A List of Independent Cincinnati Ice Cream Shops

Discover Cincinnati’s sweetest hidden gems! This curated list highlights locally owned ice cream shops serving up unique flavors, handcrafted treats, and hometown charm. Taste the best of the Queen City—one scoop at a time.

Top Categories:

Soft Serve / Creamy Whip

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Sprinkles Creamy Whip

Sprinkles serves real soft-serve, Dole whip, and snacks from a charming Cleves walk-up and drive-thru.

Family-Friendly Spots Soft Serve / Creamy Whip

Cleves

Sprinkles

A neighborhood soft serve ice cream shop with a large patio area and drive thru. Serving lots of tasty treats including all things soft serve, hot dogs, loaded nachos, pretzels, walking tacos, cupcakes, brownies, cookies and much much more!

Soft Serve / Creamy Whip

Simply Rolled Ice Cream

Simply Rolled crafts fresh, made-to-order ice cream rolls with endless mix-ins and a fun experience.

Artisanal Ice Cream

Over-the-Rhine

Silver Grove Dari Bar - Silver Grove KY

The classic roadside Dari Bar experience. Great footlong Coney Hot Dogs, Burgers, Hoagies, and more, along with a full whippy dip service of cones, shakes, malts, sundaes, and more! It is a Northern Kentucky tradition!

Family-Friendly Spots Soft Serve / Creamy Whip

Silver Grove

Scoopz Ice Cream

Classic ice cream shop in Maineville serving hand-dipped scoops, sundaes, and soft serve in a fun, family-friendly setting.

Artisanal Ice Cream

Maineville

ScoopAble Ice Cream

Soft Serve / Creamy Whip

Schneider's Sweet Shop

Schneider’s serves homemade candies, ice cream, floats, and famous “ice balls” in a nostalgic soda fountain.

Artisanal Ice Cream Family-Friendly Spots Local Favorites

Bellevue

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

Enjoy Graeter’s Ice Cream amid stunning Rookwood tile and Art Deco charm at historic Union Terminal.

Local Favorites

Downtown

Rhino's Frozen Yogurt & Soft Serve

Rhino's Frozen Yogurt lets Cincinnati dessert lovers customize their own cups with rotating froyo flavors and a wide selection of fresh toppings to pile on.

Family-Friendly Spots Gelato Shops Soft Serve / Creamy Whip

Blue Ash

Putz's Creamy Whip

Putz's Creamy Whip is a Cincinnati soft-serve institution serving classic cones and creamy whip to loyal fans from their beloved Mt Airy location.

Family-Friendly Spots Local Favorites Soft Serve / Creamy Whip

Cash Only Mt Airy

Piper's Soft Serve Bar

Piper's offers 70+ soft-serve flavors with thousands of possible blends. At Piper's it's always time for something different! ™️

Family-Friendly Spots Local Favorites Soft Serve / Creamy Whip Vegan Options

Covington

Pendleton Parlor

Friendly, nostalgic spot serving sweet treats—perfect for families, evening walks, and classic Cincinnati summer vibes.

Artisanal Ice Cream Family-Friendly Spots

Pendleton

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Cincinnati's Ice Cream Scene — All in One Place

This directory is the most complete guide to independent ice cream shops in the Cincinnati metro area and Northern Kentucky. We focus exclusively on locally owned shops — the creamy whip stands, gelato cafés, frozen custard spots, and artisan scoop shops that make the Queen City's summer scene unlike anywhere else. From Putz's Creamy Whip in Mt. Airy (open since 1938) to uGOgelato's Sicilian-style artisan flavors in Over-the-Rhine, every listing here is independently owned and operated. No chains. No franchises. Just the real Cincinnati. Browse by neighborhood, category, or use the map to find ice cream near you. Know a shop we're missing? Submit a listing and help keep this resource growing.