Anyone looking to cool down with ice cream spots in Nashville has a wide range of choices. While the city has a wealth of recognizable chains like Brusters, Coldstone Creamery, Baskin Robbins, Ben and Jerry’s, Marble Slab Creamery, and Dairy Queen, Nashville’s locally owned scoop shops go well beyond the ordinary with eclectic flavors and even non-dairy options.

Check out these Nashville neighborhood ice cream options to cool down with a sweet treat any day of the year.

East Nashville

East Nashville map photo courtesy of Samantha Hearn

Kokos to Go! Artisan Vegan Ice Cream

If you’re looking to avoid dairy and nuts but still want to sate that ice cream craving, Kokos Artisan Vegan Ice Cream began selling ice cream on a bike but now has a brick-and-mortar establishment in East Nashville. Not only does this scoop shop leave out the dairy, their ice cream is also plant-based, nut-free, and packaged to go. When it comes to flavors, expect anything from strawberries and cream to Moon Dust with activated charcoal.

Photo courtesy of The Soda Parlor

The Soda Parlor

Local celeb Olan Rogers—known for his YouTube videos and his TBS animated series “Final Space”—opened the first The Soda Parlor in 2014. The shop is a unique mix of Rogers’ own apparel company, an arcade, and whimsical sweet treat hotspot. Try the Moonshake or “Mondaes” (waffles topped with cravable treats like Biscoff cookie butter and marshmallows).

Pied Piper Creamery

Other neighborhood: Berry Hill

The Pied Piper Creamery has been making signature flavors like “Trailer Trash” since 2007. Their tag line of “Local. Artisan. Ice cream.” sums up their approach to ice cream and their place in the community. Ice cream lovers don’t just get their scoop and go; the Southern style porch allows for an ice cream picnic just out front.

Photo courtesy of Frisson Soft Serve

Frisson Soft Serve

What began as an ice food truck in 2017 lead to Frisson Soft Serve opening a storefront in East Nashville in 2018. Frisson’s signature soft serve is a creamy delight but their unique toppings make Frisson famous, with options like cotton candy, cookie dough, or crushed pretzels. 

Downtown

Downtown Nashville photo courtesy of Samantha Hearn

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip

Other neighborhood: original Charlotte Avenue store in West Nashville

There are landmarks in Nashville, and then there’s Bobbie’s Dairy Dip in Downtown, with its first location on Charlotte Avenue. Open at this location since 1951, Bobbie’s serves up vintage style with nostalgia-inducing hamburgers, milkshakes, with ice cream scoops.

Photo courtesy of Legendairy Milkshake Bar

Legendairy Milkshake Bar

A new addition, the Legendairy Milkshake Bar features twists on the traditional milkshake with a “breakfast” option and “King” shake. Or you can create your own. As the name would imply, it’s all about the dairy here—from milkshakes to scoop bowls featuring Southern-style mason jars. And it’s all near another Downtown Nashville fixture, Demos’ Restaurant.

Mike’s Ice Cream

Mike’s Ice Cream may be billed as ice cream and coffee, but the ice cream is what draws residents and tourists alike to this Downtown Nashville favorite. The move to a new Downtown spot has introduced even more people to flavors like “Tennessee Fudge,” all served up in signature Mike’s Ice Cream waffle cones.

South Nashville

Downtown Franklin 

Kilwin’s Ice Cream

With ice cream and fudge, Kilwin’s Ice Cream serves up Downtown Franklin nostalgia near the restored Franklin Theater. While Kilwin’s is a chain ice cream store, the surrounding neighborhood makes this a stop on a Franklin Square visit.

Rita's Italian Ice and Frozen Custard photo courtesy of John Ong

Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard

Other neighborhood: Murfreesboro

Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard is fast becoming a Nolensville’s neighborhood favorite for chilly treats like Italian and cream ices, gelati, frozen custard, and their signature “blendini” (a mix of Italian ice, frozen custard, and a mixed-in topping). While Rita’s is a chain, the owner of the Nolensville location lives and works in the area making it a close-knit community experience.

Azucars Ice Cream Shop

Nestled into South Nashville’s Lenox Village, Azucar’s Ice Cream Shop features smoothies, frozen yogurt, eclectic scooped flavors, and traditional Mexican options like Tres Leches and fruity paletas. The shop thrives with walkability within the planned neighborhood but also with commuters and residents on Nolensville Road.