Our Guide to the Best Ice Cream Spots in Nashville

Jeffrey Bak grew up outside Cincinnati, which is known for a number of gastronomic delights — including Cincinnati chili, goetta and Smurf ice cream. (The latter is a blue soft-serve cone that may have originated at Kings Island amusement park and is now part of the city’s culinary fabric.)

“It’s basically in every little soft-serve shop in Southwest Ohio, but you can’t get it anywhere else,” Bak says. 

So earlier this year, Bak and his three partners (“architects/designers by day and soft-serve connoisseurs by night”) opened Cone-cept, a spot in East Nashville’s Eastwood Village that has blueberry (and blueberry-vanilla swirl) soft serve on the menu, plus other rotating varieties. They originally thought they’d be open Memorial Day through Labor Day, but Cone-cept has been so popular that the dessert destination will be open for ice cream year-round. And while it is possible to indulge with toppings and multiple flavors in a waffle cone, it’s also possible to order a “petite” cone or cup for just $2 (plus tip and tax), a reasonable price for a nice little treat.

Here’s the scoop: New ice cream places are popping up all over Nashville. Several are churning at Citizen Kitchens, making ice cream at the food business incubator (using equipment left by the late, great Pied Piper Creamery). There’s froyo, gelato, ice cream sandwiches, sundaes and even some vegan options.

Like Bak, I believe that all weather is ice cream weather. But I concede that not everyone does. By my estimation, based on annual weather patterns, we have about 44 days until temperatures dip below commonly accepted ice cream levels. So what’s a reporter with limited summer and a sweet tooth to do? Here’s my list of local options — with about one treat to eat every day until the weather changes.

If you want soft serve:

Start at the aforementioned Cone-cept. There’s the OG Bobbie’s Dairy Dip, which isn’t open year-round, so there is limited time to grab a dipped cone or a hot fudge milkshake before winter. East Nashville’s Tabla Rasa is the place for crunch-cone toppings. And 12South’s Sushi-San soft-serve window is a scene at night; a hangout where folks find an ube cone dipped in matcha magic shell.

If you are all about the protein:

The new, locally owned Culture Club features high-protein Greek frozen yogurt and a toppings bar designed by James Beard Award semifinalist pastry chef Noelle Marchetti. You can choose a healthier option if you want, but you don’t have to.

If you prefer an ice cream sandwich:

One of the single best things I have eaten in 2026 (so far) is the praline ice cream sandwich at The Chloe Nashville. It’s giant, so you can share, but I’m not going to. Order it at the pool, at the bar or in the restaurant.

If you want ice cream after a show:

Give a raise to whomever decided to keep Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream open after concerts let out at nearby venue The Pinnacle. That Nashville Yards crew knows how to get a crowd in and out, even if it takes you a minute to choose from their 48 rotating flavors.

If you are up for a drive:

I concede that driving to Murfreesboro for ice cream might seem unnecessary, particularly when I am giving you 43 other options. But the square-shaped Original Rainbow Cone is a 100-year-old Chicago classic, and sometimes you give in to nostalgia even if it means driving on I-24. The owners of Lebanon’s Shop Springs Creamery were raised on dairy farms and still make their ice cream the old-fashioned way. Smyrna’s Janarty’s made seven flavors when they opened in 2018. Now they have more than 100. Vegans: Rejoice — and drive to Dickson for Katie’s Ice Cream’s dairy-free flavors. I love the salted lemonade at Thomas Drugs’ old-fashioned soda fountain. But if I’m driving to Cross Plains, I’m also getting one of their milkshakes.

If you want ice cream but everyone else wants “real food”:

Other people go to Sperry’s for steak. I go for the peppermint stick ice cream, which is also available in their mercantile. I rarely have room for dessert when I feast on Iggy’s pasta, but I try, because the soft serve is always next-level. In addition to its pizzas, Smith & Lentz sells an impressive selection of made-from-scratch ice creams. Everyone can get whatever they want to eat at Elliston Place Soda Shop, including classic banana splits. Top the tart froyo at Nick the Greek with a Dubai chocolate shell. Gelato Pazzo is attached to Germantown’s Italian restaurant PennePazze.

If you love a limited-time offering:

Until the end of August, Black Tap is serving a giant “CrazySundae” made with Loveless Cafe peach preserves and a Loveless Belgian waffle.

When you want lots of choices, Mexican ice cream-style:

On Nolensville Pike, The Bee Ice Cream Shop has 60 different artisanal flavors. Bellevue’s Sweet Sofia’s is a family-run spot with paletas and ice creams, plus some savory snacks. Wherever you are in town, there’s probably La Michoacana nearby. It’s a brand not owned by one company, so they may be unaffiliated, but they’ll definitely have a good selection of paletas and cones, including dairy-free fruit treats.

Craving something quirky?

At this point in the end-of-summer ice cream eat-off, you might want to mix it up. Consider dipping your fries in soft serve at Jeremy Barlow’s Fryce Cream. My love of Sarabha’s Creamery’s Indian ice cream is well-documented. Koko’s Ice Cream in OneC1ty is the stop for organic, dairy-free, gluten-free frozen treats. Not only can you eat it, you can learn to make rolled ice cream (and eat it) from Rolled 4 Ever. Add cold cereal to your ice cream or milkshake at Wanna Spoon. Ice cream with up to 5 percent ABV is on the menu at Tipsy Scoop. See a science experiment and eat dessert too at Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream in Brentwood.

If you’re a classic-scoop purist:

I love Hamby’s Market, the Amish staple in Old Hickory. Stop at their Nash Family Creamery counter when you swing by for produce. The current seasonal flavors at Hattie Jane’s Creamery include Tennessee Sweet Corn Jam and Roasted Peach Cobbler. Mike’s Ice Cream is a Second Avenue staple, but East Siders get the same thing at Sip Café in Inglewood. The family-friendly East Creamery in The Shoppes on Fatherland hosts events for kids. Sweethaven has three locations in Brentwood and Franklin and is a go-to for ice cream cakes, too.

If you’re willing to chase a food truck:

Flag down Black Box Ice Cream Shop (which also has a storefront in Smyrna) or the New Zealand fruit-based Kiwi Scoops. Got an idea for a flavor that no one else will make? Send it to MeltyBoy with a catchy name and see what happens. 

If you plan to be downtown:

In addition to the aforementioned Mike’s, pop into Mattheessen’s on Second Avenue or check out Zio Matto Gelato in the historic Arcade.

If you want to be first in line:

I’m looking forward to Croquet Cafe opening in Centennial Park. The menu promises soft serve and sundaes. Chris Carter, formerly of Porter Road Butcher, has been helping Much Love Creamery perfect their family recipe for public consumption. 

Not in the mood to leave the house?

Milkman Ice Cream delivers, as does Lokelani Alabanza’s hemp-derived CBD Saturated Ice Cream.