus nine additional flavors you can get in a cone. The lounge also serves milkshakes and boba teas.

Stop by: 5409 Village Dr. in Concord

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Editor’s note: This guide was originally published August 8, 2017 and updated in Aug. 4, 2025.