Move over ice cream: Italian ice is the supreme warm weather dessert in Chicago. It’s as simple as crushed ice and fresh fruit flavors, but nothing is quite as tasty or refreshing. Here are six neighborhood spots that serve up some of the best Italian ice in the city. 

Annette’s Homemade Italian Ice - Lincoln Park

Photo courtesy of  Annette’s Homemade Italian Ice

Annette’s Homemade Italian Ice is a walk-up spot in Lincoln Park. The unassuming counter and black awning belie the seriously delicious flavors this Italian ice and ice cream shop serves. Look for options like blood orange, red raspberry passion, watermelon, black cherry, and more. Once you have your plain Styrofoam cup heaping with Italian ice, you can search for seating on the small sidewalk patio. Or, you can take your cup to go and explore the neighborhood while you enjoy dessert. If you happen to have your dog with you, you can treat him to a doggie treat off of the menu. 

Carm’s Beef and Italian Ice - Little Italy

Photo courtesy of Carm’s Beef and Italian Ice

Little Italy has a few must-try Italian ice joints, and Carm’s Beef and Italian Ice definitely makes the cut. The shop opened in 1929 as a grocery store and served Italian ice from April to September. Since then, the grocery store has become a fast-food restaurant, but ownership has stayed in the family.

Today, you can get hot dogs, subs, tacos, burritos, and homemade Italian beef before you dig a spoon into your Italian ice. Carm’s uses fresh fruit to make its flavors that include classic options like lemon, strawberry, and watermelon, as well as more inventive selections like blue raspberry, cantaloupe, and piña colada. You can even get Italian ice to go in a half-gallon or five-gallon carton.                                                            

Luke’s on Harlem - Belmont Heights

Photo courtesy of Luke’s on Harlem

The family-owned Luke’s on Harlem has been in business for more than 30 years in Belmont Heights. The restaurant does classic Chicago food like Vienna all-beef hot dogs (no ketchup) and Maxwell Street Polish sausage, plus tempting desserts like milkshakes and homemade eclair cake. The restaurant does two classic Italian ice flavors: lemon and watermelon. The watermelon flavor is a seasonal menu item at Luke’s, so make sure you come in the summer for this frozen treat.

Mario’s Italian Lemonade - Little Italy

Photo courtesy of  Mario’s Italian Lemonade

Mario’s Italian Lemonade is located on Taylor Street in the heart of Little Italy. It's a small counter-space only shop squeezed between two buildings, but you can’t miss the brightly painted white, green, and red storefront. Each year, Mario’s opens for business on May 1, and the lines follow. You can expect flavors so fresh that you’ll get quite a few bites of real fruit with your Italian ice.

Miko’s Italian Ice - Logan Square

Photo courtesy of Miko’s Italian Ice

Miko’s might be one of the biggest names in Chicago Italian ice. With a locations in Logan Square and Irving Park, this Italian ice shop offers more than 25 rotating flavors during its seasonal hours. Look for favorites like banana chip, peach, blueberry, coconut, chocolate, sour cherry, apple crisp, and pumpkin spice. If you can’t decide on just one flavor, get a combo (think raspberry and chocolate or mango and pineapple).

Each spot is a walk-up window with a few seats out front. When the warm weather really hits, the seats are usually full, and there might be a line snaking down the sidewalk. If you want to have Miko’s at a summer barbecue, order a party pack to go.

Scooter’s Frozen Custard - Lakeview

Photo courtesy of Scooter’s Frozen Custard

Don’t let the name fool you: Scooter’s, opened by a couple in 2003, does more than frozen custard. Stop by this Lakeview shop for seasonal Italian ice. During the summer, Scooter’s makes one fresh flavor of Italian ice each day. If you want the best of both worlds, try out a Scooter’s parfait. This dessert option features equal parts custard and Italian ice. Mix the classic fruit flavors of Italian ice with custard options like chocolate, burnt sugar, sea salt caramel, cookies and cream, cappuccino, and strawberry Oreo. The flavors rotate, so you can try something different each time you come.