Is there any better combo than ice cream and a scorching summer day? We didn’t think so. Here in the Twin Cities, we have a mouth-watering number of choices when it comes to grabbing a scoop to cool off during a hot summer afternoon. There are shops for every ice cream aficionado, from a classic banana split to a modern, flavor-daring cone with olive oil and sea salt ice cream.

Whatever your favorite flavor, summer is here, it’s hot, and you’re looking to cool down with an ice-cold scoop. We put together this list of some of the COOLest ice cream shops in the Twin Cities, so you’ll know where to enjoy a frozen treat this summer. So, without further ado … Here are the best ice cream shops in the Twin Cities.

1. Sonny’s Ice Cream

Photo Credit: Sonny’s Ice Cream Twitter

Location: 3403 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis

Why Go: Formerly known as Crema Cafe, Sonny’s Ice Cream specializes in creating imaginative, small-batch ice cream. This Minneapolis ice cream shop makes over 1,000 flavors of ice cream, gelato, and sorbet. Their menu features a wide array of flavors, including unique offerings such as Rhubarb Sorbet, Goat Cheese Honey Ice Cream, and Cardamom Black Pepper Ice Cream.

Website: http://sonnysicecream.com/

2. Cone Brothers Ice Cream Cafe

Photo Credit: Cone Brothers Facebook

Location: 6633 Penn Ave S, Richfield

Why Go: Cone Brothers is a 1950s-style ice cream shop that serves 20 flavors of some of the best ice cream in the Twin Cities—as well as all-fruit smoothies, vintage sodas, and Chicago-style hot dogs. The Cone Brothers’ menu will have you licking your lips as you read about bold flavors like Blueberry Cheesecake, Mint Avalanche, and Zanzibar Chocolate.

Website: http://conebrothers.com

3. Adele’s Frozen Custard

(Photo Credit: Yelp.com)

Location: 800 Excelsior Blvd, Excelsior

Why Go: If you’re spending the day at or around Lake Minnetonka and need a break from the heat, stop into Adele’s Frozen Custard. In our opinion, it just isn’t summer without a cup or cone of Adele’s specialty custard, topped with all the toppings you could ever want. Adele’s also offers Frozen Custard Pies like the Turtle Pie, which includes an Oreo crust, caramel, fudge, vanilla custard, pecans and cashews. Yum!

Website: http://www.adelescustard.com

4. Edina Creamery

(Photo Credit: Edina Creamery Facebook)Location:  5055 France Ave S, Minneapolis

Why Go:When it comes to ice cream in the Twin Cities, The Edina Creamery is a must-see stop. Edina Creamery offers 50 flavors of delicious, homemade, ultra-creamy ice cream. Some popular go-to options include Amaretto Chocolate Cherry, Apple Pie A La Mode, and Espresso Love (which comes with a nice kick of caffeine).

Website: http://www.edinacreamery.com/

5. Pumphouse Creamery

(Photo Credit: Roadfood)

Location: 4754 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis

Why Go:Located in the Lake Nokomis neighborhood of South Minneapolis, Pumphouse is a great spot if you’re searching for boldly flavored ice cream. Pumphouse’s menu features unique flavors like Lemon-Infused Olive Oil and Sea Salt, Black Raspberry Crisp, and Rhubarb!. Not in the mood for ice cream? Have a refreshing mug of their on-tap Root Beer or a rhubarb soda, instead.

Website: http://www.pumphouse-creamery.com

6. Grand Ole Creamery

(Photo Credit: Explore Minnesota Pinterest)

Location: 750 Grand Ave, St Paul

Why Go: Grand Ole Creamery is a Twin Cities favorite, featuring a blend of two American delights: pizza and ice cream! During his Twin Cities visit a few summers ago, Former President Barack Obama stopped by the Grand Ole Creamery and enjoyed a scoop of Black Hills Gold ice cream in a waffle cone. Needless to say, that flavor probably isn’t leaving the menu any time soon. Other awesome flavors we recommend you try for yourself include Peppermint Bon Bon and Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet.

Website: http://grandolecreamery.com/web/

7. Sebastian Joe’s

(Photo Credit: sebastianjoesicecream.com)

Location: 4321 S Upton Ave, Minneapolis

Why Go:Sebastian Joe’s serves up scoops of all-natural ice cream featuring zero artificial ingredients. They’re a fan-favorite in the Linden Hills and Lowry Hill neighborhoods of Minneapolis. The Sebastian Joe’s core group of flavors includes melt-in-your-mouth options like Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Pavarotti (a mix of caramel, bananas, vanilla ice cream and chocolate chips) as well as rotating flavors like White Licorice.

Website: http://sebastianjoesicecream.com/

8. Izzy’s Ice Cream Cafe

(Photo Credit: Pioneer Press)

Location: 1100 S 2nd St, Minneapolis

Why Go: Izzy’s is famous for their Izzy Scoop—a waffle cone with one or two large scoops of ice cream and an extra, mini- scoop of a different flavored ice cream stacked on top. Izzy’s offers lots of fun flavors, including Beets and Berries, Eggnog, and even Basil ice cream!. Take your Izzy Scoop on a stroll at Gold Medal Park, just across the street. Izzy’s also sells award winning chocolate milk.

Website: https://izzysicecream.com/

Cool Relief on a Hot Summer’s Day

Ice cream is a wonderful relief from a hot summer day. So is a comfortably air-conditioned home. Is it time you treat yourself to a new A/C unit? We offer a range of A/C services at Welter Heating, including maintenance, repair and installation. Check out our air conditioning services page today to learn more about our services. Stay cool out there!