Who doesn’t love an ice cream cone? Whether you prefer a swirl with sprinkles or a cyclone with all the stir-ins, these classic ice cream shops are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and cool you off on hot summer nights in Cincinnati.
Best ice cream shops in Cincinnati
Graeter's Ice Cream
No matter who makes your favorite ice cream in town, I think a stop at the Fountain Square Graeter's is a must for everyone. It's a perfect location to grab a frozen treat because you can enjoy it while hanging out at Fountain Square taking in the sights or listening to music if it's a concert night. Or you can grab a cone to go and walk around downtown. Graeter's has locations all over town, so chances are you can find one near you!
The Cone
Located north of Cincinnati in West Chester lies The Cone. If the giant swirl cone doesn't give it away, the two-lane drive-thru will! Locals flock to this spot for classic ice cream cones, sundaes, floats, shave ice, smoothies, shakes, and more.
Favorites include its famous orange sherbet and the buckeye parfait. The Cone also serves up hot dogs and has a game room with kiddie rides.
The Cone (photo: @mrsbfastwnick)
Dojo Gelato
Dojo Gelato is a local favorite for frozen treats because it means a trip to a Cincinnati icon, Findlay Market. At Dojo, they use only fresh, local, ingredients to make their unique homemade gelato creations. The owners have even been specially trained to make this culinary delight. You can buy your gelato by the cup or cone, or you can opt for something special like a Brown Cow or a Stiletto. You can also grab a coffee or espresso drink (cold or hot) or take a pint of gelato home for later.
Loveland Dairy Whip
Located northeast of Cincinnati, not too far from the Loveland Bike Trail, is the Loveland Dairy Whip. Dubbed the "Whippy Dip" by locals, this creamy whip has been serving treats since 1955! Along with traditional chocolate, vanilla, and twist soft serve, the Loveland Dairy Whip also offers unique flavors like blue moon, dreamsicle, and cake batter. Toppings include sprinkles, candy googly eyes, and dips. Chocolate lovers should try the Chocolate Mountain parfait.
Blueberry cone at Loveland Dairy Whip (photo: Emily Lloyd)
Don's Creamy Whip
From floats to shakes to sundaes to ice cream whips, Don’s Creamy Whip has it all! They even have gluten-free cones and dipped cake batter bananas. Come hungry and grab a brat, burger, or coney while you’re there.
Norwood Delite Creamy Whip
Found off the beaten path in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Norwood is the Norwood Delite Creamy Whip. This small shop is an ice cream dreamland with a huge variety of treats from which to choose! Try a vanilla cone swirled with a flavor burst or get your ice cream in a cookie cone.
Norwood Delite Creamy Whip (photo: Emily Lloyd)
Root Beer Stand
Located in Sharonville, Ohio, the Root Beer Stand is a family-owned, old-school throwback where you can find reasonably priced hot dogs, sandwiches, and of course root beer! Go for lunch and get their famous root beer floats to go with! If you are like me and don't enjoy root beer, you can grab ice cream instead. You can also take the root beer home by the gallon and half gallon so you can make your own floats at home. There's a playground onsite for kiddos too. What a fun place to grab a frozen treat!
Putz’s Creamy Whip
A West Side staple since 1938, Putz's Creamy Whip delights ice cream lovers of all ages. Pro tip: They’re still cash only. Traditional cones are crowd pleasers, as well as shakes, malts, sodas, floats, slushies, and snow cones. Favorite sundaes include hot fudge brownies and strawberry shortcakes. Putz's also slings burgers, hot dogs, and Cincinnati-style cheese coneys!
Putz's Creamy Whip (photo: Emily Lloyd)
The Goody Shop
Stop in for their famous soft-serve ice cream, made the way you like! Try the Goody Shop's homemade chili or pulled pork BBQ for a quick snack!
Whipty-Do
Whipity-Do has been swirling up delicious cones, shakes, and whipity whirls for over 10 years. Don’t miss their homemade waffle cones (plain and chocolate dipped) and the most epic whipity-whirls on their not-so-secret, secret menu. If you love Kings Island’s famous Blue Ice Cream, try Bella’s Blue Birthday Cake whipity whirl with blueberry soft serve, cake batter, and rainbow sprinkles whipped into a frozen frenzy.
Mt. Washington Creamy Whip & Bakery
Smoothies, Dole whips, dip cones, and more, Mt. Washington Creamy Whip and Bakery is another classic ice cream shop in Cincinnati. They’re swirling up all the favorites and even have creamy whips for pups–dogsters!
Zip Dip
Open since 1950, Zip Dip is the real thing when it comes to Cincy swirls and they still have their original neon sign lighting up the summer sky. Walk up to the window and order all of your ice cream parlor favorites like ice cream flurries packed with fruit or candy, shakes, cones, and sundaes.
Top ice cream shops in Northern Kentucky
Dari-Crest
NKY’s Dari-Crest dishes out classic ice cream cones as well as shakes, floats, sodas, freezes, malts, Cyclones, Hawaiian ice, slushies, and sundaes. Little ones love quirky dirt sundaes and banana boats. Dari-Crest is open year-round and serves coffee, pastries, and other goodies.
Dari-Crest (photo: Emily Lloyd)
Sweet Tooth Chocolates
Ice balls (think snowcones) in a variety of flavors like root beer or rainbow plus handcrafted chocolates and homemade ice cream. You can even opt to have ice cream in your ice ball! Sweet Tooth Chocolates is a locally-owned business that takes great pride in its products and uses fine ingredients to make the sweets they sell.
Silver Grove Dari-Bar
This classic walk-up style dairy bar has been an NKY staple since the 1950s. Indulge in sweet treats like milkshakes and sprinkle cones with a side of burgers and fries.
These cones make Cincy’s summer even sweeter! Find even more ideas and inspiration for your summer adventures in Cincinnati.
