Sure, you could always try your hand at making your own ice cream, but in a city with pretty much perfect weather year-round, Los Angeles has more than its fair share of spots to get your fill. Whether it’s Italian gelato, innovative ice cream flavors made from locally sourced dairy or just classic soft-serve, the city has no shortage of amazing spots to cool off under the perpetual SoCal sun.
Churro Borough
1726 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
Located in LA’s Los Feliz neighborhood, Churro Borough is a no-fuss spot that makes an innovative (and delicious) alternative to the traditional cone. Here, boutique flavors like matcha green tea or brown butter cookie are sandwiched between doughy, house-made churro disks.
McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream
317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles
The only ice cream shop on this list that owns its own dairy, McConnell’s was originally started up the coast in Santa Barbara. Its downtown location features the same signature smooth dairy combined with flavors like cold-brewed coffee, house-made jams and seasonal fruits.
CVT Soft-Serve Truck
So this up-and-coming food truck might require a little sleuthing to find, but countless people swear by the effort. A converted Mr. Softee vehicle, this mobile ice cream spot serves the kind of classic soft-serve flavors that you grew up with. No fuss.
Fosselman’s
1324 W. Main St., Alhambra
Originally started by the Fosselman family in Iowa in 1919, later generations brought the family’s sought-after recipes to the San Gabriel Valley, where they’ve quickly become a local favorite. In the spirit of tradition, you’ll find classic dishes like banana splits and malted milkshakes, relatively unchanged over the nearly 100 years of operation.
Grom
3888 Cross Creek Road, Malibu
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
Located up the PCH in Malibu, this spot serves the purest Italian expression of gelato. Featuring the freshest fruit and ingredients, its flavors are renowned for being some of the best gelato on the coast, and well worth the drive.
If you’re not down for the trip to the original spot, it’s recently opened up a more tourist-friendly spot in the heart of Hollywood.
Salt and Straw
240 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles
The LA location of this Portland favorite has made a name for itself by combining classic flavors with innovative experimentations. Keep an eye out for limited-edition collaborative flavors crafted with local chefs.
Milk
7290 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles
One of LA’s favorite spots, this temple to all things sweet features items like malts, floats and even French macaron ice cream sandwiches. Be sure to try the make-your-own ice cream sandwiches featuring more than 10 kinds of freshly-baked cookies to combine with your favorite ice cream.
Coolhaus
8858 Washington Blvd., Culver City
One of the most popular food trucks in the city, this local favorite recently set up a more permanent shop in Culver City, serving its myriad of delicious ice cream sandwiches to the masses. Make sure to plan ahead, because favorites run out quickly, and on a warm night, you can expect a line right out the door.
Ice Cream Lab
9461 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
Ice cream made by the scoop using molecular gastronomy? This spot has become a veritable attraction, as customers can watch their creamy creations being made right before their eyes. Served in a mist of liquid nitrogen vapor, it’s as novel as it is delicious.
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