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9 Best Ice Cream Parlors in Atlanta – Atlanta

For Atlantans, ice cream serves many purposes: cooling you down when the city reaches asphalt-melting levels, providing a needed sugar rush after spending 90 minutes walking a half-block in traffic. Atlanta and save yourself during the first “I don’t do it”. I don’t know if it’s worth spending $35 on a cocktail” first date phase. Lucky for us, Atlanta is full of ice cream parlors, chic and summery, old school and budget-friendly, to make your ice cream dreams come true, no matter how simple or grandiose they may be.

photo credit: Amy Sinclair

If you’re a gelato fan, Voga Italian Gelato in Inman Park should be your first stop as it offers the best Atlanta has to offer. This place serves ice cream so rich you feel obligated to eat it with a monocle and a pocket watch. We particularly like Voga’s ambience which is imbued with understated elegance, with dark wood finishes, soft lighting and plush leather seats, perfect for a romantic encounter or stroll around the square.

photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker

Creamy, rich, and full of flavor, a scoop of anything at Morelli’s feels like a smart lifestyle choice. The ice cream parlor (we love the original Moreland location) is known for its unusual flavors like raisin, blueberry corn cake, or coconut jalapeño, so when life seems a little too vanilla, it ‘s the perfect place to shake things up. But we also love classics like the remarkable hot fudge sundae with its velvety ice cream, rich runny fudge on top and chewy fudge brownie on the bottom.

photo credit: Courtesy of Aiskrimu Ice Cream

Stop by Aiskrimu in Cascade Heights (Aiskrimu means “ice cream” in Swahili) for creamy, earthy matcha ice cream that’s better than almost anywhere else. Aiskrimu ice cream is super creamy, flavorful and rich, so whatever you get is a win. The menu changes all the time, but if you see the oatmeal cookie sandwich, pack yourself a solid and get it. Their creamy vanilla ice cream is sandwiched between soft and sweet oatmeal cookies, and it’s now our brilliant prototype for the ice cream sandwich. Bring your vegan friends too because the dairy-free options are fantastic too.

photo credit: Sarah Newman

If you’re looking for a cold treat and a relaxing place to enjoy it, Cremalosa in Decatur is your place. It’s a small family-run ice cream parlor that sells silky ice cream in small batches. And there’s a huge patio, big enough for you to get away from the crowds. And you’ll be grateful for that extra privacy when you feel compelled to close your eyes to savor bites of your creamy cup of salted caramel or velvety sweet peaches and cream.

photo credit: Sarah Newman

After dinner in Decatur Square, stop by Butter & Cream to extend your evening with their delicious treats. Chances are you’ll be greeted by a line, but it moves quickly and you’ll have your rich, refreshing mint chocolate chip cone within minutes. We love visiting this small-batch creamery for its seasonal flavors, which are usually full of fun surprises like their Munchies mix with chocolate-covered chips and peanut butter. And many mix-ins, like fudge and brownies, are made in-house.

photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker

Anyone old enough to remember the Hawk’s Pac-Man logo will most likely have fond memories of Jake’s Ice Cream, an Atlanta classic that opened in the Old Fourth Ward in 1999. It is now located in a corner of ‘a small place near downtown Hapeville, but it’s still a great place for standard-flavored cones and cups that don’t venture too far into the wild but strike the perfect balance between sweetness and flavor. Try the Kiss of the Leprechaun, mint ice cream with chocolate chips, when you’re craving something cool and refreshing, or the Brown Shugah Vanilla, a delicious city treasure that deserves its own Georgia historical marker .

photo credit: Sarah Newman

Another long-standing dessert staple, Paulo’s has been a staple in the Virginia Highlands for several decades. Don’t be surprised if you have to keep the kids from rushing past their parents to stare wide-eyed at the shiny display of ice creams in the small store, which offers more than 60 flavors, including stracciatella, biscotti, dark chocolate, cream eggs, fig. , and fishing. All are handmade and change with the seasons. If you have any questions about your Smooth Avocado Ice Cream or any other flavor, the owner will be happy to share details and samples. With Pielands next door, the gelateria and pizzeria form one of the best duos in town since Dre and Big Boi or Dominique and Doc Rivers.

This very pink, very flowery ice cream parlor in East Atlanta should be on your bucket list if you’re someone who always drinks their leftover cereal milk. At Cereal And Cream, you can mix your cereal (they have all the classics: Trix, Froot Loops, etc.), candies, and cookies with any flavor of their smooth ice cream. Have your creation served in a cone, a cup or as a milkshake that you will eventually have to eat with a spoon once all the sugary cereals have stabilized.

photo credit: Amy Sinclair

If you’re a foodie night owl, SweetStack Creamery on Auburn Avenue is your place because it’s open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Be careful, if you order something blue, you might have a Smurf-like mouth for the next 36 hours. For a less intense sugar rush, opt for mild flavors like butter pecan or vanilla. If you really want to reach the heights of Mount Glucose, get the Glazed Donut Sandwich: your choice of ice cream pressed between two glazed donut halves that are gently warmed in a panini maker, then drizzled with caramel syrup and cereal topping.