There’s no better treat on a warm spring day than a sweet and frosty ice cream cone. If you’re like me, you order it in a cup with extra chocolate on top. However you order it, though, ice cream is the perfect treat to keep you cool and satisfy your sweet tooth. So, take a break from midterms and head on over to one of these Chicago ice cream hot spots get yourself a scoop (or two)!
1. FRÍO Gelato – 517 Dempster Street, Evanston:
Located close to home, FRÍO Gelato has brought the art of Argentinian gelato right to Evanston. Offering a natural and healthy dessert, FRÍO gelato hopes customers make the most of their gelato experience by socializing at any time of day, any time of the year. Grab a few friends and try a scoop of the banana flavor, avocado flavor, or milk caramel chocolate chip!
2. George’s Ice Cream & Sweets – 5306 N Clark Street, Chicago:
Serving up everything from pretzel-crusted cones to Horchata-flavored ice cream, this shop is anything but boring. Also serving classic malts, sundaes and floats, George’s likes to combine the old and the new for a truly unique ice cream experience.
3. Rainbow Cone – 9233 S Western Ave., Chicago:
Ever been to Beverly Hills? No, not the one in California! If you’re out spending the day exploring Chicago, stop by The Original Rainbow Cone for a fun, multi-colored, flavorful treat. The classic rainbow cone consists of a layer each of chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House, pistachio ice cream and orange sherbet. You might have to wait in line, but it’s definitely worth it for this classic treat.
4. Lickity Split Frozen Custard – 6056 N Broadway Street, Chicago:
This ‘50s-style sweet shop serves up more than just ice cream! Serving up everything from cupcakes to candy, Lickity Split is the perfect one-stop sweet spot. If you are in the mood for a frozen treat, though, they serve everything from sundaes to custard shakes to red velvet custard topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream!
5. Mario’s Italian Lemonade – 1066 W Taylor Street, Chicago:
Not quite ice cream, this stand sells many different flavors of Italian ice. (I recommend the watermelon ice.) Complete with chunks of real fruit, this frozen snack packs in the flavor and delivers a refreshing bite worth the journey.
6. Margie’s Candies – 1906 N Western Ave., Chicago:
Complete with a vintage atmosphere, Margie’s is known for its hand-spun milkshakes and homemade sundaes. Settle down into one of the vinyl booths to enjoy a hot fudge sundae or a classic banana split with all the fixings.
7. iCream – 1537 N Miluakee Ave., Chicago:
Finally, stop by Wicker Park to try your hand at being a culinary mad scientist. At iCream, you get to choose the base, sweetener and flavor of your ice cream, allowing you to make it as healthy or as rich as you want. Afterwards, it’s all mixed right in front of your eyes and chilled with liquid nitrogen!