Our Top Licks for National Ice Cream Month

July – in case you didn’t know – is National Ice Cream Month!

And what better place to indulge in a month-long ice cream celebration than St. Louis? After all, this is the destination that gave the world the waffle cone.

It happened at the 1904 World’s Fair, and while accounts vary, many historians say Ernest A. Hamwi, a Syrian vendor, came up with the idea of shaping waffles into cones. As the story goes, Hamwi wanted people to be able to wander through the fair with ice cream in hand, so he plopped a scoop in the “cone,” and a staple of summer was born.

St. Louis abounds with charming establishments to enjoy great ice cream and its delicious variants. In fact, there are so many incredible flavors, toppings and concoctions in the Gateway City that you could try a new one every day of July – thank goodness there are 31 – and not get around to trying all of them.

In the spirit of National Ice Cream Month, here’s a sampling of some places to experience a chill thrill in St. Louis.

Andy’s Frozen Custard

First churned in Osage Beach, Missouri, Andy’s Frozen Custard became a legend at the lake before taking the state by storm. Now found in 15 states, the company continues to use the freshest ingredients for a sweet experience. Year-round concoctions include the Ooey Gooey Concrete with Heath bar, crème caramel and almonds blended into frozen custard and the Snowmonster Concrete with strawberries and melted chocolate chips blended into frozen custard. Feeling creative? The Jackhammer lets you fill the center of your concrete with any toppings you crave.

Baileys’ Chocolate Bar

Sweets are the star at Baileys’ Chocolate Bar. Baileys’ Brownie is served with housemade Irish cream ice cream, salted caramel sauce and almond toffee. The Blondie is paired with cinnamon ice cream, white chocolate and pecans. And the Royale? Here, three scoops of ice cream – chocolate, strawberry and vanilla – top a warm brownie plated with caramelized banana, fruit purée, whipped cream and toasted nuts. The menu goes on, but you get the picture. If you’re craving over-the-top ice cream desserts, this is a can’t-miss stop in Lafayette Square.

Baileys’ Range

Baileys’ Range is known for its juicy, Missouri-raised, grass-fed beef burgers and excellent beer selection, but it would be a tragedy to forget the scratch-made ice cream – especially when said ice cream comes in delicious flavors such as Irish cream, salted caramel and mint chip. Available by the scoop or as a shake with an array of mix-ins, the housemade ice cream also shines in sundaes at Baileys’ Range, which is located down the street from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Bella’s Sweet Treats & Boozy Shake Shop

At this sweet downtown spot, creamy treats and boozy shakes are served alongside dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan options. For those 21 and older, who want to indulge, get a double shot of tequila with your choice of sorbet or a double shot of bourbon with vanilla ice cream and a dash of bitters.

Bold Spoon Creamery

An abundance of garden mint led to Rachel Burns’ first batch of ice cream. As positive feedback from her trusted tasters – lovingly referred to as “The Spoons” – fed her desire to tinker with new flavors and ingredients, she began to realize that she would need more than a backyard to meet demand. In 2021, operations moved to Bold Spoon Farm in Park Hills, Missouri, where garden beds rest right outside the kitchen – ready to supply the fruits and herbs for irresistible flavors such as berry patch; Brie and spiced honey; brown butter-miso caramel; goat cheese and fig; lavender-vanilla; lemon curd; pumpkin chai; and roasted peach. While Bold Spoon Creamery supplies local grocery stores, visitors can also snag small-batch scoops at Enterprise Center, The Dome at America’s Center and The Muny – plus, the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, open on Saturdays from April to November and Tuesdays from May to October.

Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery

With nine locations throughout the St. Louis region, you’re never far from a scoop of Clementine’s sweet, savory and boozy ice creams, which include vegan options, too. Focused on using top-quality, all-natural ingredients, Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery stirs flavors from local growers and makers into its recipes. Boozy “naughty” flavors include chocolate-Cabernet, maple bourbon with salted candied pecans and pink Champagne sorbet, while the “nice” lineup features gooey butter cake, honey-lavender and tahini-chocolate chip.

Crown Candy

From the striped awning and wooden booths to the soda fountain and candy case, not much has changed at this family-owned and -operated restaurant since it opened in 1913. Besides the Heart-Stopping BLT, the beloved landmark is known for its 24-ounce malts made with three heaping scoops of homemade ice cream, fresh cow’s milk and old-fashioned malted milk powder. Featuring 14 percent butterfat with flavors blended in Crown Candy’s antique copper candy kettle, the rich and creamy ice cream also stars in nostalgic sundaes inspired by the 1904 World’s Fair.

Fitz’s

Fitz’s is famous for its root beer, which is brewed and bottled at its historic Delmar Loop location and proudly served at its second spot in South County. The company bottles 19 unique flavors, all of which can be turned into floats such as the Trolley Car with old-fashioned cream soda, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel drizzle and Oreo crumbles. The Nod to Nelly, on the other hand, features Hip Hop Pop topped with vanilla and raspberry ice cream, whipped cream, a berry drizzle and an oatmeal-raisin cookie. Craving something classic? You can’t go wrong with Fitz’s Root Beer Float or a hand-dipped strawberry shake.

Fritz’s Frozen Custard

The original recipe frozen custard at Fritz’s has been a family tradition since 1983. Paired with fast, friendly service, there’s a signature flavor for every day of July. If you aren’t in the mood for cherry jubilee on July 18, caramel cookie dough on July 24 or chocolate birthday cake on July 27, you can always order a cone, sundae or signature creation that speaks to your soul.

The Fountain on Locust

Boasting bold Art Deco design, this Midtown haunt is home to the ice cream martini. Which is what exactly? Think vanilla ice cream married with crème de menthe and chocolate liqueur, otherwise known as the Thin Mint. The Toblerone blends Zanzibar chocolate ice cream, coffee liqueur, hazelnut liqueur and crème de cacao, while the Voodoo Baby presents Frangelico and vanilla vodka with a scoop of black cherry ice cream. The menu goes far beyond ice cream martinis, though, with a plethora of milkshakes, malts, floats, sundaes and other ice cream desserts on offer. In the Central West End, The Fountain on Delmar serves the same tasty treats.

Ices Plain & Fancy

Ice cream and liquid nitrogen might sound like an odd couple, but at Ices Plain & Fancy, they’re a match made in frosty heaven. Flash-churned to order, classic flavors such as Sump coffee, rocky road and butter pecan entice as much as seasonal flavors such as blueberry-Nutella and Thin Mint. Traveling with four-legged friends? Treat them to a tail-wagging pup cup.

Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Café

Don’t let the name fool you. Jilly’s Cupcake Bar and Café whips up housemade ice cream that’s just as delicious as its whimsical cupcakes. Whether you order a scoop, a pint, a sundae or a shake, you’ll have plenty of fun flavors from which to choose – think Browned Butter Pecan (butterscotch ice cream swirled with vanilla salted caramel and brown butter toasted pecans), Bee Sting (lemon ice cream mixed with vanilla cake morsels, lemon cream cheese icing, lemon curd, white chocolate shavings and sliced toasted almonds) and Strawberrylicious (strawberry ice cream adorned with a strawberry compote ribbon).

Pastaria

This family-oriented Italian restaurant in Clayton comes from James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft, who makes every diner feel special. After digging into hearty plates of pistachio ravioli and striped bass, indulge in rotating flavors of traditional gelato such as dark chocolate, vanilla bean, salted caramel, strawberry milkshake, sprinkle cake and graham cracker with blackberry swirl. Vegan? With options such as cherry berry and fudgesicle sorbetto, you’ll be too busy swooning to notice what’s missing.

Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream

Scooping some of the region’s best ice cream, Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream in The Grove is your destination for sweet surrender. Here, you can create a one-of-a-kind ice cream sandwich with fresh cookies and a range of ice cream flavors, from Cookie Monster to Orange Dream and Black Walnut to Strawberry Cheesecake. Novelties include Dipstix, where vanilla or chocolate ice cream is covered in semi-sweet chocolate and rolled in salted and roasted almonds. Shakes, malts and floats round out this beloved brand’s menu.

The Soda Fountain

A refreshing blast from the past, The Soda Fountain at St. Louis Union Station serves sweets, treats and eats for everyone. Situated between the St. Louis Wheel and the St. Louis Aquarium, the dressed-up diner offers unique spins on ice cream sundaes, boozy drinks, phosphate sodas, old-time candy and Instagram-worthy Freak Shakes – massive ice cream concoctions that offer a fun, unexpected take on traditional milkshakes, with garnishes such as whole brownies, snickerdoodle cookies, Funfetti cupcakes and potato chips. The same radical concoctions are available at Soda Fountain Express at Westport Plaza.

A Spoonful of Sugar

Banana pudding, peaches and cream, strawberry-banana cheesecake, Oreo sandwich – it’s all handcrafted in small batches at A Spoonful of Sugar. The family-owned and -operated ice cream shop in Benton Park scoops unexpected flavors for everyone – including vegan customers and furry friends – making it a true neighborhood favorite. Take your order to the next level with freshly baked cookies or gooey chocolate brownies.

Sugarwitch

Built on genuine inclusivity and bold creativity, Sugarwitch specializes in ice cream sandwiches named after storybook villains. Married duo Sophie Mendelson and Martha Bass push the limits of the childhood treat by pairing miso-brown sugar ice cream with milk chocolate chip blondies, blueberry ice cream with lemon poppy seed shortbread and mango sorbet with toasted coconut rice crispy treats, to name a few marvelous mash-ups. This is nostalgia with a twist – and a little bit of mischief.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

Founded by Ted Drewes, Sr. in 1930, this is an iconic St. Louis stop with ever-present lines of people waiting for their frozen custard fix. Made with egg yolk, frozen custard is richer than ice cream. Order it in a classic concrete at one of the two old-school stands in St. Louis city, and the staff will turn it upside down when handing it over, proving just how thick the confection is. Want something else? Custard also takes center stage in malts, shakes and sundaes. Bestsellers include the banana split, strawberry shortcake (shortcake topped with frozen custard, fresh strawberries and whipped cream) and Cardinal Sin (a concrete or sundae with tart cherries and hot fudge).