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Save Room for Ice Cream at These Fantastic Detroit Shops

From vegan soft-serve to Superman scoops to paletas, here are some great places to chill out with a sweet treat this summer

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The opening of ice cream parlors for the season is a sure sign for metro Detroiters that gloomy days are (mostly) behind us. Whether you’re looking for vegan soft serve options, classic custard shops, hard scoops on waffle cones, or paleterias that specialize in mangonadas and agua fresca, metro Detroit has all the bases covered for frozen treats. Here are some outstanding spots for ice cream to stay cool all summer long.

Read next: 15 Metro Detroit Soft Serve Spots for Sunny Days

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Bob Jo's Frozen Custard

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For more than seven decades, summertime standby Bob Jo’s has attracted long lines on hot days for its towering swirls of frozen custard in flavors like blackberry, lemon, and Blue Moon. There’s also homemade raspberry Italian ice for non-dairy fans. Dress up a cone with the stand’s selection of toppings ranging from toasted coconut to rainbow sprinkles.

Behold, a piece of heaven.

A post shared by Jeff Riley Jr (@jeffrileyjr) on

Calder Brothers Dairy

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A Downriver classic since ‘46, Calder Brothers Dairy makes ice cream with products from the family farm. Find generous scoops in flavors like horchata, caramel cappuccino, and rich and creamy peanut butter.

The Custard Co.

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There’s a long lineup of ice cream treats at this Dearborn shop. Sweet Bun, a hot-pressed ice cream donut sandwich, is this place’s claim to fame, and a machine keeps the donut hot and the ice cream cold. Go for the Superman flavor, or the Ashta, which was added after many requests from customers. Frozen custards can also be served in a pie and flavor include Fruity Pebbles, Oreo, Biscoff, and Cookie Monster. Earlier this year, the Custard Co. popped up for a 30-day residency at Little Caesar’s Arena.

Shatila Bakery & Cafe

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Dearborn’s sprawling Middle Eastern confectionery and cafe is the perfect recipe for a sugar coma. The ice cream counter offering flavors like mango, strawberry, and cherry is particularly satisfying. First-timers to this institution would be wise to consider the pistachio ice cream — a favorite and Shatila specialty.

Neveria La Michoacana

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This southwest Detroit parlor is exceptionally popular on sunny days as families and kids stop in for scoops of ice cream, mangonadas, fruity or creamy paletas made daily in-house, and other frozen or frozen adjacent treats. Neveria La Michoacana also offers Mexican street food snacks like Dorilocos, elote cups, and refreshing aguas frescas.

Mangonadas Del Barrio

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Mangonadas Del Barrio gets its name from a cool, tangy Mexican treat made with frozen mangos and a combination of chili, lime, and tamarind paste. This mini-chain has several locations throughout southwest and the Downriver area, meaning folks are never too far from a massive ice cream sundae of a cup of strawberries and cream.

banana split Brenna Houck

Momento Gelato and Coffee

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Momento Gelato, next door to the UFO Factory, is the Italian-style ice cream parlor in Corktown that specializes in using all natural ingredients. The shop is the creation of Tom Isaia, who also founded Coffee Express, a roasting company based in Plymouth. The menu features seasonal flavors, espresso drinks, and a delightful affogato. Flavors change with the seasons, but guests can expect specialties such as mango sorbet, coffee (made with brew from Coffee Express), and pistachio.

A woman wearing rings holding a waffle cone of gelato at Momento Gelato in Corktown.
A cone of gelato from Momento Gelato, an Italian-style ice cream shop and cafe in Corktown.
Gerard + Belevender

Milk & Froth Ice Cream

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Milk & Froth, a popular ice cream truck, is now a brick-and-mortar storefront in downtown Detroit. Owners Alexis Matteson and Deion Cao say their vegan and classic ice cream is made from scratch without pre-manufactured mixes, chemical stabilizers, or artificial colors and flavors. Milk & Froth serves more than a dozen rotating ice cream flavors, including honeycomb, butterscotch brownie, matcha pistachio, malt cherry chocolate, orange cream, salted caramel, chocolate hazelnut, and Blue Magic.

A sign reading Milk & Froth hangs on the outside of a brick building. Courtesy photo

Detroit Water Ice Factory

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This downtown shop is all about water ice — a frozen dessert popular in Philadelphia and New Jersey. The Motown Twist takes the whole experience up a notch with swirls of soft-serve ice cream combined with water ice. A portion of the proceeds from Detroit Water Ice Factory goes to charity.

Huddle Soft Serve

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Huddle’s soft serve window is open just a short skip from Parker Alley downtown for chocolate, vanilla or twists with toppings of sprinkles, sea salt, chocolate chips, and cherry or chocolate dips. Or, in West Village, Huddle is also available at Two Birds bar at 8130 Kercheval, where guests can order from a window for cones, as well as floats made with root beer, Coke, Vernor’s, or Faygo Rock n’ Rye.

-320 at Detroit Shipping Company

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Tucked into the second floor of Cass Corridor food hall Detroit Shipping Company, -320 is making some of the creamiest ice cream in town. The secret is the instant freezing of all of the ingredients with liquid nitrogen, which is -320 degrees Fahrenheit. Customers can choose from flavors like fresh mint chocolate chip, hazelnut cocoa crisp, and verde tea. Pour some espresso over the top to make it an affogato.

Tou & Mai

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Bubble tea is definitely the headline, but this Asian mini-mart operated by Go! Sy Thai is an all-around good spot for chilled sweets. For an ice cream fix check out the Hello, Hello. The dessert is based on Filipino halo halo and features ube and mango ice cream, flavored jellies, red azuki bean, coconut and condensed milk, and candied coconut. The whole cup is topped with wafer cookies.

Cold Truth

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The stand operates with a rotating menu that has featured options like lavender, vegan blueberry, chocolate, and vegan sweet cream soft serve. Order it in a fresh vegan, gluten-free waffle cone, a cup topped with vegan dark chocolate or milk chocolate shell, or in waffle cone taco shell, and then load up on a variety of toppings from local food purveyors’ goods. This window-service spot also frequently collaborates with local chefs and organizations to signal boost various social justice causes.

Guernsey Farms Dairy

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This Metro Detroit classic’s shop in Northville scoops its creamy ice cream into cups, cones, and floats. Expect a wide range of flavors such as black cherry, birthday cake, and specialties like Mackinac Island lilac. Don’t overlook the dairy’s other favorite — chocolate milk.

Treat Dreams Dessert Emporium

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Expect quirkier options from this spot’s whimsical, rotating menu like black tea ice cream with shortbread cookies, Sour Patch Kids (topped with gummy bears), peach thyme, or the electric blue Kooky Monster. There’s a variety of vegan flavors, too. Customers who can’t choose just one flavor or go all out with an ice cream flight. Stop by the Ferndale shop or the outpost on Cass Avenue in Detroit for a cup, cone, a cookie ice cream sandwich, or whole pint.

Doug's Delight

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Super creamy soft-serve is made in-house, alongside chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, and ice cream-filled cream puffs. There’s even an off-menu ice cream with a dog treat available for pups. Doug’s sources hard ice cream from local favorite Guernsey Dairy with special flavors like Grandpa’s Blueberry Way (blueberry ice cream infused with real blueberries and pomegranate seeds, and dark chocolate flakes). To eat, try Matt & Mo’s Italian Beef, made by an Italian from Chicago, situated inside the ice cream shop.

Erma's Original Frozen Custard

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With three locations in metro Detroit, this local favorite has built a small seasonal custard empire. The shops frequently rotate flavors with options like butter pecan, strawberry cheesecake, and coconut cream pie custard as well as Dole soft serve. Customers can customize their cones with a variety of dips and toppings.

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Bob Jo's Frozen Custard

For more than seven decades, summertime standby Bob Jo’s has attracted long lines on hot days for its towering swirls of frozen custard in flavors like blackberry, lemon, and Blue Moon. There’s also homemade raspberry Italian ice for non-dairy fans. Dress up a cone with the stand’s selection of toppings ranging from toasted coconut to rainbow sprinkles.

Behold, a piece of heaven.

A post shared by Jeff Riley Jr (@jeffrileyjr) on

Calder Brothers Dairy

A Downriver classic since ‘46, Calder Brothers Dairy makes ice cream with products from the family farm. Find generous scoops in flavors like horchata, caramel cappuccino, and rich and creamy peanut butter.

The Custard Co.

There’s a long lineup of ice cream treats at this Dearborn shop. Sweet Bun, a hot-pressed ice cream donut sandwich, is this place’s claim to fame, and a machine keeps the donut hot and the ice cream cold. Go for the Superman flavor, or the Ashta, which was added after many requests from customers. Frozen custards can also be served in a pie and flavor include Fruity Pebbles, Oreo, Biscoff, and Cookie Monster. Earlier this year, the Custard Co. popped up for a 30-day residency at Little Caesar’s Arena.

Shatila Bakery & Cafe

Dearborn’s sprawling Middle Eastern confectionery and cafe is the perfect recipe for a sugar coma. The ice cream counter offering flavors like mango, strawberry, and cherry is particularly satisfying. First-timers to this institution would be wise to consider the pistachio ice cream — a favorite and Shatila specialty.

Neveria La Michoacana

This southwest Detroit parlor is exceptionally popular on sunny days as families and kids stop in for scoops of ice cream, mangonadas, fruity or creamy paletas made daily in-house, and other frozen or frozen adjacent treats. Neveria La Michoacana also offers Mexican street food snacks like Dorilocos, elote cups, and refreshing aguas frescas.

Mangonadas Del Barrio

Mangonadas Del Barrio gets its name from a cool, tangy Mexican treat made with frozen mangos and a combination of chili, lime, and tamarind paste. This mini-chain has several locations throughout southwest and the Downriver area, meaning folks are never too far from a massive ice cream sundae of a cup of strawberries and cream.

banana split Brenna Houck

Momento Gelato and Coffee

Momento Gelato, next door to the UFO Factory, is the Italian-style ice cream parlor in Corktown that specializes in using all natural ingredients. The shop is the creation of Tom Isaia, who also founded Coffee Express, a roasting company based in Plymouth. The menu features seasonal flavors, espresso drinks, and a delightful affogato. Flavors change with the seasons, but guests can expect specialties such as mango sorbet, coffee (made with brew from Coffee Express), and pistachio.

A woman wearing rings holding a waffle cone of gelato at Momento Gelato in Corktown.
A cone of gelato from Momento Gelato, an Italian-style ice cream shop and cafe in Corktown.
Gerard + Belevender

Milk & Froth Ice Cream

Milk & Froth, a popular ice cream truck, is now a brick-and-mortar storefront in downtown Detroit. Owners Alexis Matteson and Deion Cao say their vegan and classic ice cream is made from scratch without pre-manufactured mixes, chemical stabilizers, or artificial colors and flavors. Milk & Froth serves more than a dozen rotating ice cream flavors, including honeycomb, butterscotch brownie, matcha pistachio, malt cherry chocolate, orange cream, salted caramel, chocolate hazelnut, and Blue Magic.

A sign reading Milk & Froth hangs on the outside of a brick building. Courtesy photo

Detroit Water Ice Factory

This downtown shop is all about water ice — a frozen dessert popular in Philadelphia and New Jersey. The Motown Twist takes the whole experience up a notch with swirls of soft-serve ice cream combined with water ice. A portion of the proceeds from Detroit Water Ice Factory goes to charity.

Huddle Soft Serve

Huddle’s soft serve window is open just a short skip from Parker Alley downtown for chocolate, vanilla or twists with toppings of sprinkles, sea salt, chocolate chips, and cherry or chocolate dips. Or, in West Village, Huddle is also available at Two Birds bar at 8130 Kercheval, where guests can order from a window for cones, as well as floats made with root beer, Coke, Vernor’s, or Faygo Rock n’ Rye.

-320 at Detroit Shipping Company

Tucked into the second floor of Cass Corridor food hall Detroit Shipping Company, -320 is making some of the creamiest ice cream in town. The secret is the instant freezing of all of the ingredients with liquid nitrogen, which is -320 degrees Fahrenheit. Customers can choose from flavors like fresh mint chocolate chip, hazelnut cocoa crisp, and verde tea. Pour some espresso over the top to make it an affogato.

Tou & Mai

Bubble tea is definitely the headline, but this Asian mini-mart operated by Go! Sy Thai is an all-around good spot for chilled sweets. For an ice cream fix check out the Hello, Hello. The dessert is based on Filipino halo halo and features ube and mango ice cream, flavored jellies, red azuki bean, coconut and condensed milk, and candied coconut. The whole cup is topped with wafer cookies.

Cold Truth

The stand operates with a rotating menu that has featured options like lavender, vegan blueberry, chocolate, and vegan sweet cream soft serve. Order it in a fresh vegan, gluten-free waffle cone, a cup topped with vegan dark chocolate or milk chocolate shell, or in waffle cone taco shell, and then load up on a variety of toppings from local food purveyors’ goods. This window-service spot also frequently collaborates with local chefs and organizations to signal boost various social justice causes.

Guernsey Farms Dairy

This Metro Detroit classic’s shop in Northville scoops its creamy ice cream into cups, cones, and floats. Expect a wide range of flavors such as black cherry, birthday cake, and specialties like Mackinac Island lilac. Don’t overlook the dairy’s other favorite — chocolate milk.

Treat Dreams Dessert Emporium

Expect quirkier options from this spot’s whimsical, rotating menu like black tea ice cream with shortbread cookies, Sour Patch Kids (topped with gummy bears), peach thyme, or the electric blue Kooky Monster. There’s a variety of vegan flavors, too. Customers who can’t choose just one flavor or go all out with an ice cream flight. Stop by the Ferndale shop or the outpost on Cass Avenue in Detroit for a cup, cone, a cookie ice cream sandwich, or whole pint.

Related Maps

Doug's Delight

Super creamy soft-serve is made in-house, alongside chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, and ice cream-filled cream puffs. There’s even an off-menu ice cream with a dog treat available for pups. Doug’s sources hard ice cream from local favorite Guernsey Dairy with special flavors like Grandpa’s Blueberry Way (blueberry ice cream infused with real blueberries and pomegranate seeds, and dark chocolate flakes). To eat, try Matt & Mo’s Italian Beef, made by an Italian from Chicago, situated inside the ice cream shop.

Erma's Original Frozen Custard

With three locations in metro Detroit, this local favorite has built a small seasonal custard empire. The shops frequently rotate flavors with options like butter pecan, strawberry cheesecake, and coconut cream pie custard as well as Dole soft serve. Customers can customize their cones with a variety of dips and toppings.

Related Maps