Flower & Cream in Houston, Texas

When you have a hankering for a sweet treat on a hot day in Houston, a scoop of ice cream is never far away. The city serves some of America's best, with flavors ranging from traditional favorites to surprising sensations, and bases from rich butterfat to dairy-free options.

Chefs have also gotten more inventive than ever with their ingredients and toppings. Keep reading to discover 16 of the best places in Houston for delicious ice cream and gelato when you're craving the good stuff.

A cup of Booza ice cream, which opened its first U.S. store in Houston.

Booza makes Palestinian ice cream known for its density and stretchy texture. Using the same family recipe since 1941, the owners chose to open a shop in Houston for its cultural diversity, predicting there'd be demand for this unique style.

Sample flavors: Pistachio, Rosewater, Turkish Coffee Vegan choices: Mango

Find it: 5922 Richmond Ave. Ste A, Houston, TX 77057

A banana split from Craft 10 Creamery in Houston.

Cloud 10's ice cream, sorbets, toppings and sauces are made from scratch, with no flavorings or extracts, by award-winning chef Chris Leung.

Sample flavors: Toasted Rice Ice Cream, Brown Sugar Cookies & Cream, Pandan with Coconut Milk Caramel, Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) Vegan options: Chai Tea Coconut Milk Sorbet, Lemon Mint Sorbet

Find it: 3201 Louisiana St #100, Houston, TX 77006

Craft Creamery has been on the ice cream scene since 2020.

Since 2020, chef Steve Marques and "chief tasting officer" Kim Kaase have been creating recipes that turn into small-batch, French-pot-method ice creams made using pure local ingredients. Flavors range from global tastes to seasonal scoops. The Basil, for example, was inspired by a summer morning in Genoa.

Sample flavors: Wagyu Brisket, Tomato Tarragon, Miso Caramel, Hibiscus Mint, Jalapeño Cornbread, Bourbon Butterscotch Vegan choices: Chocolate and fruit sorbets

Find it: 1338 Westheimer Rd Suite B, Houston, TX 77006

Creamistry scoops liquid-nitrogen ice cream in Houston.

This modern parlor scoops premium liquid-nitrogen ice cream. This fast-freeze process is said to create a smoother, richer texture for Creamistry's offerings. Customize by choosing your base, flavor and toppings (including Unicorn Dust!).

Sample flavors: Sea Salt Caramel, Thai Tea, Reese's Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Roll Vegan options: Ruby Cacao, Green Matcha Tea, Birthday Cake

Find it: 5000 Westheimer Rd #608, Houston, TX 77056

A cone of chocolate at Dolce Neve Gelato.

Having chosen a name that means "sweet snow," the gelato masters at Dolce Neve make small batches using local, organic, premium and unexpected ingredients. They find inspiration in global desserts and collaborate with local partners such as Greenway Coffee.

Sample flavors: Goat Cheese and Pecan; Ricotta, Honey and Pistachio; Mascarpone and Matcha Vegan choices: Oat Milk, Maple Syrup, Pecan, seasonal sorbets such as Fredericksburg Peach Sorbet

Find it: 4721 N Main St ste h, Houston, TX 77009

Fat Cat Creamery opened a new location in Garden Oaks in 2020.

The eco-minded locavores at Fat Cat Creamery make their goodies from scratch (down to the hot fudge and warm praline sauce) with ingredients from Texas farms. They serve at least four seasonal flavors monthly, and specialties include sundaes, milkshakes, boozy milkshakes, malts and old-fashioned sodas.

Sample flavors: Cat's Meow Mexican Vanilla, Milk Chocolate Stout (made with Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout beer), locally roasted Amaya Coffee & Cream, Whiskey Butter Pecan, Texas Tin Roof Vegan choices: Chai Tea Coconut and other coconut milk-based flavor, Strawberry Daiquiri Sorbet

Find it: 1901 N Shepherd Dr #3, Houston, TX 77008

Six scoops of ice cream from Houston's Flower & Cream are shown on a tray.

The ice cream, mix-ins, sauces and cones at Flower & Cream are made on-site from scratch and in small batches using premium and locally sourced ingredients. Try an ice cream flight while taking your dessert break on swings at Holcombe, and the rooftop at Post Houston.

Sample flavors: Raspberry Tres Leches, Creme Brulee, Pistachio Baklava, Tiramisu Vegan choices: Coconut-based flavors, including Chocolate Cookie (with housemade vegan double chocolate chip cookies) and Peanut Butter Cup (with housemade vegan peanut butter cups). They have vegan cones, too.

Find it: 401 Franklin St, Houston, TX 77201

Freezy Frenzy makes Thai rolled ice cream, which is also called stir-fried ice cream.

Craving Thai rolled ice cream, aka stir-fried ice cream? Freezy Frenzy starts with a liquid base of fresh ingredients that's poured onto a frozen pan, then chopped, mixed, spread and rolled. The rolls go in a cup and get dolled up with a parade of tasty toppings.

Sample flavors: Matcha Madness, Berry Blast, Mango Tango, S'Mores Galore Vegan choices: Almond, soy and coconut milk-based options

Find it: 17458 Northwest Fwy, Jersey Village, TX 77040

Treats from Honeychild's Sweet Creams in Houston.

Opened by native Houstonian Kathleen Morgan, Honeychild's all-natural frozen custards are handmade in small batches with locally sourced organic and seasonal ingredients.

Sample flavors: Texas Sheet Cake, Toasted Honey, Salted Malted Cookie Dough, Buttermilk Pie Vegan choices: Seasonal sorbets

Find it: 600 N Shepherd Dr Suite 450, Houston, TX 77007

A cone of Frosé Sorbet from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

Founded in Columbus, Ohio, Jeni's expanded to Houston in 2020 after heavy online sales. These all-natural ice creams are made from scratch using ingredients from family-run dairies and berry farms. The result: butter-creaminess, bright flavors and a clean finish.

Sample flavors: Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach Jam, Lemon & Blueberries Parfait, Brambleberry Crisp, Gooey Butter Cake, Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Frosé Sorbet Vegan choices: Texas Sheet Cake, Cold Brew with Coconut Cream (both coconut-based)

Find it: 375 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008

Trays of ice pops at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Sugar Land.

This Miami-based, Mexican-inspired icy sensation landed in Texas in 2022. The hefty, handcrafted ice pops at Morelia are made with fresh fruits and nuts combined with Italian gelato and French sorbet. Choose fruity or creamy, then garnish with a trove of dippings and toppings.

Sample flavors: Passionfruit, Belgian Chocolate, Sicilian Pistachio, Dulce de Leche Vegan choices: Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream, Hazelnut and Coconut

Find it: 16155 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479

The Hibiscus Raspberry ice pop from PopFancy.

Popfancy hosts immersive pop-up cosplay experiences inspired by pop-culture icons from anime, video games and the Wizarding World. The themes change monthly, but you can enjoy the fabled ice pops—handcrafted daily with peak-season produce and organic sweeteners—year-round.

Sample flavors (all vegan friendly): Mangonada, Watermelon, Hibiscus Raspberry

Find it: 9393 Bellaire Blvd a6, Houston, TX 77036

Some of Popston's many ice pops, now available at a brick and mortar in the East End.

Popston ice-pop crafter Jonathan Delgado, who has been selling handcrafted Houston-themed frozen treats from carts around town since 2016, opened the brand's first storefront in July 2022. Stop by and watch these treats be made from fresh fruits and other ingredients through the large windows out front.

Sample flavors: Oreo Cookies & Cream, Fruity Pebbles, Bananas Foster, Pistachio Rosewater, Horchata

Find it: 3401 Harrisburg Blvd Suite B, Houston, TX 77003

Two massive treats from Red Circle Ice Cream, including the Churro Daddy.

More than 100 rotating flavors range from Hot Cheetos to Vanilla. Red Circle's premium handcrafted ice cream is paired with its made-to-order churros and Hong Kong-style egg waffles. The hot and cold combos are hedonistic experiences—as are the extra-large macarons and warm doughnuts filled with ice cream and the wild Churro Daddy, which is pictured above in all its unbelievable glory.

Sample flavors: Mattress Mack Peaches, Crawfish, Hot Cheetos, Ube, Horchata, Vietnamese Iced Coffee Cheesecake Vegan choices: Mango-Guava Sorbet and Cha-Cha Cherry Sorbet

Find it: 6838 Ranchester Dr, Houston, TX 77036

Treats from SweetCup Gelato & Sorbet Originale.

Jasmine Chida, who attended Carpigiani Gelato University in Italy, experiments with fruits, spices, herbs, vegetables and milks to craft scores of flavors at SweetCup. There's something to suit every taste, from floral to umami (we dare you to try the Vampire's Delight, made with black garlic and caramel).

Sample flavors: Texan Kulfi, an award winner combining Texas pecans, cardamom and Texas whiskey; Cinnamon Chocolate-Covered Fritos; Lavender-Guajillo Tres Leches Vegan choices: Dirty Coconut Sorbet, with housemade dairy-free chocolate chips; Pomegranate Rose Sorbet, with housemade pomegranate molasses; Texas Sheet Cake Sorbet with Texas pecans. Vegan chocolate syrup is on tap, too.

Find it: 3939 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

Houston now has three locations of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

Van Leeuwen serves ice cream made French-style (using extra egg yolks and butter fat) from fresh ingredients, and menu items include sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, root beer floats and shakes. Flavor creations here have ranged from Kraft Macaroni & Cheese to Yellow Rose Bourbon Pecan Pie. Then there's the Blue Spirulina swirled with Matcha Green Tea.

Sample flavors: Royal Wedding Cake, Planet Earth, All the Cookies, Earl Grey Tea Vegan choices: Lemon Creamsicle, Salted Caramel, Bourbon Vanilla Apple Crisp, Churros and Fudge

Find it: 888 Westheimer Rd Suite 157, Houston, TX 77006

This list is just the tip of the cone of great ice cream shops in Houston. Where’s your go-to spot for a scoop around the city?

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Robin is a U.S.-based writer, photographer, adventurer and tri-athlete who loves sharing inspiring and creative discoveries. Focus areas: outdoor adventure, urban culture, art, fitness, healthy decadent food, spirits combined with views ... basically things that make people feel happy and inspired. Robin explores mainly on foot and bike and moonlights as a cocktail server. Find her on Facebook @robintierney.