Want more sweet stops? Browse our Detroit dessert spots guide, or plan a full evening around it with our Detroit date ideas.
Cool Down with the Best Detroit Ice Cream
When the weather warms up, nothing beats Detroit ice cream close to home. This year’s guide stays inside the city. You will find classic cones and soft serve, plus gelato, Mexican paletas, nitrogen scoops, and a few sweet stops worth the detour. We checked every spot and confirmed it is open for the 2026 season. Hours still shift with the weather, so call ahead or check their socials before you go.
The short version: Detroit ice cream in 2026 spans 27 spots open across the city. Standouts include Huddle Soft Serve and Cold Truth in Midtown, plus Momento Gelato in Corktown. In Southwest Detroit, you will find paletas all along West Vernor. For something different, try the nitrogen scoops at -320° or the sweet potato ice cream at Sweet Potato Sensations. Use the neighborhood sections below to find the closest scoop.
Downtown, Greektown, and The District
Milk & Froth
535 Griswold Street (Buhl Building)
This downtown shop scoops small-batch ice cream made fresh, in both dairy and vegan flavors. Better still, nothing is artificial. Expect creative rotating picks like roasted banana and chocolate malt.
Cold Stone Creamery
510 Monroe Street, Greektown
Cold Stone is the easy downtown pick when you want to build your own. Choose a flavor, then fold in mix-ins on the cold granite slab.
Astoria Pastry Shop
541 Monroe Street, Greektown
This Greektown mainstay dates back to 1971. Beyond the pastry cases, you can grab gelato and spumoni. Note that Monroe Street construction runs through late fall 2026, but Astoria stays open through it.
Detroit Water Ice Factory
1014 Woodward Avenue
Here you get Philadelphia-style water ice and soft serve in more than 20 flavors. Order the Motown Twist. Even better, profits go to SAY Detroit to help residents in need.
Peach Cobbler Factory
1300 Broadway Street
This Black-owned chain brings warm cobblers, banana pudding, shakes, and ice cream downtown. So it makes an easy sweet stop after a game or a show.
Cannelle by Matt Knio
45 West Grand River Avenue
Pastry chef Matt Knio runs this jewel-box French patisserie. You will find croissants, tarts, and cakes. Swing by when you want something a little fancier.
JoJo’s Shake Bar
88 West Columbia Street
JoJo’s piles on over-the-top milkshakes in an 80s and 90s arcade setting. Better yet, a walk-up window sits steps from Comerica Park and the Fox Theatre.
Frita Batidos
66 West Columbia Street
Frita Batidos serves Cuban batidos, tropical fruit milkshakes made with fresh fruit and crushed ice. So if you want something frosty but not a scoop, start here.
Midtown, Cass Corridor, and Wayne State
Huddle Soft Serve
2 John R Street
This walk-up window keeps it simple, with soft serve, rotating flavors, and fun toppings. Best of all, it now stays open year-round.
Cold Truth
4240 Cass Avenue
Cold Truth makes vegan-friendly soft serve from scratch. Flavors and colorful toppings rotate every week, so the menu always feels new.
Ice Cream Detroit
3762 Second Avenue
This Midtown shop scoops from scratch, in both alcohol-free and boozy versions under 5% ABV. Expect brandy, tequila, and cognac twists right beside the classics.
For the Love of Sugar
100 Erskine Street
For the Love of Sugar pairs frozen custard and coffee with custom cakes. Plus there are vegan and gluten-free treats.
-320° Coffee & Creamery
474 Peterboro Street (inside Detroit Shipping Company)
Here they freeze ice cream to order with liquid nitrogen, so every scoop turns out extra smooth. Hours can shift and it closes Mondays, so check before you go.
Mini Melts
5231 Anthony Wayne Drive
Mini Melts scoops beaded, flash-frozen ice cream in a quick grab-and-go format near Wayne State. Better yet, it stays open late into the night.
Insomnia Cookies
5171 Anthony Wayne Drive
Insomnia bakes warm cookies until the early hours. It also serves ice cream, cookie sandwiches, and sundaes for the Wayne State crowd.
Bon Bon Bon
441 West Canfield Street (flagship), with a second counter in Parker’s Alley at 1435 Farmer Street
This cult-favorite chocolatier hand-makes its signature bonbons. So grab a box for a sweet stop between scoops.
Corktown
Momento Gelato
2120 Trumbull Street
Momento makes Italian-style gelato in house, with standouts like pistachio and seasonal fruit. If you want a pick-me-up, add espresso for an affogato.
Southwest Detroit and Mexicantown
Ice Cream La Michoacana
4336 West Vernor Highway
This Mexicantown shop serves paletas, mangonadas, fresas con crema, and aguas frescas. Better still, it stays open daily until late.
La Fiesta Ice Cream
4824 West Vernor Highway
La Fiesta scoops paletas, ice cream, and aguas frescas, plus it has a patio for warm afternoons. Just note that it closes Wednesdays.
Azteca Ice Cream Paletería
5418 West Vernor Highway
This neighborhood paletería turns out Mexican-style ice cream and fruit bars. You will find it along the busy Vernor strip.
Neveria Guadalajara
1922 Springwells Street
Neveria Guadalajara serves Mexican ice cream, snacks, and candy. It sits right in the Springwells shopping district.
Azúcar Ice Cream y Más
8101 West Vernor Highway
Detroiters once knew this spot as Ice Cream City. Now reborn as Azúcar, it scoops ice cream plus street treats like elote, Dorilocos, mangonadas, and Dubai-style strawberries.
North End, Avenue of Fashion, Old Redford, and West Village
MJ’s North End Ice Cream Parlor
8801 Oakland Avenue
MJ’s serves Hershey’s hand-dipped ice cream alongside comfort food in the North End. It opens seasonally on limited days, so plan around Wednesday through Sunday afternoons.
Good Cakes and Bakes
19363 Livernois Avenue (Avenue of Fashion)
This Black-owned, woman-owned bakery works from scratch. Locals love it for cakes, cookies, and gooey butter treats on the Avenue of Fashion.
Sweet Potato Sensations
17337 Lahser Road, Old Redford
For 30 years, this Old Redford spot has built everything around sweet potato. Yes, that includes a one-of-a-kind sweet potato ice cream. It opens Thursday through Sunday.
Two Birds
8130 Kercheval Avenue, West Village
Two Birds is a family-run neighborhood bar tucked into an old house in West Village. In warm months, it also opens a frozen custard window.
Sno Biz Detroit
Roving cart (Chene and Lafayette; Beacon Park)
Sno Biz serves Hawaiian-style shaved ice from a seasonal cart. Because it moves around, check their socials for the day’s spot before you head out.
Detroit Ice Cream FAQ
What are the best ice cream shops in Detroit?
Popular Detroit ice cream shops in 2026 include Milk & Froth downtown, plus Huddle Soft Serve and Cold Truth in Midtown. Momento Gelato in Corktown, Ice Cream La Michoacana in Southwest Detroit, and Detroit Water Ice Factory on Woodward round out the top picks. The full guide above lists 27 spots by neighborhood.
Where can I get soft serve in Detroit?
Huddle Soft Serve on John R serves soft serve year-round. Cold Truth on Cass Avenue makes a vegan-friendly version from scratch. For water ice topped with soft serve, order the Motown Twist at Detroit Water Ice Factory.
Is there vegan ice cream in Detroit?
Yes. Cold Truth in Midtown makes from-scratch vegan soft serve. Milk & Froth downtown also offers both dairy and vegan flavors.
Where can I find Mexican paletas in Detroit?
Head to West Vernor Highway and Springwells in Southwest Detroit. There, Ice Cream La Michoacana, La Fiesta Ice Cream, Azteca Ice Cream Paletería, Neveria Guadalajara, and Azúcar Ice Cream y Más all serve paletas and Mexican-style ice cream.
Does any Detroit shop serve alcohol-infused ice cream?
Yes. Ice Cream Detroit on Second Avenue in Midtown scoops from scratch in both alcohol-free and boozy versions. Look for spirits like brandy, tequila, and cognac at under 5% ABV per serving.
Which Detroit ice cream shop is open year-round?
Huddle Soft Serve in Midtown stays open through every season. So you can grab a cone even in winter.
Where can I get ice cream late at night near Wayne State?
Mini Melts on Anthony Wayne Drive serves beaded ice cream into the early hours. Insomnia Cookies nearby also pairs warm cookies with ice cream and sundaes late into the night.
What are some Black-owned dessert spots in Detroit?
Good Cakes and Bakes on the Avenue of Fashion is a local favorite. Sweet Potato Sensations in Old Redford, MJ’s North End Ice Cream Parlor, and the Peach Cobbler Factory downtown are all beloved Black-owned spots too.
The Final Scoop
From Vernor to Livernois and Midtown to the North End, Detroit’s frozen-treat scene has never been deeper. So whether you want a nitrogen scoop, a paleta, or a boozy sundae, there is something cold nearby. Grab a spoon and go exploring.
Still hungry for more of the city? See our 100 Things To Do in Detroit guide.