There is no season for ice cream—for those who truly love it, ice cream is a year-round treat. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau, the average American eats approximately 20 pounds of ice cream each year. However, there’s no arguing that ice cream consumption increases during the summer—doubles, dare we say? And, thanks to the boom in plant-based options, there’s always a vegan scoop around the corner.
Most ice cream is made with cow’s milk, but when it comes to making a delicious, indulgent frozen treat, animal products aren’t essential. More than ever, brands, ice cream shops, and restaurants are choosing to make ice cream with vegan milk options instead.
Cashews, coconuts, and oats are all delicious and popular bases for vegan ice cream flavors. If you want to have a go at making your own vegan ice cream, we have plenty of recipes to try (like this one for chocolate chip oat milk ice cream for example, or this one for four-ingredient vanilla).
But let’s be honest, whipping up your own ice cream requires time and energy, and sometimes, it’s easier to grab it on the go. So with that in mind, here are some of the best places to get your scoop of vegan ice cream this summer.
All-vegan ice cream shops
Head to these vegan ice cream shops the next time your sweet tooth comes calling.
Frankie & Jo’s
1 Frankie & Jo’s
Seattle, WA, and Larkspur, CA
With a commitment to sustainability and flavor innovation, this Seattle-based chain crafts heavenly scoops that redefine the boundaries of vegan frozen treats. From Salty Caramel Ash to Chocolate Tahini, every lick is a delightful journey through imaginative flavors, all made with the finest organic ingredients. There are four brick-and-mortar locations (three in Seattle and one in Larkspur) to get your ice cream fix, but if you don’t live locally, you can also order the brand’s scoops on Goldbelly.
Vaca’s Creamery
2 Vaca’s Creamery
Chicago, IL
Both locations of this charming ice cream parlour are a must for ice cream enthusiasts. Vaca’s Creamery uses locally sourced ingredients to craft its small-batch flavors, so every scoop feels like a true taste of Chicago. From classics like chocolate soft-serve to fun sundaes such as Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, the menu is packed with seriously tempting options.
Urban Dessert Lab
3Urban Dessert Lab
West Hollywood, CA
Experience dessert innovation like never before at Urban Dessert Lab, a culinary playground in West Hollywood, CA. This cutting-edge dessert destination is redefining the boundaries of sweet indulgence with its imaginative creations and avant-garde flavors. Choose between a trio of signature oat ice crème flavors, a selection of mouthwatering dessert sauces, and crumb coatings.
Koko’s Ice Cream
4 Koko’s Ice Cream
Nashville, TN
Step inside this vegan haven and immerse yourself in a world of delectable treats that will ignite your taste buds. From creamy classics like Belgian Chocolate to unique creations like She’s A Peach, Koko’s Ice Cream—which has two locations in Nashville—offers a diverse menu that caters to every palate. Locally sourced ingredients and careful craftsmanship ensure that each scoop is a true delight.
Yoga-Urt
5 Yoga-Urt
Multiple locations, CA
Founded by Melissa Schulman in 2015, Yoga-urt offers a variety of organic, nut-based soft serve made fresh daily from the shop’s own housemade almond milk. Free of gluten and soy, rotating flavors include Vanilla Harmony, Lavender Blossom, Salted Caramel Zen, Coffee Karma, and Maple Banana Pancake. Now with four locations, in Glendale, Santa Monica, Echo Park, and Granada Hills, the business continues to expand its vegan frozen yogurt empire.
Niu Soft Serve
6 Niu Soft Serve
Honolulu, HI
With the warm ocean breeze and breathtaking scenery as your backdrop, Hawaii-based Niu Soft Serve invites you to indulge in a frozen delight like no other. Their signature soft serve creations, made from locally sourced coconuts, offer a taste of pure Hawaiian bliss. From the fruity mixed berry to the delightful ube, each spoonful is a tropical escape for your taste buds.
@its.jasminrose/Instagram
7 Like No Udder
Providence, RI
Like No Udder’s creative menu spans everything from classic flavors like Cookies and Cream and Mint Chip to more inventive picks such as Almond Joyful and Thai Tea. There’s hard ice cream and soft serve, too, so there’s something for everyone. Visit this beloved Providence spot for a dairy-free treat that might just leave you wondering who needs udders anyway.
@budsslc/Instagram
8 Monkeywrench
Salt Lake City, UT
This all-vegan dessert destination is a funky, vibrant, and delightful haven for those seeking unique and adventurous flavors. Monkeywrench prides itself on pushing the boundaries of taste, offering an ever-changing menu that showcases its creativity and passion. From its floral Lavender Blueberry Honeycomb to its indulgent Mocha Mud Pie, each scoop is a delightful surprise that will tantalize your taste buds.
Awan
9 Awan
Multiple locations
This Indonesian ice cream shop makes deliciously indulgent, flavor-packed ice cream from simple ingredients like coconut cream, coconut water, and organic cane sugar. Its unique, must-try options include Balinese Vanilla and Dayglow Coffee. The popular chain has three locations in California: West Hollywood, Venice, and Los Angeles.
Babes Ice Cream & Donut
10 Babes Ice Cream & Donuts
Sacramento, CA
Donuts and ice cream are a match made in heaven. For a delicious bite of both, head to Babes Ice Cream & Donuts. The flavors change on a month-to-month basis, but you can expect to indulge in flavors like Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake, Birthday Cake, Apple Chai, and classic Vanilla Bean and Mint Chip.
Donut Friend
11 Donut Friend
Los Angeles, CA
Despite the name, Donut Friend, which has two Los Angeles locations in Highland Park and Downtown, isn’t just about tasty doughnuts (although it certainly has those in spades). There, you can also find deliciously indulgent vegan ice cream scoops, like Butter Pecan and Pistachio.
FoMu
12 FoMu
Boston, MA
FoMu has been servicing Boston with tasty, coconut milk ice cream since 2011. Check out flavors like Grasshopper Pie, with minty green ice cream and chocolate sandwich cookies, or Black Raspberry Chunk, which features pieces of dark chocolate. And for more indulgent creamy goodness, keep an eye out for its farmers’ market pop-ups, too.
Crème de la Crop
13 Crème de la Crop
Herndon, VA
At Crème de la Crop, vegan ice cream is crafted by Michelin-starred pastry chef Olivia Green, so of course, you can expect nothing less than pure perfection. We’re big fans of the ice cream cake jars, in particular, which come in flavors like Banana Split and Brownie Batter.
Ice Queen
14 Ice Queen
Portland, OR
Expect to find chocolate-dipped frozen bananas and Oatly soft serve “Thiccflurries” at this Chicana-owned ice cream shop (which was previously voted Best Vegan Ice Cream Shop by VegNews readers!). But for a taste of Ice Queen’s specialty, opt for the paletas, handcrafted Mexican-style popsicles. Choose between flavors such as Jamaica Mango, Mangonada, and Oatchata.
Happy Ice
15Happy Ice
Los Angeles, CA, and Northridge, CA
For a taste of classic Philadelphia-style water ice on the West Coast, head to Happy Ice in Los Angeles or Northridge. Or find the truck roaming the streets! Who doesn’t love an ice cream truck, after all? Enjoy the nostalgia of queuing up at the Happy Ice truck, before licking happily on one of the brand’s delicious water ice flavors like Strawberry Lemonade, Sour Apple Crush, and Pineapple Potion. Plus, as an added bonus, you can choose to top your water ice with a swirl of dairy-free soft serve. Prefer just ice cream? You can also order its signature Sweet Cream, made with oatmilk.
Vegan Scoops
16Vegan Scoops
Orlando, FL
This vegan ice cream truck in Orlando is the place to go for the ultimate coffee-flavored Cuban Cafecito scoops. The piña colada ice cream sundae is another must-try. In fact, we say just keep going back until you’ve tried everything on the menu.
Besties Vegan Paradise
17Besties Vegan Paradise
Los Angeles, CA
This vegan grocery store stocks all of your favorite ice cream brands. But while you’re shopping for your next pint, you can also enjoy Besties’ very own plant-based soft serve. Flavors rotate, but you can expect options such as chocolate, vanilla, cookie butter, and Better Than Dole Whip. Don’t miss Besties’ topping choices, either (magic chocolate shell, anyone?).
Runaway Cow
18Runaway Cow
Chicago, IL
Vegan ice cream fans are spoiled for choice at this popular Chicago spot. Opt for a classic banana split sundae, creamy soft-serve, a candy-topped Snowstorm, or maybe an ultra-indulgent shake. Want to go for a combination of everything? We’re not judging.
Kate’s
19Kate’s
Portland and Beaverton, OR
Kate’s is a VegNews multi-award winner, and once you’ve sampled its seriously decadent plant-based, gluten-free ice cream, it’s easy to see why. If you make it to one of the chain’s Portland or Beaverton locations, prepare for a tough decision: the menu is packed with tempting options, from Rose Water Cardamom Almond and Pistachio to Cookie Monster and plenty of seasonal specials.
Cajou Creamery
20Cajou Creamery
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore’s Cajou Creamery uses a cashew milk base for its vegan ice cream, giving each scoop a rich, creamy texture that comes remarkably close to the real thing. Flavors range from indulgent picks like Baklava and Blueberry Cheesecake to Mexican Chocolate.
Logan Vegan
21 Logan Vegan
Chicago, IL
Another Chicago spot worth seeking out is Logan Vegan on Kedzie Boulevard. Start with something savory—perhaps one of its pesto grilled cheese sandwiches or a veggie panini—before moving on to the main event: the seriously indulgent ice cream. Everything is made fresh in-house, in small batches, using organic ingredients.
Plant Love Ice Cream
22Plant Love Ice Cream
St. Petersburg, FL
Make sure you factor in plenty of decision time before heading to Plant Love in St. Petersburg. This popular vegan ice cream spot has more than 50 flavors in rotation, with options ranging from Cookie Butter and Golden Milk to Banana Cream Pie and Matcha.
Cold Truth
23 Cold Truth
Detroit, MI
The cold, hard truth? Ice cream doesn’t need dairy to be delicious. For proof, head to Cold Truth in Detroit, of course. The flavors are always changing, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the shop’s Instagram for the latest menu, but one thing’s guaranteed: indulgent dairy-free soft serve piled high with toppings like Oreo, crushed Biscoff, Fruity Pebbles, and more.
Swirled Peace
24 Swirled Peace
Dallas, TX
At Dallas’ Swirled Peace, you’ll find plenty of tasty gluten-free, vegan options, including tempting flavors like Cosmic Cotton Candy, Frozen Hot Chocolate, and Mexican Vanilla Vacation. If you need something savory to go with your sweet treat, it also offers made-to-order deli sandwiches and pizza, too.
Origamy
25 Origamy
Sunrise, FL
If you find yourself in Sunrise, this artisanal organic vegan ice cream and pastry shop is well worth a visit. Start with a croissant and an ice-cold frappuccino before moving on to the main event: velvety gelato in flavors like caramel, red mango, lemon basil, and dark chocolate.
Nami
26Nami
Phoenix, AZ
Nami’s signature ice cream creation is the Tsoynami. Think of it as a seriously loaded sundae, complete with creamy soft-serve, a swirl of your choice, and plenty of toppings. Picking a favorite is no easy task, but the Chai Tiramisu, made with housemade chai, whip, and animal cookies, caught our eye straight away.
Big Love
27Big Love
Santa Monica, CA
Formerly known as Frozen Fruit Co., Santa Monica’s Big Love is a firm favorite with locals. Each scoop is made with a coconut cream base and sweetened with date, agave, or maple syrup. Flavors like Mint Choc Chip, Strawberry, and Pink Vanilla are always tempting, but it’s the daily specials that really steal the show.
Coconut Glen’s
28 Coconut Glen’s
Hana, HI, and Folly Beach, SC
The name gives it away, but this popular stationary vegan ice cream truck in Hana serves scoops made entirely with a coconut cream base. Grab a cone, settle under the surrounding trees, and soak up the sounds of the local wildlife while digging into flavors like Coffee Toffee, Ginger Lemongrass, and Pineapple Banana. If you can’t make it to Maui, the chain also has another outpost in Folly Beach, South Carolina, plus three international locations in Japan.
Sweet Izzy
29Sweet Izzy
Harwich Port, MA, and Denver, CO
Sweet Izzy has two locations—one in Cape Cod and one in Denver—and both serve up plenty of tempting ice cream options. If hard serve is your thing, you can choose from flavors like Mint Chip, Coffee Oreo, Cookie Dough, Coffee, and Strawberry. There’s soft-serve in vanilla and chocolate, too, along with a wide range of toppings to finish things off.
Fragaria
30Fragaria
Maitland, FL
Maitland’s Fragaria stands out from many of the spots on this list for its New Zealand-style ice cream — a real-fruit dessert made by blending fruit into a creamy base. It’s well worth the trip for a taste of something a little different. We’re especially drawn to the Signature Swirls, which come in flavors like Berry Pistachio Crunch, Cherry Midnight Sun, and Triple Choco Banana.
Ice cream shops with vegan options
These national chains offer dairy-free options suitable for vegans.
Salt & Straw
31
Salt & Straw
Multiple locations
Long lines amplify the pleasure of the experience, and that is certainly the case for Salt & Straw. The innovative ice creamery always has a queue wrapped around the block. The chain typically carries at least two vegan flavors that vary depending on location—the company makes an effort to incorporate local food purveyors into their recipes wherever they set up shop. You can find Salt & Straw in a number of locations, including California, Washington, New York, and Florida.
Dairy Queen
32
Dairy Queen
Multiple locations
We’re still waiting on a vegan cookie dough Blizzard, but vegans can satisfy their sweet tooth with the Non-Dairy Dilly Bar. The nostalgic treat is made with coconut-based vanilla ice cream and a dairy-free chocolate coating. We appreciate the effort, but we still want that Blizzard.
Baskin-Robbins
33 Baskin-Robbins
Multiple locations
Vegans rushed to their nearest Baskin-Robbins when the company released its first vegan flavor in 2019. The 2,500-plus location chain has a few non-dairy options, including Cookies ‘n Crème and Lemon Sorbet.
Ghirardelli
34
Ghirardelli
Multiple locations
Not just a chocolate shop, Ghirardelli offers an old-timey parlor experience with classic scoops and sundaes. Check out the chain’s vegan Hot Fudge Sundae, which comes with vanilla coconut ice cream, dark chocolate, almonds, cherries, and almond whipped cream.
Ben & Jerry’s
35
Ben & Jerry’s
Multiple locations
Due to limited space, you won’t find all of Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy flavors at scoop shops, but you can rely on at least two. Typically, the shops are stocked with best-sellers, so you know you’ll get something good. Note: always ask for the ingredient list if one of the sorbets catches your eye—many contain honey or other animal ingredients.
Van Leeuwen
36Van Leeuwen
Multiple locations
Both an ice cream shop and pint manufacturer, Van Leeuwen has multiple locations across the US, including in New York, California, New Jersey, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The vegan options vary by season and location, but you can always find over-the-top plant-based flavors in rotation.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
37Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Multiple locations
The once buzzed-about Everything Bagel flavor isn’t vegan, but Jeni’s offers several that are. Options range depending on location, but just a few include Dark Chocolate Truffle, Texas Sheet Cake, and Cold Brew With Coconut Cream. Jeni’s can be found in 12 states across the US.
Perry’s Ice Cream
38Perry’s Ice Cream
Multiple locations
This East Coast scoop shop and distributor has a few vegan options depending on the location. With approximately 1,000 franchises, you’re bound to find one near you if you live in New York, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. Flavors rotate, and more non-dairy options are available in pints.
16 Handles
3916 Handles
Multiple locations
This top-your-own soft-serve shop offers an increasing variety of vegan ice cream flavors. From indulgent options such as Oat Milk Iced Latte and Oat Milk Mocha to lighter, fruity flavors like Green Apple Sorbet and Coconut Water Sorbet, there is plenty to choose from. Enjoy as-is or top with dairy-free chocolate chips, fruit, or crushed Oreos.
Amy’s Ice Creams
40Amy’s Ice Creams
Multiple locations
Texans beat the heat with this multi-city ice cream shop. The chain carries a multitude of clearly marked vegan flavors with pea protein, oat, and coconut bases. Dive into a scoop of Mexican Vanilla or Pina Colada.
Cream
41Cream
Multiple locations
Don’t bother with a cup at this chain—this place specializes in ice cream cookie sandwiches. Choose a soy-based ice cream flavor between two gigantic, warm vegan cookies. Napkins are a must.
Bruster’s
42Bruster’s
Multiple locations
This bi-coastal creamery boasts multiple oat milk-based vegan flavors. It’s hard to choose between options like Peanut Butter and Oreo and White Raspberry, so we suggest you order multiple scoops.
Cold Stone
43Cold Stone
Multiple locations
Cold Stone’s vegan flavor was a long time coming, but it finally landed in stores in 2022. The Chocolate Almondmilk Frozen Dessert came by way of a collaboration with Silk, the behemoth of all things non-dairy. Anyone familiar with this chain knows that the ice cream is only half of the appeal—what makes Cold Stone unique and craveable is the medley of mix-ins. Vegan mix-in options include Oreos (both traditional and Golden varieties), peanut butter, nuts, rainbow sprinkles, and a handful of fresh fruit options.
JP Licks
44JP Licks
Multiple locations
Bostonians flock to this local favorite even in the midst of below-freezing temperatures. The upside: your double scoop lasts a lot longer in that kind of weather. Enjoy in a cup, as an afagoto, or a frappe.
Afters
45Afters Ice Cream
Multiple locations
This vegan-friendly chain developed a cult following for its milky bun, a cross between a glazed doughnut and a bao bun. Afters would go on to debut a vegan milky bun at Coachella in 2018, but today, plant-based customers can treat themselves to a vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie or Mango Sorbet.
Wing Ice Cream
46Wing Ice Cream
Honolulu, HI
Head to Honolulu’s Chinatown to try delicious Asian ice cream flavors like Tom Kha, Pineapple Thai Basil, and Mayan Xocolātl at Wing Ice Cream—all of which are vegan-friendly and mouthwateringly good.
Erewhon
47 Erewhon
Multiple locations
Erewhon is packed with colorful smoothies, snacks, and plenty of fresh produce, but the store’s vegan ice cream is well worth a try, too. After you’ve stocked up on groceries, treat yourself to a well-earned creamy, dairy-free Cosmic Bliss soft serve, which is made with coconut milk.
Scoop Deville
48Scoop Deville
Philadelphia, PA
Scoop Deville’s famously delicious soft-serve is not just for those who eat dairy. Its tasty vegan options include flavors like Philly Samoa Lovin’ (which comes complete with salted caramel ice cream, chocolate chips, and toasted coconut), PB Crunch Time, and Cookie Crumble.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahmclaughlin) is the New Products Editor at VegNews and is always on the search for the newest innovations in plant-based food.
Tanya Flink is a VegNews writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
