Here’s the Scoop: Ice Cream Parlors that Serve Dairy-Free and Vegan Frozen Desserts

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:

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

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

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

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. But note that some of the other “Scoops” L.A. locations now have soy ice cream, like the one at 3400 Overland Avenue.
Location: 712 N Heliotrope Dr, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (323) 906-2649
Website: none

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.scoopskenosha.com

Scoops & Plates Eatery (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

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

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.