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Nothing hits quite like an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. Try classic flavors and more unique cones, along with vegan and gluten-free options, at these local ice cream shops.

Guernsey��Farms Dairy

Voted by ������ Detroit readers as the No. 1 Ice Cream Shop in 2023 Best of Detroit, this third-generation family-owned company is a Michigan institution and one of the state’s longest-running family-owned dairy processors. Featuring more than 50 flavors of premium ice cream made in small batches, Guernsey not only satisfies cravings for Midnight Train to Traverse and other creative combos but also for nostalgia with its soda bar. Guernsey Farms Dairy, ; .

Trailside Dairy

This humble shop is known for its delicious custards and outstanding customer service. Walk right up to the window and choose from a variety of custard, ice cream, shakes, floats, malts, slushes, and coolers. Though it’s small, Trailside Dairy has plenty to offer including access to the Macomb Orchard Trail. Order a treat and go for an evening stroll! ; .��

Huddle

Founded in 2019, this walk-up soft serve window in downtown Detroit has a short but sweet menu of chocolate, vanilla, or twist with toppings like sprinkles and chocolate chips as well as floats. Huddle has also done collaborations on special flavors in the past, like ube (purple yam) with pastry chef Jonathan Peregrino, who runs his own bakery called JP Makes and Bakes. You can also get Huddle custard and cocktails at Two Birds in West Village.��Huddle, , and Two Birds Detroit, ;��.

Shatila Bakery

Shatila is beloved for its baklava and other Middle Eastern pastries, but its creamy homemade ice cream is a must, with flavors like pistachio, mocha almond, and kashta. Shatila Bakery, ; .

Bob Jo’s Frozen Custard

This Downriver staple has been a summer tradition for generations of families since 1947. Traditional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, or twist are always safe bets, but make sure to get the house specialty toasted coconut if it’s on the menu. Bob Jo’s Frozen Custard, ; .

Ray’s Ice Cream

Transport yourself to a simpler time at Ray’s Ice Cream, a��retro ice cream parlor and soda fountain. Ray’s has been a local mainstay since 1958��and was voted the No. 1 local ice cream shop by ������ Detroit readers in our 2022 Best of Detroit feature. The family-owned and -operated shop offers more than 40 flavors of hard-scoop ice cream and sorbet made on-site with premium ingredients. Ray’s Ice Cream, ; .

Treat Dreams

This ice cream business, with locations in Ferndale and Midtown Detroit, has featured more over 1,500 handcrafted ice creams over the years, but it built up its ice cream cred with staples like Kooky Monster (vanilla ice cream dyed blue with Oreos and chocolate chip cookie dough) as well as more adventurous flavors like Snozzberry (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry ice cream with cinnamon and berry swirl). It also offers two dairy-free and gluten-free options, and was a finalist in ������ Detroit’s 2023 Best of Detroit feature. Treat Dreams, ; ; ; ; .

The Custard Co.

The Dearborn-based Custard Co. is a newer player on the ice cream scene that has quickly built a following for its specialty treats like The Sweet Bun stuffed with ice cream and adorned with sprinkles and The Wowffle, ice cream sandwiches made with waffles. Flavors range from classic Middle Eastern combinations like Ashta (clotted cream) Pistachio to Creamsicle. The Custard Co., ; ; ; and ; .

Cold Truth

Cold Truth is a vegan and gluten free ice cream shop that was named a finalist for Best Ice Cream Shop in the 2023 Best of Detroit. With fresh flavors and toppings in hand-made and gluten-free waffle cones, this shop often rotates specials and experiment with new flavors. Aside from soft serve, Cold Truth also sells “the thickets shakes in metro Detroit” in any flavor of their ice cream. Cold Truth, ; .��

Momento Gelato and Coffee

Founded by Tom Isaia, who opened Ann Arbor live music venue The Blind Pig in the 1970s and honed his gelato game in Italy, Momento Gelato and Coffee offers a wide variety of flavors from seasonally driven treats like Rum Raisin and Pumpkin Spice to year-round favorites like pistachio and dark chocolate. Lemon, raspberry, strawberry, mango and seasonal sorbets, too. Momento Gelato and Coffee, ; .

��������’s

This fast-casual chain specializes in Indian street food like vegetable pakoda, pani puri, samosas, and more, but don’t skip the creamy homemade ice cream. With flavors like Kesar Pista (pistachio and saffron) and Anjeer (cream and dry fig), you’ll find unique treats you won’t find at most ice cream shops. ��������’s; and ; .

Erma’s Original Frozen Custard

Beginning as a roadside stand in 1942, Erma’s Original Frozen Custard was the first business in Shelby Township to receive historical landmark status (in 2010) as the township’s oldest operating business. Featured custard flavors change weekly and include cotton candy, watermelon, pina colada, peach lemonade, and many others. Erma’s Original Frozen Custard, ; and ; .

Milk and Froth

Launched in 2018, Milk and Froth offers classic and modern ice cream flavors like Honeycomb (raw-honey infused custard with chunks of homemade honeycomb brittle) and Matcha Pistachio, all made from scratch using all-natural ingredients. There are also non-dairy/vegan options. Milk and Froth, ; and ; .

Clark’s Ice Cream

Serving Michigan-made Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, which has been around since 1984, this nostalgia-filled ice cream shop serves creative flavors like Blueberry Burst with mascarpone cheese-based ice cream with a blueberry topping swirl as well as bestsellers like the Chocolate PB Cup with peanut butter ripple and chocolate peanut butter cups throughout. Clark’s Ice Cream was also a finalist in ������ Detroit’s 2023 Best of Detroit. Clark’s Ice Cream, ;.

Browndog Barlor

Three rescued Boston Terriers are the inspiration for this “Barlor,.” i.e., an artisan ice cream parlor that aims to serve humans and their furry friends. All of the ice creams are handmade in small batches of 6 gallons or less at a time using local dairy with scratch-made mix-ins. Taste sea salt caramel with pecans in the Salted Maple Butter Pecan or brownies with chocolate fudge in its Faygo Rock & Rye. The bar also offers Michigan spirits and fun twists on bar food favorites. Browndog Barlor, ; and (for pint purchases only); .

Calder

Using milk from Holstein, Brown Swiss, and Jersey cows at its farm in Carleton, Calder creates small batches of ice cream in 30-plus flavors from classics like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry to seasonal specials like candy cane, eggnog, and pumpkin. You can even visit the dairy farm, open seven days a week. Calder, ; and ; .

Doug’s Delight

Located in Doug’s Delight, Matt & Mo’s specializes in Chicago-style Italian Beef sandwiches, but the owners inherited the ice cream business after signing the lease on this Hazel Park institution in May 2020. Check out the shop’s Instagram for weekly soft serve flavor specials, like housemade peanut butter, jelly, or peanut butter jelly twist. A Doug’s Delight specialty is the Dougie, soft-serve ice cream with your choice of mix-ins like Oreos, Butterfinger, cheesecake pieces, and other sweet treats. Doug’s Delight, ; .��

This post has been updated for 2024.