Spring weather is back (at least in the afternoons) and what better reason to check out the best spots for ice cream in Austin?  We recently did a roundup of Dairy-Free Ice Cream Spots, and some have made their way onto both lists since they have options for dairy and dairy-free.  So whether you’re looking for unique flavors or a traditional favorite, this round-up and Austin’s Texas-sized variety of ice cream options have you covered.


Whether a cone or a cup, Amy’s is always an Austin classic. Photo by Heidi Okla

Amy’s Ice Creams
Check here for their many ATX locations
A list of ice cream spots in Austin wouldn’t be complete without this household name. Amy’s Ice Cream is a staple in the Austin community. With food trucks and walk-in shops spread throughout the city, Amy’s is accessible to anyone. Whether you want to indulge in a classic or try out a more outside-the-cone option, Amy’s has 350 flavors in rotation.  We recommend their self-proclaimed “world-famous” Mexican Vanilla.


Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream via Yelp

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
11521 N FM 620 #1500
Located in Plaza Volente in Anderson Mill, Handel’s is famous for their homemade ice cream reaching back to 1945.  Grab traditional flavors as well as seasonal (think horchata for fall!) and let the kiddos play on the little playground nearby.  Check here for current flavors (including vegan and ices), and store hours.


Austin original — Sandy’s, Photo by Heidi Okla

Sandy’s Hamburgers
603 Barton Springs Rd.
An old Austin classic, Sandy’s isn’t just a favorite for burgers, but also for their awesome soft serve.  Open since 1946 and located centrally on Barton Springs Rd, this walk-up window and drive-through is always bustling with happy customers. Get yourself a dipped cone, sundae, shake, or malt.


Photo from The Baked Bear’s Facebook page

The Baked Bear
211 Walter Seaholm Dr. Suite LR150
If you’ve ever dreamed of concocting your own ice cream sandwich from lots of yummy options, this place is for you.  First, you choose your top & bottom from 11 freshly made cookie options.  Next, select the ice cream you want sandwiched in the middle, and go crazy with additional toppings.  Flavors include birthday cake, cookie dough, mint chip, toasted smores, and more.  The Baked Bear also offers hot fudge sundaes and ice cream cones.


via Andy’s Frozen Custard

Andy’s Frozen Custard
1710 W Parmer Ln (and they have a drive-thru window!)
Andy’s offers a variety of custard (extra-thick ice cream) flavors in just about any form you could want. This includes ice cream sundaes, banana splits, shakes, malts, floats, or custard by the scoop.  Andy’s also offers seasonal goodies like key lime pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, candy cane, Andy nog, and more.


Photo from the Lick Ice Creams Facebook page, Photo by Annie Ray Photography

Lick Honest Ice Creams
Three Austin locations here
Lick bills themselves as providing “honest ice creams,” so you better believe it’s no lie when we tell you their product is straight-up delicious. They offer everyday, seasonal, and vegan options, guaranteeing there’s something for everyone, while flavors run the good-tasting gamut, ranging from fancy takes on dark chocolate (accentuated with olive oil and sea salt) to roasted beets and fresh mint.


Sno Mo Lakeway via Yelp

—  Snow Monster Lakeway
900 Ranch Rd 620 S a109, Lakeway
It’s ice cream. It’s shaved ice. It’s SnoMo! Fluffy like snow, creamy like ice cream. Yummy like no other. This popular Taiwanese dessert includes fruit extracts and fresh milk that are used to make colorful ice blocks. The blocks are then finely shaven with a precision shaving machine into delicious, fluffy ribbons of sno ice.


Frozen Rolls, Photo by Roger Ho

Frozen Rolls Creamery
704 N Lamar Blvd.
Frozen Rolls Creamery is not your ordinary scoop situation.  Frozen Rolls offers their delicious confections in hand-rolled form, Thai style.  And it’s delicious.  The best part is watching your ice cream concoction get mixed and scraped into rolls – well, or maybe the best part is eating said concoction.  We’ll let you be the judge.  Check out our Do512 Eats experience at Frozen Rolls here!


Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams via Yelp

Jeni’s
Three Austin locations here
Jeni’s mission is to make better ice creams and bring people together, and they have been incredibly successful at doing exactly that!  Without the use of synthetic flavorings, dyes, or off-the-shelf mixes, Jeni’s specializes in building their delicious ice creams from the ground up.  With flavors ranging from raspberry rose jelly donuts, to fluffernutter, and even cold brew with coconut cream, you’re sure to find a flavor suitable for every taste bud.


Photo from the OMG Squee Facebook page

OMG Squee
4607 Bolm Rd Suite A
100% gluten-free Asian American desserts?!  Count us in. OMG Squee serves the best gluten-free and Asian-inspired desserts in Austin.  If you’re looking to beat the heat, their soft serve is the way to go.  You can’t go wrong with any of their daily soft serve flavors but if you’re looking for a more decadent soft serve, check out their Taiyaki, a stuffed mochi Belgian waffle in a cute fish shape filled with soft serve and toppings of your choice.  Soft serve is available Thursdays – Sundays.


Gati via Yelp

Gati
1512 Holly St.
Is it possible to make delicious ice cream from only 4 ingredients? Gati proves it is!  With more than 40 rotating flavors, all vegan and gluten-free, Gati Ice Cream accommodates ice cream lovers with different tastes. If you’re looking to try ice cream flavors out of your comfort zone, we suggest the coconut ash and Japanese red bean flavors!


Towering shakes at The Yard, photo by Heidi Okla

Yard Milkshake Bar
3400 Esperanza Crossing
Yard Milkshake Bar offers the option to get scoops of ice cream in a cone or cup, but they knock it out of the park with their iconic specialty milkshakes.  Whether you’re sharing one with the whole family or just enjoying one by yourself, you can’t go wrong with any one of their 20+ delicious flavors.  The milkshake jar is included which is perfect to keep as a memory or to create your specialty milkshake!


via Zed’s

Zed’s New Zealand Style Ice Cream
1814 Harvey St
Zed’s makes their ice cream on the spot, then blends in fruit for your custom order. Choose your size, your fruit (blackberry sounds amazing), and your base of either vanilla or dairy-free, then top it off with drizzles and toppings. They also sell beer and wine and you can check out their menu here.


More places to get ice cream in Austin


Also, check out: