Austin gets hot. You know it. I know it. Let's cut to the chase: We have a lot of frozen treat places in town. Ice cream, shaved ice, gelato — take your pick. Here's a guide to almost ahundred chilly sweet spots in Central Texas.
It's surely not all of them. We've included some commentary about a few faves. But come on, even a sweatyAustinite can't get to all of these.
Yes, that's a challenge. (Check websites for the most recent business updates and hours.)
CUPS, CONES AND SOFT SERVE
Amy’s Ice Creams
Full disclosure: I worked at Amy’s Ice Creams starting in high school and lasting until that last shift I picked up after I’d started at the American-Statesman when I was 22.(Assistant manager at the Grove location,and don’t forget it.)But I would say that makes me an expert on perhaps the most famous locally owned ice cream shop intown.
Currentlyslingin’ cream at 13Austin locations — from the Arboretum to Westgate, the airport toWestlake — and at a couple spin-offs in Houston and San Antonio,Amy Simmons’ dairy empire was founded in 1984. If you’ve never been — how? — the basics are as such: ever-so-slightly-floral Mexican vanilla is the most popular flavor;you can choose fromcrush’nslike Reese’s cups and Grape Nuts (rules of thumbinclude nocrush’nson a tiny size, and you’ll probably just want those gummy bears on top unless you like cold, colorful rocks); and expect a gravity-defying trick. Make sure to tip. That’s how I paid for a lotofKerbey Lanepancakes after closing shifts.
Various locations hours; amysicecreams.com.
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Anti SocialIcecreamCo.
6550 Comanche Trail, No. 109; 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; antisocialicecream.com.
Baskin-Robbins
Various locations and hours; baskinrobbins.com.
Big Top Candy Shop
This is not cheating! As South Congress continues to morph into a drag of generic high-end retail awash in the various tones of beige (sorry, too real?),Big Top Candy Shop remains a welcome refuge of weird, colorful fun. It’s not all malted milk balls and jellybeans; their old-fashioned soda fountain and ice cream casehas been a reliable delight for as long as it’s been there.
1706 South Congress Ave.;11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; bigtopcandyshop.com.
Bruster’sReal Ice Cream
3303 RR620 N; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; brusters.com/austin.
Connor’s Creamery
12709 N. MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) in a truck at Garbo’s; noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and noon to 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; connorscreamery.com.
Cups & Cones
2900 N. Quinlan Park Road, Suite 290; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; cups-and-cones.com.
Dairy Queen
As I wrote in a 2019 ode to the Blizzard: “I don’t ask much of my desserts. Just that they’re sweet, and that they break at least one law of physics.” I am a longtime advocate of the Butterfinger option, but I will say that recently I’ve dabbled in some of the seasonal options, like the Reese's Extreme (withextraOreo).
Various locations and hours; dairyqueen.com.
D’Lites
4404 W. William Cannon Drive, Unit G; 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; dlitesaustin.com.
DipdipdipIce Cream
From the folks who brought you the hottest bowl of shoyu in all the land, this is the Ramen Tatsu-yateam'ssweet venture. As you might expect, the flavors (though limited) are a trip, like black pepper-yuzu mascarpone.
7301 Burnet Road, Ste. 101; 3 to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday; dipdipdip-icecream.com.
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Dippin’ Dots
Various locations and hours; dippindots.com.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
1208 South Congress Ave., noon to midnight Monday-Friday and 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday; 11601 Rock Rose Ave., No. 110, noon to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday; jenis.com/scoop-shops/#austin.
KwalityIce Cream
500 W Canyon Ridge Drive, Suite L250; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday;kwalityfoods.com.
Lick Honest Ice Creams
An Austin original with natural ingredients and tantalizing flavors like dark chocolate, olive oil and sea salt. Me? I’m a goat cheese, thyme and honey gal.
1100 S. Lamar Blvd., 12:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 12:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6555 Burnet Road, noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1905 Aldrich St., 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; ilikelick.com/austin.
Manoli’s
A trailer in the Bouldin neighborhood that not only serves ice cream, but a variety of desserts like ice pops, ice cream pops, ice cream cake popsicles, Italian ice and sorbet.
603 W. Live Oak St.; 4 to 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday;manolisusa.com.
Marble Slab Creamery
Various locations and hours; marbleslab.com.
Michoacana Natural Ice Cream
9426 Parkfield Drive; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday;facebook.com/MichoacanaNaturalIceCream.
OMG Squee
An Asian-inspiredsweet shop that supplements their bubble tea menu with a roster of soft serve treats, like milk tea float, matcha affogato and stuffedtaiyaki. Soft serve flavors rotate every two weeks.
4607 Bolm Road; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday;squeeclub.com.
Sandy’s Hamburgers
One of this city’s favorite places for cones, malts and shakes since 1946.
603 Barton Springs Road; 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; sandysaustin.com.
Sonic
Various locations and hours;sonicdrivein.com.
Tiny’s Milk and Cookies
1515 W. 35th Street, Building C; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.;tinyboxwoods.com/location/austin.
Tropical Dreams Ice Cream
2001 Guadalupe St.; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday;tropicaldreamsicecream.com/austin-store.
Tropical Island 2015
14735 Bratton Lane, Suite 107;noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday;tropicalislandicecream.com.
GELATO
Bat City Gelato
6301 W. Parmer Lane, Suite 503; 1:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 1:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; batcitygelato.com.
CannoneGelato
1720 Barton Springs Road; noon to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday; cannonegelato.com.
Central Market
4477 S. Lamar Blvd. and 4001 N. Lamar Blvd.;café open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; centralmarket.com.
Dolce Baccio Ice Cream & Desserts
6900 RR 620 N; 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday; dolcebaciogelato.com.
Dolce Neve
South First’s home for gelato for a hot minute, now with a Plaza Saltillo location.Family-owned by three peoplewith Italian roots— including Francesca Silvestrini, who trained in the art of the gelateria in that country — Dolce Neve serves up staples likestracciatella, rotating flavors like goat cheese with pecan, and treats like granitas,gelato sandwiches and affogatos. I would make a flavor recommendation, but I like them all.
1713 South First St. and 1109 E. Fifth St.; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday;dolcenevegelato.com.
Frost Gelato
11700 Rock Rose Ave., Suite 176; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; frostgelato.com/location/the-domain.
Gelateria Gemelli
Small-batch gelato on East Sixth, with coffee, espresso and booze, to boot. Owner Andrew Sabola trained up on gelato-making in Italy; his Gelateria Gemelli recommendsa negroni on the rocks to chase your scoop. Flavors range from miso vanilla to strawberry buttermilk to Earl Grey.
1009 E. Sixth St.; 2 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; gelateriagemelli.com.
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GelatoParadisio
1400 S. Congress Ave., Suite B160; noon to 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday; gelatoparadiso.com/location-austin.
Mandola’s Italian Market
4700 W. Guadalupe St., No.12, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday;4301 W. William Cannon Drive, Suite E-1, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily;12815 Shops Parkway, No. 400, in Bee Cave, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily;12100 W. Parmer Lane, Suite 200, in Cedar Park, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday;mandolas.com.
SHAVED ICE,MANGONADAS& MORE
Bahama Buck’s
Various locations and hours in Austin, Buda, Bee Cave, Round Rock and Leander; bahamabucks.com.
Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs
Since 1996, this place has been bringing an authentic Louisiana flavor to the summer. According to the owners on their website, “a snowball can be the difference between a person having a good day and a great day, or a person having a bad day and a good day." Casey’s uses cane sugar, and they tout their cream and chocolate syrups.
808 E. 51st St.; 2 to 9 p.m. daily; caseys-snowballs.com.
Crazy Fruits
Looking for amangonada, achamoyada, araspadodepepinilloor even just a fruit cup?
729 E. Slaughter Lane, 6100 E. Riverside Drive and 5611 U.S. 183, Unit C; crazyfruitsaustin.com.
FreezinBalls Shaved Ice
2118 South Congress Unit D; 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; freezinballs.com.
GBJB Shaved Ice
13215 Research Blvd.; 1 to 8 p.m. daily; facebook.com/GBJBs-Shaved-Ice-127812777239791.
Groovy Sno and Coffee
5700 Menchaca Road; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday; facebook.com/groovysno.
HayElotes
2214 E. Seventh St.; noon to 9 p.m. daily; facebook.com/HayElotesAustin.
Hula Cowgirl Shaved Ice Co.
103 N. Austin Ave., No. 305, inGeorgetown; 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday;hulacowgirl.com.
J’s Shaved Ice
1716 E. Slaughter Lane; 2 to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday; jsshavedice.com.
Jim Jim’s Water Ice
Don’t get it twisted. Jim Jim’s, an Austinfavesince 1994, doesn’t servesnow cones, precisely, but velvety smooth Italian water ice (along with premium ice cream and other treats). They say their best sellers includelemonade, dragon’s blood and orange cream.
615 E. Sixth St.; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; jimjimswaterice.com.
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Kawaii Shaved Ice
113 N. Mays St. InRound Rock; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily;kawaiishavedice.com.
Los Mangos Ice Cream
4410 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 190; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily;facebook.com/LosMangosAustin.
LasMangonadas
1144 Airport Blvd. And 9616 N. Lamar Blvd.; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.;lasmangonadasusa.com.
New Orleans Style Shaved Ice & Roasted Corn
1434 Wells Branch Parkway in Pflugerville; 1:30 to 7 p.m. daily; instagram.com/neworleansstyleice.
Raspas Locas y Mas
1631 Barton Spring Road; 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Shaved Ice Island
2701 W. William Cannon Drive, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily;30 N. I-35, noon to 8 p.m. daily;shavediceisland.com.
SistersSnoShack
8012 Mesa Drive; noon to 8:30 p.m. daily; sisterssnoshack.com.
Sno-Beach
An Austinsnowconeinstitution since 1993, and my favorite for about that long. My order: horchata with cream on top.
412SterzingSt.; 2 to 7:30 p.m.;snobeachatx.com.
SnoCoFlattop Shaved Ice
2307 Manor Road;facebook.com/atxsnoco.
SnoCoolSnoBalls
15630 Vision Drive in Pflugerville; 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; facebook.com/snocoolatx.
Sno Mo
11220 N. Lamar Blvd., No. B275, 3 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday; 2200 Lou Neff Road, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday;12129 N. FM 620, No. 102, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily;900 RR 620 S, No. A109, in Lakeway, 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday;sno-mo.com.
Snowbowla
5801 Burnet Road; hours vary; snobowla.com.
Snow Shop
2015 Anchor Lane; 2 p.m. to dusk;snowshop.org.
Snowy Village
1700 W. Parmer Lane, Suite 244; noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday;snowyvillagenorthaustin.com.
Sweet Caroline’s Snow Shack
13497 U.S. 183 N, noon to 8 p.m. daily; 5700 W. Slaughter Lane, noon to 8:30 p.m.;facebook.com/sweetcarolinessnowshack.
Tropical Palms Shave Ice
11444 Manchaca Road; 2 to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday;tropicalpalmsaustin.com.
Volcano Ice
6811 RM 620; 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday; instagram.com/volcano.ice.
Woody’s Shave Ice
1158 Lost Creek Blvd.; noon to 9 p.m. daily;woodysshaveice.com.
Zeds Real Fruit Ice Cream
1814 Harvey St.; 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday;zedsicecream.com.
Zydeco Ice
915 N. Austin Ave. inGeorgetown; noon to 6 p.m. daily; zydecoicegt.com.
FROZENCUSTARD
Andy’s Frozen Custard
1710 W. Parmer Lane; 11 a.m. 11:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday;eatandys.com.
Culver’s
The pride of Wisconsin has been a favorite of mine since they first opened up the South Austin location when I was a kid. Get a concrete — whatever is the special flavor, or with Reese’s Cups. (Also, the cheese curds are perfect in every way, but that’s not why you’re here.)
3424 W William Cannon Drive, 2240 W. Braker Lane and2320 E. Palm Valley Blvd. In Round Rock; various hours; culvers.com.
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Freddie’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Various locations and hours; freddysusa.com.
POPSICLES, PALETAS & SANDWICHES
The Baked Bear
211 Walter Seaholm Drive, Suite LR150, noon to 11 p.m. daily; 109 E. Seventh St. In Georgetown, 1 to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday; thebakedbear.com.
Bananarchy
By now an Austin tradition, thisfrozen-banana-on-a-stick business is a favorite come festival season.But you don’t have to wait, of course.My order:dipped in peanut butter and rolled in Oreo crumbs.
1311 South First St., 2420 Guadalupe St. at Space 24 Twenty behind Urban Outfitters, 80 Rainey St.; hours vary; bananarchy.net.
Cold Cookie Company
West Campus food truck serving cookies and ice cream and cookies with ice cream between them, among other treats. Theyalso havea traveling ice cream sandwich truck.
2512 Rio Grande St.; 4 p.m. to midnight Monday-Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday; coldcookiecompany.com.
FriosAustin
Mobile popsicle trailer; friospops.com/locations/austin.
La Ola Pop Shop
856KohlersCrossing, No. 320, inKyle; 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily; laolapopshop.com.
Las Delicias
8120 Research Blvd., No. 109; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Picolé
11501 Rock Rose Ave., Suite 156;noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday;picolepop.com.
Taco Sweets
11200 Lakeline Mall Drive in Cedar Park; noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday;tacosweets.com.
ROLLED ICE CREAM
Frozen Rolls Creamery
704 N. Lamar Blvd.; 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday andSaturday; facebook.com/frozenrollscreamery.
GekkiRolled Ice Cream
Rolled ice cream inspired by Korean flavors, delimanjoo(small cakes with fillings like red bean and cream cheese)andcroffles(croissant waffles) inside H-Mart.
11301 Lakeline Blvd.; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily;instagram.com/ice_gekki.
Holla Mode
Instagram-worthy, Thai-style rolled ice cream, with both dairy and coconut-based options.Chop-ins like Oreos and Teddy Grahams keep things fun.
1800 Barton Springs Road; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily;hollamode.com.
Rollie Rolls
1101 W. Pecan St.,Suite 8, inPflugerville; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday;rollierolls.com.
Sweet Charlie’s
2800 S. I-35, Suite 132, in Round Rock; 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Monday;sweetcharlies.com.
FROZEN YOGURT
Cece’s Froyo
51 Limmer Loop, No. 500, in Round Rock and 14905 Dessau Road, No. 300, in Pflugerville; noon to 9 p.m. daily; cecesfroyo.com.
Fresh Cup Frozen Yogurt
13000 N.I-35,Building11,Suite 116;fcfroyousa.com.
Menchie’sFrozen Yogurt
Various locations and hours;menchies.com.
Orange Leaf
9600 South I-35 Suite B-200, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.;2011 Main Street Suite B-300 in Lakeway, 1 to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 3:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday;747 Highway 71 West, Suite A-600 in Bastrop, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday;orangeleafyogurt.com.
Pinkberry
2901 S Capital of Texas Hwy, noon to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday;3300 Bee Caves Road, Suite 640, in West Lake Hills, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; pinkberry.com.
TCBY
303 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 5701 W. Slaughter Lane and 1025 Cannon Drive in Dripping Springs; various hours; tcby.com.
YoSo Cool
1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd., Unit 1290, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; yosocool.com.
Yogurt Planet
4601 N. Lamar Blvd., No. 502, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday;3220 Feathergrass Court, No. 136, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday;12801 Hill Country Blvd., 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
MILKSHAKES
Bandit Coffee, Matcha&Ice Cream
With two contactless stands in Austinrun via mobile apps,Bandit makes the list for an extensive milkshake menu. We’ve got our eye onGigi's Violet Crown, made with vanilla soft serve, Frosted Flakes, lavender, honey and granola. There’s also a bacon milkshake; ingredients include vanilla ice cream and bacon. Oh. Yeah, that’s it.
706 N. Lamar Blvd., 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; 2902 Medical Arts Street, 7a.m. to 1 a.m. daily;thebandit.com.
Milky Way Shakes
Vegan milkshakes made with almond and coconut milk. You can build your own, or order one off the menu, likeStar-Berry Lemon Cloud (strawberry compote, lemon curd,meringues, strawberry chip topper and glitter star sprinkles).
2324 E Cesar Chavez St.; 5 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday;milkywayshakes.com.
The Yard Milkshake Bar
3400 Esperanza Crossing, noon to 10 p.m. daily; 940 W. University Ave., No. 120, inGeorgetown, noon to 10 p.m. daily;theyardmilkshakebar.com.
DAIRY FREE
Chrissy’sIcies
2730 E. Cesar Chavez St.; 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; chrissysicies.com.
Gati Ice Cream
Coconut-based chills from the chef-owner of Thai Fresh, with rotating flavors including Thai tea and black sticky rice horchata. Theyalso havea gluten-free bakery.
1512 Holly St.; 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; gatiicecream.com.
NadaMoo! Scoop Shop
1701 S. Lamar Blvd.; 2 to 10 p.m. daily; nadamoo.com.
Thai Fresh
909 W. Mary St.; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; thai-fresh.com.
YummiJoy
409 W. Second St. and 4631 Airport Blvd., No. 114; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday-Monday;yummijoy.com.
