From inventive flavors to vegan soft serve, Los Angeles ice cream shops have it all. Here are some of the best ice cream shops in town.
1. Gelateria Uli
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Gelateria Uli puts a twist on an Italian classic. With the intention of creating flavors that everyone can enjoy, Gelateria Uli offers flavors like stracciatella (chocolate chip) as well as more quirky flavors like banana white chocolate chip or black sesame. Portions are on the smaller side for a reason: The gelato’s dense and creamy texture means you don’t need as much. Plus, it’s encouraged to pair flavors like the Jamaica agua fresca mint sorbet with the chocolate sorbet for a refreshing and super-tasty bite. ulisgelato.com
2. Ginger’s Divine Ice Cream
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Get yourself over to this L.A. gem that serves some of the best handcrafted, artisan ice cream in town. The Culver City flagship and soon-to-open spot on West 3rd Street are home to a variety of ice cream flavors like campfire marshmallow, key lime pie, and fresh mint chip—all made on the premises with the freshest ingredients hand-selected by the owner, Margaret Schniderman. Also on offer are plenty of vegan options, along with Divine Pops in flavors like mocha and passion fruit. gingersicecreams.com
3. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
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With various locations around L.A., Jeni’s is the perfect place to grab a quick scoop packed with flavor. Choose between options such as blackout chocolate cake or roasted peanut butter and strawberry jam to satisfy that sweet tooth. Stock up at the scoop shop or at the grocery store, where pints are now available. jenis.com/la
4. Magpies Soft Serve
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If a dairy-free sweet treat is what you’re after, stop by Magpies Soft Serve and discover a wide variety of vegan and dairy soft serve options. Owners Rose and Warren Schwartz tapped into their own backgrounds to come up with the menu, which includes flavors such as horchata and cortadito. For special occasions spring for the incredible pies, made with mouth-watering flavors and various toppings that elevate the standard ice cream cake from basic to bombastic. magpiessoftserve.com
5. Mashti Malone’s
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For more than 40 years, Mashti Malone’s has been one of Los Angeles’s most loved and highly talked about ice cream shops. Home to exotic flavors, like saffron rosewater, Persian cucumber, and rosewater sorbet, Mashti Malone’s promises nothing but the best quality ice cream without artificial flavoring or food dyes. This extraordinary spot also offers more conventional flavors including butter pecan, cookies and cream, and rocky road. mashtimalones.com
6. Salt & Straw
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Known for mouthwatering unique scoops, Salt & Straw is a must-visit for locals and visitors alike. Out-of-the-box flavors like honey lavender, pear and blue cheese, and bourbon and caramelized honeycomb have curious customers waiting in lines wrapped around the store. For those will a less daring palate, Salt & Straw also offers more traditional flavors like double fold vanilla and sea salt with caramel ribbons. saltandstraw.com
7. Wanderlust Creamery
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Inspired by the flavors of places they have visited or want to visit, Adrienne Borlongan and Jon-Patrick Lopez created Wanderlust Creamery to extend that sensory experience to their customers. The sticky rice and mango ice cream brings the tastes of Thailand to life, while the earl grey transports customers to England, no passport is required. wanderlustcreamery.com
8. Go Greek
A true ode to authentic Greek cuisine, this yogurt bar and café is an iconic spot for locals and tourists alike to indulge in a fresh frozen yogurt. This original creation is a special spin off of authentic Greek yogurt and offers visitors a delicious, sweet treat while still maintaining a classic savory tart – making this the perfect delight for any mood! Originally founded in 2012 by three people of Greek descent, the shop is decorated with traditional Mediterranean blue tiles, self-serve yogurt machines with additional seasonal flavors and a toppings bar that includes options for many dietary restrictions. gogreekyogurt.com
9. The Bigg Chill
The Bigg Chill has served as a staple destination for the classic frozen yogurt lovers since their opening twenty years ago. Located in a nondescript strip mall off Olympic, the consistent line out the door exemplifies the love and devotion that loyal customers and foodies feel towards this stop. The recipes are made of all natural ingredients and, though there are nightly flavor rotations, there is always an option that includes no-sugar-added Carbolite, fat free and dairy free varieties and low-fat baked goodies. The topping bar includes a range of candies and sweets but specifically specializes in their vegan cookie dough which comes in all sorts of flavors such as chocolate chip, birthday cake, peanut butter, Oreo, sugar cookie and s’mores! thebiggchill.com
10. Saffron & Rose
This is the place where aesthetic and appetite go hand in hand. Saffron & Rose is a family-owned and operated ice cream shop with unique Persian ice creams that are made in a range of aromatic flavors such as Orange Blossom, White Rose, Pink Rose, Lavender, Cucumber, Passionfruit, Date and more. Located in Irvine and Westwood, this is a destination for ice-cream connoisseurs to discover quality and creativity unlike any other ice cream in Los Angeles. saffronrosepersianicecream.com
11. Awan
If you’re craving an indulgent vegan and gluten free treat, look no further than Awan, the innovative Indonesian ice cream brand. With eccentric flavors like Saffron Pistachio Medjool Date and Blood Orange, chef Zen Ong is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and change the idea of ice cream as we know it. enjoyawan.com
12. Hokey Pokey
As the unofficial ice cream flavor of New Zealand, Hokey Pokey ice cream is highly coveted outside of the land down under. New to Los Angeles, three brothers have created the brand based off of the unique New Zealand style of soft serve. With each flavor made freshly in store, be sure to stop by the Westfield Century City Mall for a rich and creamy treat. hokeypokeyla.com
Photography by: Nas Mato/Unsplash
