Columbus is home to so many incredible ice cream shops! If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate National Ice Cream Day in Columbus (Sunday, July 20, 2025), you’ll find no shortage of options! Neighborhood gems and longtime favorites make Columbus a great place to grab a cone. This guide highlights some of the best ice cream spots to enjoy all summer.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Regional Ice Cream Favorites
It’s no secret that Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams originated in Columbus, but their footprint has since expanded to over 25 cities across the country. Head to Jeni’s for creative flavors made with local ingredients! If you’re looking for ice cream in downtown Columbus, check out the Jeni’s location at Columbus Commons!
Graeter’s, originally from Cincinnati, is beloved for its signature chocolate chunks and seasonal scoops. The Bethel Road shop even includes a free Lil’ Pints Playroom for kids.
Handel’s, which started in Youngstown, now has locations across the country—including two in the Columbus area—serving 48 rotating flavors of ice cream, sorbet, sherbet, and ices.
Johnson's Real Ice Cream began in Bexley (where you can still visit the original shop), and this family-owned creamery has expanded to include nine locations around central Ohio.
Fans of the Sandusky-based Toft's Dairy (Ohio’s oldest!) can now get their Lake Erie Cookie Island Monster fix at their Grandview Heights Scoop Shop, which opened in 2023.
Another favorite spot for an ice-cold treat is Whit’s Frozen Custard. They feature chocolate, vanilla, and a rotating weekly flavor of frozen custard. They also serve their famous “Whitser,” frozen custard mixed with your choice of toppings.
Craving more? Columbus is full of sweet spots beyond ice cream—think bakeries, donut shops, and global desserts worth seeking out. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming food events and seasonal treats, and start building your own list of must-try stops.
Little Ladies Soft Serve
Neighborhood Ice Cream Shops Near Columbus
If you’re looking for classic neighborhood ice cream shops with soft serve and creative creations, you’re in luck! Visit Mona’s Eats & Treats in Grove City for classic soft serve cones and dipped creations. Tony’s Coneys in Lincoln Village is popular for its soft serve, milkshakes, and specialty sundaes.
Little Ladies Soft Serve began serving their creamy soft serve and ice cream sundaes out of a food truck, and now they’ve added a brick-and-mortar shop in Westerville, where you can order their unique sundaes packed with distinctive toppings like Fruity Pebbles and crushed puppy chow.
Clown Cones is a longstanding neighborhood ice cream parlor on Cleveland Avenue, serving over 30 flavors of ice cream and a colorful array of candies. It’s also filled with a one-of-a-kind collection of clown decor!
Piazza Pelino
International Ice Cream in Columbus
Options for Mexican ice cream in Columbus continue to grow. Dulce Vida now offers several locations around Columbus, with tons of unique flavors including tamarind, guava, horchata, and mango. Plus, they boast an extra-large selection of paletas (Mexican popsicles).
Other ice cream shops offering Mexican-style frozen treats include Diamond’s at Bethel and Sawmill, Paleteria Jalisco in Hilliard, and Laguna Mexican Street Food & Ice Cream on Hard Rd.
If gelato is what you’re craving, you can find authentic Italian ice cream at Piazza Pelino in the Short North, Ciao Cafe in German Village or Coppa Gelato in Westerville.
Don’t skip Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream. This family-run shop specializes in international ice cream flavors, with a spotlight on Indian classics. Standouts include Kesar Pista and Lychee. Meanwhile, Simply Rolled in the Short North offers Thai street-style rolled ice cream, where ice cream and toppings are mixed and flattened on a chilled plate, then scraped into rolls and served in a cup.
Last, but not least, Belle’s Bread, though primarily a bakery, has become a destination for its popular green tea ice cream! Try it as a twist with vanilla!
Craving more? Columbus is full of sweet spots beyond ice cream—think bakeries, donut shops, and global desserts worth seeking out. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming food events and seasonal treats, and start building your own list of must-try stops.
