There are very few things I miss by being dairy-free … so few in fact that I can easily count them on one hand. But at the top of that list is going out for an ice cream cone. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond satisfied with homemade dairy-free ice cream and absolutely love sampling the ever-growing selection of vegan ice cream’s on the market , but there is something special and quite nostalgic about enjoying an ice cream cone on a hot summer day or while wandering around a new town on vacation. Yes, I can here you, “There’s always sorbet.” Seriously people, sorbet just doesn’t cut it.

So while I’m drafting a petition demanding (okay, requesting) dairy-free selections to blast to ice cream parlors across the country, let’s celebrate those shops that are already going above and beyond with cool and creamy vegan frozen desserts:

Atomic #7
Why They’re Awesome: Another custom ice cream shop, but this one allows you to choose from soymilk, almond milk, rice milk, and coconut milk bases
Location: 605 Mall Ring Circle #110 Henderson, NV (next to Galleria Mall)
Phone: (702) 458-4777
Website: www.atomicnumber7.com

Blossoming Lotus
Why They’re Awesome: Vegan soft serve and milkshakes to go
Location: 1713 NE 15th Ave, Portland, OR
Phone: (503) 228-0048
Website: www.blpdx.com

Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor
Why They’re Awesome: Nut free, dairy free (vegan, soy-based scoops), fat free, sugar free and gluten free options
Location: 7347 Madison St, Forest Park, IL
Phone: (708) 366-7970
Website: www.browncowicecream.com

Carvel 90210
Why They’re Awesome: Iconic ice creamery that shares the love with vegan soft serve (Temptation) and ice cream cakes
Location: 421 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: (310) 278-5411
Website: www.carvel90210.com

Cool Scoops
Why They're Awesome: 50's style diner that offers both water ice and a dairy-free ice cream option
Location: 1111 New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ
Phone: (609) 729-2665
Website: www.coolscoops.com

Johnny's Gourmet Italian Ices
Why They’re Awesome: They go out of their way to offer soy- and coconut-based vegan ice cream flavors
Location: 382 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
Phone: (518) 587-2181
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Saratoga-Springs-NY/Johnnys-Gourmet-Italian-Ices/115181531826172

Karma Cream
Why They’re Awesome: Vegan ice cream AND cupcakes
Location: 1025 West University Avenue, Gainesville, FL
Phone: (352) 505-6566
Website: www.karmacream.com

KindKreme
Why They’re Awesome: This ice cream shop is completely gourmet, raw, vegan, organic; this means gluten-free and soy-free too
Location: 3701 Cahuenga Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: (818) 308-6758
Website: www.kindkreme.com

Lula's Sweet Apothecary
Why They’re Awesome: Completely dairy-free and vegan, well-loved cashew-based ice creams with gluten-free ice cream “accessories” available too (as in cones, brownies, etc.)
Location: 516 E 6th St (between Avenue A & Avenue B), New York, NY
Phone: (646) 912-4549
Website: www.lulassweetapothecary.com

MaggieMudd
Why They’re Awesome: Dozens of dairy-free ice cream flavors and ice cream cakes; options include soy-based, nut-based, and coconut-based
Location: 903 Cortland Ave., San Francisco, CA
Phone: (415) 641-5291
Website: www.maggiemudd.com

Mooi
Why They’re Awesome: This is more of a sit-down vegan / raw restaurant, but since they have roughly 2 dozen ice cream flavors to choose from, they seemed worth including
Location: 1700 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (213) 413-1100
Website: www.mooifood.com

One Lucky Duck (also served at their restaurant, Pure Food & Wine)
Why They’re Awesome: Raw handmade vegan ice cream
Location: 125 1/2 East 17th Street, New York, NY
Phone: (212) 477-7151
Website: www.oneluckyduck.com

Over The Rainbow
Why They’re Awesome: An old-fashion ice cream parlor that serves dairy-free soy-based flavors from Temptation
Location: 6836 Windsor Ave  Berwyn, IL 
Phone: (708) 795-6836
Website: http://overtherainbow.sitesvp.com

Paciugo
Why They’re Awesome: Beyond sorbetto, they offer numerous creamy soy gelatos
Location: Several, it is a chain, see the website
Website: www.paciugo.com

Scoops (L.A.)
Why They’re Awesome: Completely unrelated to the other “Scoops” parlors, this is a traditional ice cream shop with several vegan gelato and ice cream flavors
Location: 712 N Heliotrope Dr, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (323) 906-2649
Website: www.scoopsart.blogspot.com

Scoops Ice Cream / Downtown Toy Store
Why They’re Awesome: Several vegan / dairy-free ice cream flavors to choose from (soy-based), including butter pecan and mint chocolate chunk
Location: 5819 Sixth Ave, Kenosha, WI (Inside the Downtown Toy Store)
Phone: (262) 652-8697
Website: www.downtowntoystore.com

Scoops Ice Cream Parlour (NY)
Why They’re Awesome: Another all-vegan gem
Location:  624 Flatbush Ave (between Chester Ct & Fenimore St), Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 282-5904
Website: none that we could find

Stōgo Gourmet Ice Cream (vegan ice cream pictured below)
Why They’re Awesome: All flavors are dairy-free, organic, and contain no refined sugars; choose from soy-based, coconut-based, hemp-based, and sorbet options
Location: 159 2nd Avenue (Entrance on E10th St btw 2nd and 3rd Aves), New York, NY
Phone: (212) 677-2301
Website: www.stogonyc.com

Sub Zero Ice Cream
Why They’re Awesome: A true “make your own” ice cream shop with soy and rice milk bases available.
Location: Several, it is a chain, see the website
Website: www.subzeroicecream.com

The Chocolate Shoppe
Why They're Awesome: They serve up soy-based dairy-free ice cream too
Location: Multiple, with base in Madison, WI. See website for locations
Website: www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com

Three Twins Organic Ice Cream
Why They’re Awesome: They usually offer at least one, creamy dairy-free option
Locations: San Rafael, Napa, and San Francisco, CA – see website for addresses and phone numbers
Website: www.threetwinsicecream.com

Toy Joy
Why They’re Awesome: Vegan soft serve and bubble teas made with soymilk, almond milk, or rice milk
Location: 2900 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX
Phone: (512) 320-0090
Website: www.toyjoy.com

Vegan Treats Bakery       
Why They’re Awesome: Though it isn't an ice cream parlor, they offer soft serve dairy-free ice cream to go with their baked goodies
Location: 1444 Linden Street, Bethlehem, PA
Phone: 610-861-7660 Phone: 610-861-7660
Website: www.vegantreats.com

Willy Street Co-op
Why They're Awesome: They serve coconut milk-based ice cream in their juice bar
Location: 1221 Williamson St, Madison, WI
Phone: 608-251-6776
Website: www.willystreet.coop

For more restaurants, bakeries, and ice cream shops where you can find dairy-free foods, see the Suggested Dining Section on Go Dairy Free. To recommend another ice cream parlor or a favorite dairy-free dining spot, contact us.

Article by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living.