Summer is the perfect time to relax with a frozen treat! Switch your treat game up! Instead of the old school, traditional, single scoop or snow cone from your local ice cream truck, try something fun, new, and indulgent. Support a Black-owned ice cream shop and treat yourself. From waffle cones to scoops covered in gummy bears, there is a little something exciting for everyone!
Best Mister Softee — Mikey Likes It Ice Cream
Website | Instagram | Facebook | East Village 212-673-0199; Harlem 212-690-2500
With three locations around New York City, Mikey Likes It Ice Cream was founded by New York native Mikey Cole. With appearances in many major publications and on the Food Network and CBS, Mikey’s created flavors for Hillary Clinton, Jay-Z, and more! Try one of their 12+ flavors today, like Dough Boy or Foxy Brown, or go for a soft serve classic. They’ve got the best!
Best One Stop For Dessert — Here’s The Scoop
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 202-629-4040
Nestled in the Georgia Avenue neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Here’s The Scoop brings treats of all kinds to our nation’s capital. An avid ice cream and dessert lover, Karin Sellers opened the spot in summer 2019 and has been a community staple ever since. Living by the motto “bring the community together one treat at a time,” Sellers and her team love bringing flavors of all kinds to their ice cream shop.
Best Water Ice — Happy Ice
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 202-629-4040
Nestled in the Georgia Avenue neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Here’s The Scoop brings treats of all kinds to our nation’s capital. An avid ice cream and dessert lover, Karin Sellers opened the spot in summer 2019 and has been a community staple ever since. Living by the motto “bring the community together one treat at a time,” Sellers and her team love bringing flavors of all kinds to their ice cream shop.
Website | Instagram | Facebook | icequeensllc@gmail.com
For a southern classic with a home-city twist, Ice Queens brings the flavors of New Orleans to the streets of Baltimore. With unique sweets like beignets and their signature cobbler cone, Ice Queens is a must-stop for delicious summer treats. A community staple, Ice Queens gets involved with local events, fundraisers, and non-profit organizations.
Best Ice Cream Cakes — Damo
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 416-792-9060
For the best desserts across the Canadian border, Damo is the place to go! Located in Toronto, this specialty dessert spot offers cakes, crepes, and other treats to keep customers’ mouths watering. Try their signature Tres Leches cakes, go for a milkshake or sweet crepe, or sample their modern fusion flavors!
Best Frozen Bars — Icecapade Frozen Treats
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 904-348-0141
For a fun, fresh spin on the frozen treat bar, head to Icecapade in Jacksonville! They take frozen popsicles, fruit bars, and ice cream bars to the next level with fruit flavors and other inspired palates. Icecapade works to bring delicious, healthy, and informed treats to their customers. They bring wholesome ingredients from fruits and veggies to herbs and spices and transfer them into delicious desserts.
Best Ice Cream Sandwich — Smoosh Cookies
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 954-314-7102
For custom ice cream cookie sandwiches, Smoosh is the only place. Founded in 2015 in a food truck in Houston, TX, the shop now has 5 locations throughout Texas and Florida. The sandwiches are gourmet, and with different cookie flavors, donuts, and brownies, the options and combinations are endlessly sweet.
Best Frozen Yogurt — Yogurtini Plaza
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 816-531-2201
For a healthy option, Yogurtini Plaza offers self-serve nonfat frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors. With sorbet, custard, yogurt, gelato, and more, Yogurtini Plaza has something for everyone! They offer dairy-free options and so many healthy flavor choices. Thus, it’s a dessert you can feel confident about.
Best Oatmilk Ice Cream — Whipped Urban Dessert Lab
Website | Instagram | Facebook | hello@urbandessertlab.com
For the best oat milk ice cream, head to New York for Whipped Urban Dessert Lab’s signature treats. With an LA location opening soon, this boutique dessert spot offers oat milk soft serve, hard ice cream, truffles, tarts, and cakes. Owned and operated by black women, Whipped Urban Dessert Lab was the first ever shop to offer fully oat-milk-based soft serve!
Best Rolled Ice Cream — Rolled 4 Ever Ice Cream
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Nashville 615-712-9125; Smyrna 615-462-5902
For the newest innovation in frozen dessert, get rolled ice cream! Founded by college friends Bariangela Segovia and Maliyah Bass, Rolled 4 Ever offers delicious flavors, treats, and rolled sundaes. There are two locations in the Nashville area plus a food truck.
Author: Black Restaurant Week
Content Team
