Top 7 Local Ice Cream Shops in Our City (2024 Ranked Guide)

If you're looking for the best local ice cream shops in our city, you've come to the right place. This guide ranks the top seven spots to grab a scoop, cone, or one-of-a-kind frozen dessert. This list is for anyone, from lifelong residents to first-time visitors, who wants to discover the most delicious and creative frozen treats the community has to offer. We evaluated each shop based on flavor innovation, quality of ingredients, and local and national recognition. Let's dive in!

We ranked these shops based on a blend of local awards, national media recognition, customer reviews, and the uniqueness of their menus. Our goal is to help you find the perfect treat for any craving or occasion.

1. Novel Ice Cream — Best Overall Experience

Novel Ice Cream earns our top spot for its perfect combination of creativity, quality, and undeniable "wow" factor. This isn't just a place to get a scoop; it's a destination for a true dessert experience. They are famous for their "Dough Melt," a warm doughnut stuffed with your choice of ice cream. It’s the kind of treat you’ll be telling your friends about for weeks.

This shop is best for the adventurous foodie who wants more than just a cone. If you love trying new things and appreciate clever flavor combinations, Novel is your place. According to a report from azcentral.com, Novel was not only featured in Forbes but also ranked as the No. 1 ice cream shop on Yelp’s list. This national acclaim, paired with its local cult following, pushes it ahead of other shops that specialize in either classic or experimental flavors, but rarely both so successfully. Flavors like honey lavender and Bourbon Caramel Toffee Crunch show their commitment to pushing boundaries while remaining delicious. For a great afternoon, grab a treat here and take a stroll through one of the best walkable neighborhoods in the city.

Drawback: Its incredible popularity is its only real downside. Expect a line, especially on warm evenings and weekends. The wait is worth it, but be sure to budget a little extra time for your visit.

Key Data: - Price Range: $$ (Moderate) - Signature Item: The Dough Melt - Must-Try Flavors: Honey Lavender, Bourbon Caramel Toffee Crunch

2. Churn — Most Creative Flavors

If your motto is "the weirder, the better," then Churn is calling your name. This locally owned parlor wins our award for the most creative and inventive flavors in the city. They masterfully blend sweet, savory, and unexpected ingredients into perfectly balanced scoops that will challenge and delight your palate. It’s a place where curiosity is rewarded with every bite.

Churn is ideal for the flavor explorer—the person who is tired of vanilla and chocolate and wants to try something genuinely new. What sets it apart is its fearlessness. While other shops might have one or two unique options, Churn’s entire menu is a playground of culinary creativity. The shop was recognized by Food and Wine for its unique flavors, a testament to its high-quality experimentation. Where else can you find Vietnamese coffee ice cream that tastes just like the real thing, or a surprisingly delicious goat cheese, pistachio, and honey combination? This commitment to innovation makes it a standout choice.

Drawback: The constantly rotating and highly adventurous menu might be a bit much for picky eaters or those craving a simple, traditional scoop. It’s a fantastic experience, but perhaps not the best choice for a large group with varied tastes.

Key Data: - Price Range: $$ (Moderate) - Signature Style: Unexpected savory and sweet combinations - Must-Try Flavors: Vietnamese Coffee, Goat Cheese Pistachio Honey

3. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams — Best for Dietary Needs

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is a nationally recognized brand, but it operates with the heart and quality of a local creamery, securing its spot for its exceptional quality and fantastic options for those with dietary restrictions. The textures are consistently smooth and creamy across the board, from the richest dairy flavors to the surprisingly decadent dairy-free selections.

This is the absolute best choice for groups with diverse dietary needs. If you have a friend who is dairy-free or vegan, you can bring them here with confidence, knowing they won’t be stuck with a bland, icy sorbet. Jeni's dairy-free options, often made with coconut cream, are as rich and satisfying as their traditional counterparts. The shop is owned by James Beard Award winner Jeni Britton, and that culinary expertise is evident in every scoop. Flavors like Goat Cheese and Cherry showcase a sophisticated approach that elevates it above standard parlors.

Drawback: Premium quality comes with a premium price tag. Jeni's is one of the more expensive options on our list, so it might be more of a special treat than a weekly habit.

Key Data: - Price Range: $$$ (Premium) - Signature Feature: Extensive and high-quality dairy-free options - Must-Try Flavors: Goat Cheese and Cherry, any of the dairy-free coconut cream varieties

4. Negranti Creamery + Coffee — Most Unique Ingredients

For a truly one-of-a-kind ice cream experience, Negranti Creamery + Coffee is a must-visit. What makes it so special? It’s all about the sheep's milk. Negranti built its reputation on its signature sheep's milk ice cream, offering a uniquely smooth, creamy, and slightly tangy alternative to traditional cow's milk recipes. It's also a great option for those with a sensitivity to cow's milk, as many find sheep's milk easier to digest.

This creamery is perfect for the health-conscious dessert lover or anyone looking to try something completely new. The use of sheep's milk isn't a gimmick; it creates a distinctively rich product that stands apart from every other shop in the city. While they also offer cow's milk varieties and sorbets, the sheep's milk ice cream is the star. Flavors like strawberry basil and Thai tea are thoughtfully crafted to complement the unique base, creating a sophisticated and memorable treat. It's the kind of place that reminds you how supporting local businesses can lead to discovering something amazing, a core reason why our city must invest in public arts programs that foster such unique community spots.

Drawback: The distinct, slightly earthy flavor of sheep's milk isn't for everyone. If you're a die-hard traditionalist, you might prefer a classic cow's milk scoop.

Key Data: - Price Range: $$$ (Premium) - Signature Ingredient: Sheep's milk - Must-Try Flavors: Strawberry Basil, Thai Tea

5. Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt — Best Classic Flavors

Sometimes, you don't want culinary innovation. You just want a perfect, no-nonsense scoop of your favorite flavor, done right. For that, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt is the undisputed champion. Handel's focuses on perfecting the classics, making their ice cream fresh daily in each store with generous chunks of high-quality mix-ins.

Handel's is the go-to spot for families, traditionalists, and anyone who believes that simple is best. If you're looking for a crowd-pleaser that will make everyone from your five-year-old nephew to your 80-year-old grandmother happy, this is it. It outranks other classic-focused shops due to its sheer variety and commitment to freshness. With dozens of flavors available at any given time, the menu is massive but never sacrifices quality for quantity. Their portions are famously generous, delivering excellent value.

Drawback: While they excel at the classics, you won't find the boundary-pushing, experimental flavors that other shops on this list are known for. It’s a place for comfort and nostalgia, not for culinary adventure.

Key Data: - Price Range: $ (Affordable) - Signature Style: Freshly made, classic flavors with lots of mix-ins - Must-Try Flavors: Graham Central Station, Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie

6. Wanderlust Creamery — Best Global Inspiration

Wanderlust Creamery takes your taste buds on a trip around the world. Each flavor is inspired by a different travel destination, transforming memories and cultural experiences into delicious, imaginative ice cream. This shop is a celebration of global culture, and its menu reads like a passport to deliciousness.

This creamery is for the globetrotter and the culturally curious. If you love exploring new cultures through food, Wanderlust offers a unique and accessible way to do it. It stands out from other shops by having such a strong, clear theme. The flavors aren't just creative; they're educational and transportive. You can sample a scoop inspired by Japanese sticky rice and mango or a flavor that captures the essence of a Filipino dessert. It's a delightful experience that feels both indulgent and enriching, and a perfect treat before exploring one of the city's beautiful urban oases or botanic gardens.

Drawback: The flavor menu rotates frequently to reflect new inspirations. This is exciting, but it also means that the amazing flavor you fell in love with on your last visit might not be there when you return.

Key Data: - Price Range: $$ (Moderate) - Signature Style: Travel-inspired, globally sourced flavors - Must-Try Flavors: Ube Malted Crunch, Sticky Rice + Mango

7. Sweet Republic — Best Neighborhood Staple

Having been a local favorite since opening in 2008, Sweet Republic has earned its place as a beloved neighborhood institution. It consistently delivers high-quality, artisan ice cream, sorbet, and other treats with a focus on all-natural ingredients. It's the kind of reliable, always-delicious spot that you can count on for any occasion.

Sweet Republic is best for locals looking for a dependable, high-quality treat without the long lines or experimental hype of some newer shops. It’s a cornerstone of the community. Its longevity gives it an edge; it has spent over a decade perfecting its craft and building a loyal following. While it may not have the single most unique ingredient or the wildest flavor combinations on this list, it does everything exceptionally well, from its rich ice creams to its refreshing sorbets. It's a testament to the power of consistency and quality.

Drawback: The menu, while excellent, is smaller and less adventurous than some of the other top-ranked shops. It’s more of an everyday favorite than a special-occasion destination.

Key Data: - Price Range: $$ (Moderate) - Signature Style: All-natural, artisan-quality neighborhood creamery - Must-Try Flavors: Salted Butter Caramel Swirl, Toffee Banofi

Comparing Our City's Best Ice Cream Shops

How We Chose This List

To create this ranking, we focused on what makes our local ice cream scene so special. We analyzed dozens of shops, prioritizing those with a strong community presence and unique offerings. Our criteria included national and local awards, mentions in respected publications like Food and Wine, and high ratings on customer review platforms. We also considered the ongoing public debate about the city's best scoop, which, as noted by publications like the Denver Gazette in other cities, shows how passionate people are about their local creameries. We excluded national chains that lack a distinct local flair and focused on the places that truly define our city's dessert landscape.

The Bottom Line

You can't go wrong with any shop on this list, but your best choice depends on your craving. For a truly memorable and innovative experience, head to Novel Ice Cream for their famous Dough Melt. If you're in the mood for bold, unexpected flavors, Churn is your destination. And for a perfect, classic scoop that will please the whole family, Handel's is the reliable and delicious choice.