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Visit These Essential Ice Cream Spots In Louisville And Southern Indiana

By on Wed, May 31, 2023 at 12:31 am

It's ice cream season. You know this. We know this. But do you know about all the essential local places to get ice cream — places that aren't Baskin Robbins, Dairy Queen, Cold Stone Creamery, or Insomnia Cookies? (Nothing against them, of course — but we prefer our desserts "homegrown.")

We've put together this (unranked) list of businesses in Louisville and Southern Indiana that will help make your summer a little sweeter and cooler.

Click on the name of each business to learn more at its respective website or social media page.

Did we miss any? Let us know at [email protected].

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Louisville Cream 632 E Market St #101 Did you know that Louisville Cream was featured on the Cooking Channel show “Food Paradise” earlier this year? Ironically, it was for bringing the heat rather than the cold — namely, for their “Haute Fudge Sundae" (not pictured.) You can try it on a visit to NuLu. Photo via facebook.com/LouisvilleCream

Louisville Cream

632 E Market St #101
Did you know that Louisville Cream was featured on the Cooking Channel show “Food Paradise” earlier this year? Ironically, it was for bringing the heat rather than the cold — namely, for their “Haute Fudge Sundae" (not pictured.) You can try it on a visit to NuLu.
Photo via facebook.com/LouisvilleCream
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The Comfy Cow Multiple locations With five locations, instantly recognizable signage and handcrafted treats that carry their delectable signature flavors, The Comfy Cow has long been a Louisville institution. It's even gotten some national recognition: in 2014, it made the BuzzFeed list, "27 Ice Cream Shops You Need To Visit Before You Die." The Comfy Cow also offers a 15-scoop eating challenge for the especially daring. Photo by Carolyn Brown

The Comfy Cow

Multiple locations
With five locations, instantly recognizable signage and handcrafted treats that carry their delectable signature flavors, The Comfy Cow has long been a Louisville institution. It's even gotten some national recognition: in 2014, it made the BuzzFeed list, "27 Ice Cream Shops You Need To Visit Before You Die." The Comfy Cow also offers a 15-scoop eating challenge for the especially daring.
Photo by Carolyn Brown
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Sugar Tree Sweet Shop 9444 Norton Commons Boulevard Unfortunately, candy and ice cream don’t grow on actual trees at this Norton Commons business, but the store still offers plenty of each. Photo via facebook.com/sugartreesweetshop

Sugar Tree Sweet Shop

9444 Norton Commons Boulevard
Unfortunately, candy and ice cream don’t grow on actual trees at this Norton Commons business, but the store still offers plenty of each.
Photo via facebook.com/sugartreesweetshop
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Polly’s Freeze 5242 State Road 62, Georgetown, Indiana Polly’s Freeze, an old-fashioned ice cream stand, has been drawing crowds with its delicious treats and iconic neon parrot sign for 70 years. Add a corn dog or hamburger to your order and you’ve got the perfect summer evening. Photo via Polly’s Freeze

Polly’s Freeze

5242 State Road 62, Georgetown, Indiana
Polly’s Freeze, an old-fashioned ice cream stand, has been drawing crowds with its delicious treats and iconic neon parrot sign for 70 years. Add a corn dog or hamburger to your order and you’ve got the perfect summer evening.
Photo via Polly’s Freeze
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Sugar Room 1150 South Shelby Street You’ll spot this Shelby Park business first by its colorful spiral mural. It only offers a few flavors of ice cream, but they go beyond the traditional chocolate and vanilla — ever tried burnt marshmallow or blueberry cheesecake? The owners also run Hot Buns Food Truck (which LEO recommends) and Square Cut Pizza. Photo via Facebook.com/sugarroomsugarroom

Sugar Room

1150 South Shelby Street
You’ll spot this Shelby Park business first by its colorful spiral mural. It only offers a few flavors of ice cream, but they go beyond the traditional chocolate and vanilla — ever tried burnt marshmallow or blueberry cheesecake? The owners also run Hot Buns Food Truck (which LEO recommends) and Square Cut Pizza.
Photo via Facebook.com/sugarroomsugarroom
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Panchitos Ice Cream & Taqueria 2245 Bardstown Road, 811 Preston Highway At Panchitos, you can score an extra sugar rush with their churro shake. We recommend getting horchata-flavored ice cream with a caramel drizzle and a cinnamon-encrusted churro. Photo via facebook.com/Panchitos-Ice-Cream-Taqueria-In-the-Highlands

Panchitos Ice Cream & Taqueria

2245 Bardstown Road, 811 Preston Highway
At Panchitos, you can score an extra sugar rush with their churro shake. We recommend getting horchata-flavored ice cream with a caramel drizzle and a cinnamon-encrusted churro.
Photo via facebook.com/Panchitos-Ice-Cream-Taqueria-In-the-Highlands
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Ehrler's Ice Cream 201 East Main St Conveniently, this ice cream store is right down the street from Slugger Field, making it a great place to stop in for a cool treat before or after a game this summer. Photo via facebook.com/Ehrlers

Ehrler's Ice Cream

201 East Main St
Conveniently, this ice cream store is right down the street from Slugger Field, making it a great place to stop in for a cool treat before or after a game this summer.
Photo via facebook.com/Ehrlers
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Dairy Kastle 575 Eastern Parkway Some people say they know it’s summer when they visit Dairy Kastle, although the Louisville institution is actually open for several months before and after the summer season. Besides ice cream, they also serve chili dogs, nachos, milkshakes, and other summer-favorite foods. Photo via Instagram.com/dairykastle/

Dairy Kastle

575 Eastern Parkway
Some people say they know it’s summer when they visit Dairy Kastle, although the Louisville institution is actually open for several months before and after the summer season. Besides ice cream, they also serve chili dogs, nachos, milkshakes, and other summer-favorite foods.
Photo via Instagram.com/dairykastle/
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The Widow's Walk Ice Creamery 415 E. Riverside Drive, Clarksville Though an old Victorian house by the river seems like an odd place to get a scoop of ice cream, the Widow’s Walk is quite popular and definitely worth a visit. Stop for the ice cream, stay for the gorgeous view of the Ohio River at sunset. Photo via facebook.com/thewidowswalkicecreamery

The Widow's Walk Ice Creamery

415 E. Riverside Drive, Clarksville
Though an old Victorian house by the river seems like an odd place to get a scoop of ice cream, the Widow’s Walk is quite popular and definitely worth a visit. Stop for the ice cream, stay for the gorgeous view of the Ohio River at sunset.
Photo via facebook.com/thewidowswalkicecreamery
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Boomtown Creamery 32 E Main St, New Albany Gigantic milkshakes are among the staples at this downtown New Albany business. Get yourself one of those — or, if you prefer, a regular scoop of ice cream or smoothie — before or after one of the free Bicentennial Park Concert Series shows this summer. Photo via facebook.com/boomtowncreamery

Boomtown Creamery

32 E Main St, New Albany
Gigantic milkshakes are among the staples at this downtown New Albany business. Get yourself one of those — or, if you prefer, a regular scoop of ice cream or smoothie — before or after one of the free Bicentennial Park Concert Series shows this summer.
Photo via facebook.com/boomtowncreamery
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0 Degrees Ice Cream 5000 Shelbyville Road (inside Mall St. Matthews) You’ve had ice cream, sure — but have you ever had it rolled up? This stand inside Mall St. Matthews serves the Thai dessert, plus toppings and milkshakes. Photo via facebook.com/0cicecream

0 Degrees Ice Cream

5000 Shelbyville Road (inside Mall St. Matthews)
You’ve had ice cream, sure — but have you ever had it rolled up? This stand inside Mall St. Matthews serves the Thai dessert, plus toppings and milkshakes.
Photo via facebook.com/0cicecream
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Dairy Del 1516 S Shelby St. Dairy Del is a family classic. Enjoy Brown Derbies and classic banana splits on the concrete patio or on a stroll with your loved ones. Dairy Del has been serving up frosty delights for longer than most of us have been walking. Photo via Google Street View

Dairy Del

1516 S Shelby St.
Dairy Del is a family classic. Enjoy Brown Derbies and classic banana splits on the concrete patio or on a stroll with your loved ones. Dairy Del has been serving up frosty delights for longer than most of us have been walking.
Photo via Google Street View
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The Barrel Of Fun Ice Cream 9421 Smyrna Pkwy You’ll recognize this ice cream stand pretty quickly once you see it: it’s shaped exactly like its name suggests. They serve plenty of ice cream scoops, plus sundaes, snow cones, banana splits, burgers, pretzels, and chili dogs. Photo via facebook.com/The-Barrel-of-Fun-Ice-Cream-115167418576447/

The Barrel Of Fun Ice Cream

9421 Smyrna Pkwy
You’ll recognize this ice cream stand pretty quickly once you see it: it’s shaped exactly like its name suggests. They serve plenty of ice cream scoops, plus sundaes, snow cones, banana splits, burgers, pretzels, and chili dogs.
Photo via facebook.com/The-Barrel-of-Fun-Ice-Cream-115167418576447/
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Gelato Gilberto 2240 Frankfort Ave. and 9434 Norton Commons Blvd. This gelato biz celebrated its reopening in March with a Carnavale party in honor of the dish’s Italian roots — in fact, the owners returned to Italy this winter to learn more about gelato and Italian food culture more broadly. They’ve already started work on their “Gelato Garden,” a design-y extension of the existing outdoor space at their Frankfort Avenue location. Photo via facebook.com/Gelato-Gilberto-9188920830

Gelato Gilberto

2240 Frankfort Ave. and 9434 Norton Commons Blvd.
This gelato biz celebrated its reopening in March with a Carnavale party in honor of the dish’s Italian roots — in fact, the owners returned to Italy this winter to learn more about gelato and Italian food culture more broadly. They’ve already started work on their “Gelato Garden,” a design-y extension of the existing outdoor space at their Frankfort Avenue location.
Photo via facebook.com/Gelato-Gilberto-9188920830
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The Scoop 1410 Charlestown New Albany Road, Jeffersonville This, too, is a waffle shop that also serves plenty of ice cream — 42 different flavors, in fact. Try a “doffle,” a donut waffle, or a "croffle," a mix between a croissant and a waffle. You can add ice cream and toppings to those to create a “wamwich.” Photo via facebook.com/thescoopwss

The Scoop

1410 Charlestown New Albany Road, Jeffersonville
This, too, is a waffle shop that also serves plenty of ice cream — 42 different flavors, in fact. Try a “doffle,” a donut waffle, or a "croffle," a mix between a croissant and a waffle. You can add ice cream and toppings to those to create a “wamwich.”
Photo via facebook.com/thescoopwss
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Philly's Best Frozen Desserts 3912 Bardstown Road and 307 Wallace Avenue “Water ices” — otherwise known as Italian ices — are a staple in Philadelphia and the hallmark of this business, which also has a food truck. We recommend the strawberry lemonade flavor. Photo via facebook.com/phillysbestfrozendessertsky

Philly's Best Frozen Desserts

3912 Bardstown Road and 307 Wallace Avenue
“Water ices” — otherwise known as Italian ices — are a staple in Philadelphia and the hallmark of this business, which also has a food truck. We recommend the strawberry lemonade flavor.
Photo via facebook.com/phillysbestfrozendessertsky
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Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen Multiple locations As the name suggests, ice cream is not the only thing that guests love about this place: the peach pies and frosted sugar cookies are among the other recommendations we’ve gotten. Photo via facebook.com/homemadepiekitchen

Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen

Multiple locations
As the name suggests, ice cream is not the only thing that guests love about this place: the peach pies and frosted sugar cookies are among the other recommendations we’ve gotten.
Photo via facebook.com/homemadepiekitchen
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Pearl Street Delicacies 301 Pearl St, Jeffersonville, IN This adorable ice cream store is right next to the ramp at Big Four Station Park, just off the Big Four Bridge on the Indiana side, meaning it’s a great place to cool down with some cool treats after a walk over the river. They’ve also got hot dogs, corn dogs, grilled cheese, and non-alcoholic drinks, among other options. Photo via facebook.com/PearlStreetTreats

Pearl Street Delicacies

301 Pearl St, Jeffersonville, IN
This adorable ice cream store is right next to the ramp at Big Four Station Park, just off the Big Four Bridge on the Indiana side, meaning it’s a great place to cool down with some cool treats after a walk over the river. They’ve also got hot dogs, corn dogs, grilled cheese, and non-alcoholic drinks, among other options.
Photo via facebook.com/PearlStreetTreats
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Graeter's Ice Cream Multiple locations Even though Graeter’s actually has its origins in Cincinnati, it’s still iconic in our city as well, so we're keeping it on this list. Check out the calendar on their website for the calendar of seasonal flavors — we’re looking forward to Key Lime Pie in August and Elena's Blueberry Pie in September. Photo via facebook.com/Graeters

Graeter's Ice Cream

Multiple locations
Even though Graeter’s actually has its origins in Cincinnati, it’s still iconic in our city as well, so we're keeping it on this list. Check out the calendar on their website for the calendar of seasonal flavors — we’re looking forward to Key Lime Pie in August and Elena's Blueberry Pie in September.
Photo via facebook.com/Graeters
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Valley Dairy Freeze 10300 Deering Road Owner Shelley Blandford grew up with her family’s ice cream business and now owns it herself. If you can’t make it to their brick-and-mortar location to get a hand-dipped cone or a walking taco, you may catch her in the business’s “to-go trailer” (food truck) at an event around town. Photo via facebook.com/valleydairyfreeze

Valley Dairy Freeze

10300 Deering Road
Owner Shelley Blandford grew up with her family’s ice cream business and now owns it herself. If you can’t make it to their brick-and-mortar location to get a hand-dipped cone or a walking taco, you may catch her in the business’s “to-go trailer” (food truck) at an event around town.
Photo via facebook.com/valleydairyfreeze
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