Richmond, Virginia is home to many delicious ice cream shops! When the temperatures are hot, a scoop of ice cream is the perfect way to cool down. With so many different flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth at each local shop, you cannot go wrong with stopping by the highest-rated ice cream shops in the Richmond area.

These are not just your traditional soft-serve ice cream shops, these 15 shops are making new flavors, vegan options, seasonal flavors, and so much more to Richmond locals and visitors. So whether you are looking for a root beer float, a single scoop with hot fudge, signature shakes, or peanut butter swirl, any new flavor coming out of these 15 Richmond VA ice cream shops are going to knock your socks off!

15 Best Ice Cream Shops in Richmond

Ruby Scoops

Many of you will know the creative genius behind Ruby Scoops from her 2021 win on Food Network's Ben & Jerry's Clash of the Cones. Rabia Kamara opened Ruby Scoops in Northside Richmond, Va.in 2020 and Richmond has loved it ever since. Ruby Scoops uses ingredients from local farms to bring you the finest, richest ice creams, sorbets, sherbets and baked goods. Ruby Scoops ice cream is 100% natural handcrafted frozen desserts (and cookies too!) Vistors to Ruby Scoops will find mouthwatering flavors like Hot Honey Cornbread, Blueberry Lemon Cookie, and Key Lime Pie just to name a few. You can find Ruby Scoops at: 120 W Brookland Park Blvd. Richmond, VA 23222.

2. Spotty Dog Ice Cream

Summer berry pie was the perfect ending to a hot summer day in Richmond a few weeks ago, so I am going to name that as my current favorite. But guests will have a hard time choosing ice cream flavors with choices like Salty Chocolate Chip Cookie and Banana Puddin'. There are many vegan and gluten free options as well. Take a seat in the cool AC or walk up to the outside window and order from the street! Located at 2416 Jefferson Avenue Richmond, VA 23223 in Chruch Hill.

3. Gelati Celesti

Gelati Celesti is a Richmond local favorite ice cream shop. Gelati Celesti was established in 1984 in Richmond, Virginia and now operates ten neighborhood stores in various locations: seven in Richmond and three in Hampton Roads. It is the perfect place to stop and bring a few moments of joy to others with the very best ice cream scooped up with the very best service. In addition to their 24 House Favorites and more than 100 flavors that are rotated throughout the year, Gelati Celesti offers ice cream sandwiches and made-to-order ice cream pies and cakes personally decorated for any occasion. And when you just can’t get enough, we'll hand-pack your favorite flavors in quart or pint containers so you can have Gelati Celesti at home or wherever you get the craving. Do not forget to book the Gelati Celesti Food truck for events around town too! Their heavenly handmade ice cream will be a hit!

4. Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream

Bev's Homemade Ice Cream & Café has been a Richmond Carytown staple, serving the highest quality New England-style ice cream, sweets, and coffee since 1998. We serve classic flavors such as Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry, and our own creations like Espresso Oreo and other weekly specials. There's something for everyone here, including a dairy-free sorbet and weekly vegan flavor, homemade baked goods, and coffee creations.

Regular Flavors are offered every day, year-round. This wide variety of flavors includes Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Cream, Heath, Coffee, Espresso Oreo, Mocha Almond, Raspberry Chip, Black Raspberry, Butter Pecan, Mint Chip Special Flavors rotate weekly/biweekly and are seasonally flavors.

Their special flavors include 3 unique ice cream flavors not offered regularly. We also offer a gelato, sherbet, oat-based vegan ice cream, and dairy-free sorbet in addition to our specials. Whether you are a Richmond local or visiting, Bev's Homemade Ice Cream is a great spot to take a break from strolling Carytown and shopping to sit and relax with some delicious ice cream.

5. Deluca Gelato

We also offer Milkshakes, Smoothies, and Frappe caffe – gelato blended with Italian coffee. Or try an Affogato – a scoop of gelato “drowned” in espresso! DeLuca Gelato is a family-owned and operated gelateria, specializing in gelato, sorbetto, and specialty Italian desserts. Theyuse only quality ingredients and replicate the tastes of Italy.

We own the process from start to finish, as we pasteurize our own gelato mix, starting with fresh milk and cream. To it, we add quality ingredients like real fruit, nuts, and chocolate. We produce all of our gelato on-site.

Come by the shop and watch us make it through the window of our production room. You can see this process nearly any time you are here, as gelato must be served fresh! Address:1362 Gaskins Rd. Henrico, VA 23238 or buy it any at of their local partners who sell around town!

6. Scoop

Small batch ice cream made on-site with the finest ingredients nestled in the heart of the Fan neighborhood of Richmond, VA. Feeling lazy but need a delicious Scoop? No need to worry you can also get delivery! Tropical Mango Sorbet is my personal favorite, but fun flavors are abundant with choices like Croissants and Jam, Key Lime Pie, and Toasted Coconut to name a few.

7. Westrays

We fell in love with Westray's via their awesome food trucks, but their brick-and-mortar location is an awesome visit too at 214 N LOMBARDY ST RICHMOND, VA 23220. Their Coke Float takes me back to childhood treats and their awesome price level on single or double scoop make this a great experience for families. The unique flavors make going back time and time again for a tasty treat. Open daily.

8. Jiji Frozen Custard

If you grew up in Richmond, Virginia you will know that going grocery shopping at Ukrops and stopping by the bakery for a free rainbow cookie handed over the counter by a sweet family friend or friendly neighbor was a mandatory activity. Jiji's Frozen Custard stole a spot in my heart with their rainbow cookie topping choices during my first visit to their busy food truck.

While this Richmond, VA ice cream company does not have a brick and mortar, they are moving around all of Central Virginia daily with their trucks. This Wisconsin-style frozen custard has quickly become a Richmond favorite and it will only take one visit to the Jiji food truck to understand why!

9. Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream

Located on Forest Hill Ave Richmond VA it's the coziest most welcoming coffee shop for new and old friends to gather. Visitors will enjoy the coffee, tea, bagels, sandwiches, ice cream, beer & wine! I highly recommend the mimosas after a long week too!

10. Blue Cow Ice cream

Blue Cow might have started in Roanoke, VA but it made its way to Richmond and has a store in the village and a second location at Greengate in Short Pump and is becoming a Richmond VA ice cream favorite. With 21 flavors to choose from when I visited, it was tough to make a selection. Blue Cow has nondairy options which are awesome too! Blue Cow can also be found in Virginia Beach too.

11. Jimers Frozen Custard

If you live on the southside you know Jimers Frozen Custard, but even if you live on the other side of the river, Jimers Frozen Custard is worth the drive. This nostalgic fair trailer with lights and oldies music is what many in Richmond will say is the best ice cream place. It is made fresh every day and you can find the traditional flavors for cones and cups. Visitors rave about the shakes! Be prepared though its CASH ONLY!

12. Sweet Spot Ice Cream Cafe

Sweet Spot Ice Cream Café creates incredible dessert experiences celebrating life’s sweet spots with gourmet ice cream, coffee, and treats. Established in Richmond, Virginia’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood, they strive to satisfy every type of sweet tooth with our super premium ice cream flavors crafted to capture the classics you grew up with and new flavors you’ll want to grow old with.

Sweet Spot Ice Cream Cafe always strives to have at least 48+ different scoops of ice cream flavors in the shop at any given time, with more than 300 possible flavors of ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, Italian ice, soy and coconut-based ice cream in rotation. Sweet Spot Ice Cream Cafe also has an array of waffle cones and topping choices as well as specialty espresso drinks, nitro coffee, smoothies, and frappes.

13. Nightingale

Handcrafted in small batches, Nightingale ice cream sandwiches are made with a 14% butterfat ice cream, fresh baked cookies & homemade inclusions. Unique & gourmet in nature, they cannot be compared to any other ice cream novelty, evoking tastes of childhood with new-age sophistication.

Inspired by making people smile, we have one simple goal: to spread joy & eat ice cream. Nightingale's following has spread far and wide but was born right here in Richmond VA. Discover Nightingale ice cream sandwiches in specialty grocery stores, convenience stores, breweries, wineries, restaurants & everywhere in-between in Richmond and beyond!

14. Coco and Hazel

The specialty shakes at Coco and Hazel are like no other you have ever seen or tasted before. Enjoy coffee and drinks or ice cream as well as other dessert treats. Coco and Hazel is truly the ultimate ice cream experience. Coco and Hazel now has two shops, one in Bon Air at 2733 McRae Road and one in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center 411 N Ridge Road Richmond VA.

15. Mabels

The mission at MABELS™️ is to bring our community together through signature classic burger options and craft milkshakes where families can create lasting, positive memories. Mabes is a restaurant as well, so come hungry!

While King of Pops isn't ice cream, I cant write an ice cream / sweet treat round up and not include King of Pops. Whether you grab one after trekking all over Maymont, pick up one at their shop or grab from a partner shop selling their delicious flavors, King of Pops has Richmond's heart too!

We know you can find nationwide ice cream shops like Jeni's, Cold Stone Creamery, Sweet Frog and Brusters around Richmond Va too but I wanted this to be a true Richmond round up of the local favorite spots that are that small local familiar Richmond feel that we all love!

If you are still looking for other local shops to satisfy your taste buds with sweet treats, check out our favorite cupcake shops in Richmond, VA too! Delicious cupcakes await at these Richmond, Virginia area bakery and pastry cupcake shops! If you have a sweet tooth like me, you will love the creative flavors that abound in these great cupcakes in Richmond, VA.

Do not wait for special occasions, tasty cupcakes make an average day extra special. The Richmond area is home to the best cupcakes, and I am sharing the details about new flavors and more from these dessert studio locations in Richmond Va. Take yourself on a cupcake tour of Richmond or pick up a few cupcake flavors to celebrate a friend or family member on their next birthday, you cannot go wrong with a stop at any of these amazing cupcake shops!