The 10 best ice cream shops in Charlotte

Charlotte’s ice cream is better and more varied than a city this hot has any right to expect: homemade parlors, Mexican paleterias, a vegan gelato shop and a dairy free operation that people with no allergies choose on purpose. This list is ranked, loosely, and reaches into the towns around the city where some of the best scoops are. Every shop is locally owned. Hours are current as of this writing.

1. Two Scoops Creamery

The Plaza Midwood parlor on Central Avenue that started it all for the current generation of Charlotte ice cream, family owned, with more than 40 homemade flavors on rotation, a cake counter and expansions to South End, Concord, Lake Norman, Rock Hill and Spartanburg. Salted caramel, coffee, the Shipwrecked with chocolate, salted caramel and Oreos, and a weekly flavor rotation that regulars track. The staff hand out tastes and know the history. Parking is the only hard part.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 1 to 10 p.m.; Friday 1 to 11 p.m.; Saturday noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday noon to 10 p.m.

Address: 913 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204

Why it made the list

• The most beloved ice cream parlor in the city.
• 40 plus flavors, rotated weekly.
• Six locations across the region now, Plaza Midwood is the original.
• Open until 11 p.m. on weekends.

Directory listing: Two Scoops Creamery

2. Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream

Dairy free, gluten free and egg free ice cream at Camp North End, with counters in Plaza Midwood and Dilworth, and the shop that turns skeptics: brown sugar cinnamon tastes like a cereal bowl, birthday cake tastes like birthday cake. Ice cream sandwiches on soft house cookies, gluten free waffle cones and brownies, flavor names like Forklift Hug, and a Friday night line the staff keep moving with a smile.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 1 to 9 p.m.; Friday 1 to 10 p.m.; Saturday noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday noon to 8 p.m.

Address: 701 Keswick Ave, Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 28206

Why it made the list

• The best allergy friendly ice cream in Charlotte, and simply good ice cream.
• Ice cream sandwiches.
• Camp North End, so there is a reason to linger.
• Three locations.

Directory listing: Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream

3. Golden Cow Creamery

Small batch ice cream from Charlotte natives Liz and Alex Hannah, with shops in South End, Uptown and SouthPark. Salted Oreo is the flavor everyone names, Nutella KitKat and chocolate Dunkaroos show the playful side, the waffle cones are made in house and the milkshakes are a full dessert. The Uptown shop is the one a short walk from the museums and the arena.

Hours: Monday to Wednesday and Sunday noon to 9 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday noon to 10 p.m.

Address: 170 W. Summit Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• Salted Oreo.
• Three locations, all walkable from something.
• House waffle cones.
• Charlotte owned.

Directory listing: Golden Cow Creamery

4. The Local Scoop

Homemade, premium ice cream made daily at two shops, Park Towne Village on East Woodlawn Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway, with waffle cones made in store and non dairy options on every board. Salted peanut butter and Oreo is the signature, carrot cake and coffee toffee are the surprises, portions are generous and the staff let you sample until you are sure.

Hours: Park Towne Village: Monday to Thursday 3 to 9 p.m.; Friday 3 to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday noon to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m.

Address: 1600 E. Woodlawn Rd, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28209

Why it made the list

• Salted peanut butter and Oreo.
• Made daily with premium ingredients.
• Two locations, south Charlotte and Ballantyne.
• Vegan flavors at both.

Directory listing: The Local Scoop

5. Elizabeth Creamery

A tiny scoop shop on Elizabeth Avenue, steps from the Gold Line, that has been a neighborhood classic for more than a decade. Ginger, Smurf, green tea and black cherry alongside the standards, regulars who have ordered the same thing for ten years, and a walk up feel that suits a stroll after dinner on the avenue. Afternoons and evenings only.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 1 to 9 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 1535 Elizabeth Ave, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28204

Why it made the list

• A classic in a restaurant neighborhood.
• Ginger ice cream.
• On the streetcar line.
• Small, quick and beloved.

Directory listing: Elizabeth Creamery

6. Paleteria Mich Tocumbo

Mexican ice cream and paletas on North Tryon Street in the Tocumbo, Michoacán tradition: natural fruit ice creams, paletas, mangonadas and banana splits, plus snacks like mini pancakes. The mango tastes like a ripe mango; the Gansito and Ferrero flavors show the range. Family run, open until 10 p.m. every night, and the kind of shop families return to weekly.

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 6301 N. Tryon St, Suite 115, Charlotte, NC 28213

Why it made the list

• The best paletas in Charlotte.
• The mango.
• Open late every night.
• A menu that goes well past ice cream.

Directory listing: Paleteria Mich Tocumbo

7. Artisen Gelato

Dairy free gelato in downtown Matthews from Manolo Betancur of Manolo’s Bakery, made with coconut milk so everything in the shop is vegan and gluten free, plus sorbet, baked goods and coffee. Coffee mocha chip, s’mores and key lime lead, the owner gives tours explaining how it works, and the gelato also shows up at Manolo’s on Central Avenue.

Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m.

Address: 301 W. John St, Matthews, NC 28105

Why it made the list

• Vegan gelato that stands with the dairy kind.
• A shop with a mission.
• Downtown Matthews, on the way to everything else there.
• Baked goods and coffee too.

Directory listing: Artisen Gelato

8. Carolina Creamery

The walk up ice cream stand on Lawyers Road that Mint Hill has relied on for years, with homemade ice cream creamy enough to convert people who claim not to like ice cream. Ginger is the flavor readers recommend most, red bean appears as a surprise, and butter pecan and cookie dough are the standbys. No inside seating and no samples; know your order or take a pint. Closed Sundays.

Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon to 9:30 p.m.; closed Sunday

Address: 11300 Lawyers Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227

Why it made the list

• The Mint Hill original.
• Ginger.
• A true walk up window.
• Pints online for pickup.

Directory listing: Carolina Creamery

9. Legends Ice Cream & Snacks

The wrestling themed Mexican ice cream shop on North Sharon Amity Road in east Charlotte, where scoops arrive loaded: the Chocolate Azteca with whipped cream, churro bites and sprinkles, a tajín mango, a Dubai chocolate, and street corn people rank with the city’s best. The ice cream is made in the Mexican style and surprises some first timers, which is the point. Open until 10 p.m. daily.

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 5708 N. Sharon Amity Rd, Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28215

Why it made the list

• The most over the top scoop in Charlotte.
• Street corn and snacks.
• Lucha libre decor.
• Open late seven days.

Directory listing: Legends Ice Cream & Snacks

10. Carolina Scoops

Downtown Pineville’s small, welcoming scoop shop on Dover Street near the splash pad and greenway, with quality ice cream, chocolate dipped cones, sundaes and milkshakes. Stellar Coffee, Carolina Crunch, banana pudding and a purple daze with a following, a brownie sundae that feeds two, holiday decorations that go all out, and a room built as a safe space for everyone in town.

Hours: Daily noon to 9 p.m.

Address: 105 Dover St, Pineville, NC 28134

Why it made the list

• Pineville’s neighborhood shop.
• Stellar Coffee and Carolina Crunch.
• Walkable to the splash pad and greenway.
• Youth sports teams’ post game stop.

Directory listing: Carolina Scoops

Also worth knowing

The guava Maria soft serve at Calle Sol in Plaza Midwood is one of the best desserts in the city and belongs on any ice cream itinerary, and Jeni’s on Camden Road in South End is the national brand Charlotte has adopted as its own, open until 1 a.m. on weekends. If your favorite scoop is missing, tell us.