The Scoop On Philadelphia's Top Ice Creameries

The Scoop On Philadelphia's Top Ice CreameriesPhotoL: Custard & Cakes Creamery/Facebook
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Published on August 30, 2017

It's hard to beat a frosty cup or cone of ice cream—and there's no shortage of spots around town to sample the very best scoops. Here are four of our favorite creameries around town, along with a best bet for vegan ice cream or sorbet, in case lactose isn't really your thing. 

Bassetts Ice Cream
Market East

Photo: L.C./Yelp

Established in 1861 inside the Reading Terminal Market, Bassetts Ice Cream is one of the oldest ice cream businesse in the entire country. Since its inception, the shop has churned out more than 100 different flavors including some memorable ones like yellow tomato and borscht. Currently on its menu, there are forty flavors on display, including butterscotch vanilla, birthday cake, green tea (matcha), rum raisin, and more as well as three sorbet options. In addition, there are ice cream bars and an ice cream sandwich for sale. We have to warn you that the line can get pretty long, as it's housed inside a market and is popular amongst locals and tourists, but trust us when we say that it's well worth the wait. 

Capogiro
Multiple Locations

Photo: Derek B./Yelp

Following the successful launch of their first gelato location in Midtown East in December 2002, business owners Stephanie and John Reitano have added four additional locations to their roaster. If you're looking for fresh gelato, you should know that Capogiro's staff makes all 27 flavors fresh each morning with fruit and vegetables sourced from local farms in the area. At all of the stores, customers will find traditional flavors, such as nocciola, pistachio and stracciatella and innovative options like honey cumin, rosemary honey goat's milk, avocado and more. Additionally, there are seasonal flavors and gelato options with a dash of alcohol, for those age 21 and up.

Custard and Cakes Creamery
Roxborough

Mint chocolate chip custard with Reese's Cups | Photo: Abby I./Yelp

Another Philly staple is Custard & Cakes Creamery, also known as C&C for short, which opened in the 1950s and has maintained a loyal following ever since. The long line, limited seating outside the shop and small parking lot isn't ideal, especially on a warm summer day, but you can bet that it'll be worth the wait. They have soft serve and hard ice cream in a variety of flavors from chocolate, vanilla and orange twist, and strawberry to cake better, cherry vanilla and more. Customers can opt to get it in a cone or a cup with add-ons that range from candy and chocolate to dry walnuts, marshmallow and others. 

The family-owned dessert shop is also known for their ice cream cakes (which take three days to make), ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes, floats, and water ice that comes in 15 different flavors. But unlike the other places listed here, C&C closes during the winter months, so be sure to get your fix before it closes for the season. 

Sweet Charlie's 
Rittenhouse Square/Washington Square West

Photo: June N./Yelp

Sweet Charlie's is the first rolled ice cream spot that opened in Philly and it's been a huge hit since it started its business in 2015. There are two outposts in the city and additional locations in the works in a few nearby states. You begin by selecting your base (ice cream, nonfat yogurt or vegan) before deciding to put it in a cup or inside its signature oven-baked glazed donut. 

Then, you select the ice cream flavor from a list that includes kiss & tell (mint Oreo), off duty (coffee, donut), SoCal (acai, honey, coconut, banana) and more, before finishing off with any free add-ons. Toppings include donut bits, chocolate chips,  honey drizzle, rainbow sprinkles and others. 

If this is your first time trying this dish, just know that the concoction generally takes a few minutes to make, as the ice cream needs to be frozen before it can be rolled into several scoops. Also, both of the locations are pretty small and don't offer seating but you can see if any of the benches outside the store are available. 

Pro tip: If you're over 21 and you're at the Rittenhouse Square location, you can get booze mixed into your ice cream. Just let the server know beforehand. 

Vegan: Little Baby's Ice Cream
Fishtown/Cedar Park

Photo: Sari Marissa G./Yelp

There are two Little Baby's Ice Cream locations in the city, with the original storefront at 2311 Frankford Ave. The interior at its flagship store, complete with cartoon wallpaper, bright colors and a shower head for decor, is a great place for the entire family, including the little ones. 

The ice cream shop, which is dedicated to making the best and weirdest ice cream in the world, has attracted a steady flow of followers thanks to its vegan ice cream and unconventional flavors. Vegan flavors range from coconut chai and lychee lemonade to earl gray Sriracha, chocolate molasses, Thai iced tea and more. The seasonal flavors on the menu currently include lime toasted coconut, blueberry lemonade, Irish potato and others. 

Pro tip: Choosing just one flavor can be stressful, so we suggest going for a flight, which comes with six flavors of your choice for $8.