Minnesota may be known by outsiders as the land of 10,000 lakes, but among Minnesotans it’s better known as the land of 10,000 things to do in the summer – 2,000 of which are ice cream shops. This definitive guide to the Best Twin Cities Ice Cream Shops lists the best places to get a sweet scoop based on your personal preferences, from best vegan ice cream in Minneapolis to the most instagrammable ice cream shop in town. Whatever makes you scream for ice cream, you’ll find it at one of these great Minneapolis-St. Paul scoop shops.
Cone from Izzy’s Ice Cream
As the joke goes, here in Minnesota we have two seasons: winter and construction. I’d like to amend that joke and say our two seasons are winter and ice cream. See, what people don’t realize about Minnesota is that for all that our winters can be bitingly cold, oppressively snowy, and seemingly never-ending (our biggest snowstorm last year happened in April, guys), our summers are equally hot, sunny, and gorgeous.
Minnesotans live for summer – and Minnesota makes it easy to go all out on summer activities. There are the 10,000 lakes, of course, which we use for boating, paddle boarding, swimming, water skiing, and tubing. Then there’s the forests for hiking, the trails for biking, and rivers for kayaking, and the breweries for drinking when you’re worn out from a day in the sun. And best of all: the dozens of amazing Twin Cities ice cream shops, serving up everything from classic cookie dough to rolled ice cream to gourmet creations like orange coriander with fruity pebbles and greek yogurt with passionfruit lychee swirl.
The Twin Cities ice cream scene has something to offer everyone, whether you like to stick to the classics or get a little experimental. I made it my mission to do a circuit of the most popular local scoop shops in order to create what I consider to be the definitive list of the best Twin Cities ice cream shops. Because I know that what one looks for in an ice cream scoop and an ice cream shop varies from person to person, I gave each shop an award for standing out in a specific capacity. That means this list is in no particular order – every ice cream shop I included is excellent in one manner or another.
The Best Twin Cities Ice Cream Shops
Best for Foodies: Milkjam Creamery
Full disclosure: Milkjam Creamery is my personal favorite ice cream shop in the Twin Cities. Their flavors are inventive, unique, and intense. Their rotating menu includes flavors like Cereal Killer (orange coriander and fruity pebbles), Hibiscus Lemonade, and Cookie Monster (cookie butter ice cream with “all the cookies”).
Milkjam is also friendly to vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free connoisseurs, with flavors like Black (“the darkest cocoa”) which is somehow vegan but also the creamiest, smoothest, richest chocolate ice cream they’ve ever had. Their other claim to fame is the Jam Bun, a collaboration with local donut shop Glam Doll. The Jam Bun is a donut ice cream sandwich with your choice of Milkjam flavor scooped between a glazed Glam Doll donut.
There’s almost always a line at Milkjam (yes, even in the winter), but don’t worry — it moves quickly. And it’s 1000% worth it.
Best for When You’re Feeling Indecisive: Izzy’s Ice Cream
When I’m faced with 20 ice cream flavors to choose from, each more indulgent and enticing than the las, I often become paralyzed with indecision. That’s why I love Izzy’s Ice Cream. With every scoop, you’re allowed to choose a second “Izzy Scoop,” which is a teeny scoop added on top. Like a cherry, but way better because I can enjoy my flavor of choice and sample the one that almost got away.
Best Instagram Bait: MN Nice Cream
MN Nice Cream is Minnesota’s entry into the modern tradition of bakeries and ice creameries creating ever more elaborate treats to earn Instagram infamy. What started as a popular food truck now has an address in Northeast Minneapolis. From rainbow cones to glitter and gummy worms, MN Nice Cream dares you not to post a snap to your feed. While the cones are undeniably easy on the eyes, more weight is given to style over substance. The soft serve itself isn’t going to blow your mind — but the toppings might. Lactose-free and vegan options available.
Best for Throwback Thursday (#TBT): The Original Dairy Queen
Did you know that Dairy Queen is headquartered in Minnesota? While Dairy Queen first opened its doors in Illinois in 1940, its current headquarters is located in Edina, Minnesota. The oldest Dairy Queen in Minnesota dates back to 1947 — and is located just 10 minutes away from where I live. It’s a tiny building with walk-up windows and a friendly neon cone beckoning after-dinner visitors like myself. The menu doesn’t hold any surprises, but the experience is charming enough that it makes the soft serve taste just a little more special. Find Minnesota’s oldest Dairy Queen at the Lexington Plaza Shoppes strip mall in Roseville.
Best for a Classic Scoop: Sebastian Joe’s
Serving sweet scoops for almost 20 years, Sebastian Joe’s is a Twin Cities institution. With seven signature flavors including “Nicollet Avenue Pothole,” it’s not hard to see they know the way to a Minnesotans heart. Sebastian Joe’s is where you go when you want a classic ice cream flavor (or a variation on a classic flavor) done really, really well. If you’re not sure what to get, Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Pavarotti, and Nicollet Avenue Pothole are all local favorites.
Best Setting: Sweet Science
Located at the Como Lakeside Pavilion at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, it’s hard to beat Sweet Science in terms of location. Order at the window, sit down with your scoops at a picnic table by the water, and watch the paddle boats while you race to finish every last bite before the sun turns your ice cream to soup. The flavors aren’t too shabby, either. Made with fresh, organic ingredients and a scientific eye for flavor profiles, the ice creams are rich and intense. Flavors like Sweet Corn Blueberry, Rhubarb Cinnamon Almond, and Black Sesame will surprise and delight your palate.
Best Non-Dairy Options: Pumphouse Creamery
Pumphouse Creamery is a sweet little ice cream shop in South Minneapolis. While the space is limited (there’s only one table!), the menu is extensive and rotating, including both dairy and dairy-free options. Pumphouse draws inspiration from the seasons and creates their inventive flavors using organic and locally-sourced ingredients, like Door County Sour Cherry, Wild Blackberry, and Pear, Fig, and Blue Cheese. Have food sensitivities or dietary restrictions? Pumphouse lists all the ingredients for each flavor on their website.