Looking for the best ice cream Atlanta has to offer? I wanted to find out, because what can be better on a hot summer day (or a cold winter day, or a mild fall day, or just about any day) than ice cream?! It’s my favorite food — my go-to sweet treat.
We’ve gathered up a list of our favorite ice cream shops from Downtown Atlanta and beyond. These spots are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
ICE CREAM ATLANTA: BEST ICE CREAM IN THE CITY
To be fair, I have not been to all of these places…some are recommendations from other people. If I’ve been, I’ll tell you what I liked best.
Butter and Cream (Decatur and Norcross)
According to Katie Christof of Explore Georgia, Butter and Cream is her favorite super creamy, rich ice cream, with a consistency close to frozen custard. The Butter Pecan and Midnight Snacks are favorite classic flavors they have year-round. A local favorite is the Honeycomb Forest, honey ice cream with their house-made honeycomb candy.
Butter & Cream is located on the square in Downtown Decatur and has a second location in Historic Norcross. Locally crafted in small batches from real cream with only the freshest ingredients, they make ice cream the way it should be made!
Their offerings have unique, modern twists yet are still reminiscent of the classic ice cream flavors you’ve grown up with. And they make all of the inclusions in their ice cream, including brownies, cookies, toffee, and sauces.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop (Sandy Springs)
OMG, this is totally on my list to try! Pie and ice cream are such an awesome combination, but the problem with pie a la mode is you end up finishing one or the other first. But not with a Cloud 9 pie a la mode treat from the Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop!
First, pick one of nine mini-pie flavors that are made from scratch daily. The server flips it upside down into a big scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream, and then hand mixes it until the concoction comes together with a little pie and a little ice cream in every bite.
In addition to the Cloud 9, you’ll also find plenty of other pies and cookies to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sublime Doughnuts (Georgia Tech, North Druid Hills)
Sublime Doughnuts may be well-known for their delicious and creative doughnuts — but their ice cream is a major draw too. You’ll find awesome flavors like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Reese’s Peanut Butter, and Mango Moscato here.
They also have…ice cream doughnut burgers?! Seriously…you cannot miss this. You’ll find two locations in Atlanta at both Georgia Tech and North Druid Hills.
Cereal and Cream (Atlanta)
Cereal and Cream started as a popular food truck but has since branched out to open a brick and mortar location on Memorial Drive in Atlanta.
Cereal and Cream infuses your favorite cereal flavors into a delicious ice cream. You can choose a base flavor and then add your favorite cereal mix-ins to create one-of-a-kind flavors. Craving some Frankenberry ice cream? This is the place to get it!
CheeseCaked (Norcross)
CheeseCaked on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Norcross serves an amazing array of sweet treats, including some of the most spectacular-looking ice cream milkshakes you’ve ever seen!
If you’re looking for milkshakes and ice cream concoctions that are bigger than your head, this is the place!
Cremalosa (Decatur)
Even Food and Wine magazine thinks Cremalosa in Decatur is the best in the state! Cremalosa, the gelateria from gelato master and acclaimed Atlanta food writer Meridith Ford, was selected as the best ice cream in Georgia on Food & Wine Magazine’s 2021 “The Best Ice Cream in Every State” list!
Opened in February of 2020, Cremalosa showcases a dozen rotating flavors of gelato and sorbetto, all spun in-house on a gelato machine imported from Italy. Crafted from local cream and simple, farm-fresh ingredients, flavors include a mix of traditional Italian options, such as stracciatella and hazelnut, and creative offerings inspired by Southern desserts and iconic American cakes and treats! Yum!
Honeysuckle Gelato (Ponce City Market, Savannah, and Fayetteville)
Located at Ponce City Market, Fayetteville, and Savannah, I had a sample of Honeysuckle Gelato at an Atlanta Magazine Taste of Atlanta event. There were several ice cream places there, but I can’t remember any of them. Once I tasted Honeysuckle, it was all over.
Honeysuckle offers amazing gelatos such as Chocolate Brownie Chunk and Banana Pudding. They even have a Pina Colada flavor that contains alcohol and a offer a vegan Mando Sorbet.
In addition to their gelatos, you can also find Gelato Sandwiches (gelato between cookies), Gelato Floats, Milkshakes, and more.
Zesto Atlanta (East Atlanta and Forest Park)
If you’re looking for traditional ice cream that is sure to hit the spot, then make sure to stop at Zesto Atlanta!
Zesto Atlanta has locations in Forest Park along with its famous drive-through East Atlanta location (you can also eat-in). This family-owned business has delicious ice cream cones, milkshakes, malts, floats and sundaes.
Their soft-serve vanilla or chocolate ice cream cones are always a hit with my kids. My favorite here is the Nut Brown Crown, your choices of vanilla, chocolate, or twist soft-serve ice cream, dipped in rich milk chocolate that hardens on the ice cream. Make sure to get it rolled in the nuts too!
I like to support Zestos because owners Jimmy and Leigh Ann Lividitis are friends of mine and just good people who give a lot to their community. You won’t regret a stop here!
Eighty7Sweets Vegan Ice Cream Company (Atlanta)
If you’re looking for top notch ice cream that just happens to be vegan, then Eighty7Sweets Vegan Ice Cream Company on Broad Street in downtown Atlanta is the place for you.
Here you’ll find scrumptious ice cream and desserts, and all of it is dairy-free and free of all other animal products.
You’ll find Atlanta-friendly names for the flavors here, such as Vanilla Vinings and Morehouse Chocolate. In addition to those traditional flavors, you’ll also find unique ones like Lenox Lime & Avocado, Spelman Strawberry & Mango.
Sweet Stack Creamery (Atlanta)
This sweet spot is located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Historic District. Sweet Stack Creamery has a dessert bar that offers a focused menu of handcrafted ice creams, cookie, and doughnut ice cream sandwiches with innovative and traditional flavors.
They always use the freshest, most local and seasonal ones to create a delicious selection of handcrafted desserts. Don’t forget to try their famous Salted Caramel.
This fun place also offers plenty of vegan ice cream options, as well!
Jake’s Ice Cream (Hapeville)
Jake’s Ice Cream in Hapeville is the perfect place for a sweet treat!
Their most popular flavor is Chocolate Slap Yo Mama, made with their signature chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, and Oreo cookies. Or you can try their second most popular flavor, the Brown Shugah Vanilla! There are plenty of great flavors offered here, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.
Big Softie (Atlanta)
Big Softie’s soft serve is made with the best ingredients, including local Georgia dairy and organic cane sugar. Toppings and waffle cones are all made in-house by the amazing baking team at Little Tart Bakeshop, their sister company.
You’ll also find great vegan options here! Big Softie’s is located on Georgia Avenue in Atlanta.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (Atlanta, Decatur, Krog Street Market, Alpharetta, Buckhead, etc.)
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is an Atlanta institution, and you’ll find plenty of great locations across the city and the metro area.
With 10 locations across Atlanta (and one in Athens), Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is the place to go for gourmet ice cream flavors. You’ll find great flavors you’ve never heard of, like Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart, Maple Soaked Pancakes, Everything Bagel Ice Cream (!!), Sweet Cream Biscuits and Peach Jam, and so many more! The flavors here are out of this world, and totally worth a stop.
Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream (Sandy Springs)
If you’re looking for an ice cream that’s a little different, try Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
With their patented liquid nitrogen ice cream technology and super premium ingredients, they make fresh, custom frozen desserts for every customer. Try flavors like Peanut Butter Bonds or Key Lime Voltage!
BEST ROLLED ICE CREAM IN ATLANTA
Sweet Charlie’s Rolled Ice Cream (Buckhead, Roswell, McDonough, Dawsonville)
In June 2017, Philadelphia-based Sweet Charlie’s rolled into Buckhead with its first-ever franchise location. After mixing in toppings, the ice-cream chef spreads the sweet, creamy concoction out on a stainless steel plate, and then uses a spatula to curl the ice cream into rolls.
We hear the Tall Charlie, an ice cream roll of your choosing on a warm, long, glazed donut that is oven-baked fresh daily, is a favorite!
You’ll also find vegan-friendly items, as well as liege dessert waffles and cookies.
BEST ICE CREAM IN GEORGIA
I love to travel through Georgia, and I brake for ice cream. In addition to my own experiences, I polled the folks at Explore Georgia. They also travel the state quite a bit, and have some great out-of-the-way recommendations.
Leopold’s Ice Cream (Savannah)
Leopold’s is a Savannah classic. The ice cream melts just enough to truly taste the flavors. The secret could be the cream they use…they’re very picky about their cream.
They also use premium local ingredients, like honey from the Savannah Bee Company, and chewies from Gottlieb Bakery.
Read More: Leopold’s Ice Cream – A Delicious Savannah Treat
MORE GEORGIA ICE CREAM SPOTS
- Southern Belle Farm (McDonough). Southern Belle is a favorite place to pick fresh strawberries. They use those fresh strawberries in their homemade ice cream too! Read More: Southern Belle Farm: Four Delightful Seasons of Family Fun (Video)
- Dickey’s Peach Farm (Musella). Dickey’s is a recommendation from someone at Explore Georgia that is from Musella. I recently tasted this gem myself. Pull up a rocker in this old fashion peach stand and watch them sort the crop on the assembly line, or turn your chair around and watch the cars go past on the country road. Either way, the homemade peach ice cream here is worth a stop. It’s even worth the drive. (Musella is just west of Macon.) Here’s more from our visit.
- Lawson Peach Shed (Morven). Stop by and try their homemade ice creams! Made from their fresh seasonal fruits: peaches, blueberries, and more. They also offer hot peach cobbler (with a scoop of ice cream this is heavenly). Also try their lemonade, tea, shakes, and malts.
- Mitcham Farm (Oxford). The strawberry slushy is what you want to get here. It’s like the best virgin strawberry daiquiri you’ll ever have.
- Lane Southern Orchards (Fort Valley). Although they have peach and strawberry here, get the blueberry. And maybe some pecans. Mmmm.
- Sunny Day Farms (Louisville). In the spring and summer, they offer u-pick berries and seasonal vegetables. Stop in to try their homemade ice cream and frozen lemonades made from their own delicious strawberries, blueberries, and peaches.
ICE CREAM ATLANTA FAQ
What is the #1 ice cream in America?
Vanilla and chocolate are the most popular ice cream flavors in America. Other popular choices include strawberry, cookies and cream, and chocolate chip.
What is America’s best selling ice cream brand?
Ben & Jerry’s is America’s best selling brand of ice cream. In 2022, the company sold $911 million worth of the sweet stuff.
What is America’s oldest ice cream brand?
A fifth-generation family business in Philadelphia, Bassetts Ice Cream is proudly known as America’s oldest ice cream company.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EXPLORING ATLANTA’S “SWEET” SPOTS
- YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
- CANDY STORE ATLANTA: 10 Store Locations We Crave
- SUMMER IN ATL: 65+ Kid-Friendly Things To Do This Summer in Atlanta
- FESTIVALS: 41+ Best Festivals in Atlanta: Spring and Summer
- THINGS TO DO IN ATLANTA: 53+ Things To Do In Atlanta You Won’t Want to Miss
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