Summer in Seattle is the best time of the year, thanks in part to National Ice Cream Month falling in July! What better way to enjoy the sunshine than to slurp up a few fresh scoops from Seattle’s finest ice cream parlors? Have fun indulging in your craving and check out these amazingly unique local ice cream shops around town.

1. Shug’s Soda Fountain & Ice Cream – 1525 1st Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 
   The soda fountain was the coolest place to grab a malt, a shake, or an ice cream cone back in the day. Shug’s Soda Fountain has decided to bring back this classic sweet spot with a modern twist. You could also add a little soda and make a float; we suggest the Shugsicle which is made with orange soda and vanilla ice cream. With make-your-own-sundaes, ice cream cocktails, and beer floats on the menu, Shug’s is a sweet place for kids and adults alike.

2. Full Tilt Ice Cream – 4759 Brooklyn Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98105 
   Live music, pinball, arcade games, beer, and ice cream – what more could you want? Full Tilt offers a fun environment for people of all ages to come together and have a great time. They have 16 awesome flavors like Coffee Oreo and Blue Moon, while on the vegan side they offer classic vanilla and chocolate. Join their Pint of the Month Club and you’ll get access to 12 months of unique ice cream flavors that are only available to members. Full Tilt could very well be the ultimate place to celebrate National Ice Cream Month.

3. Sweet Alchemy – 4301 University Way NE., Seattle, WA 98105 
   At Sweet Alchemy, their meticulous ice cream makers pride themselves on using only the best ingredients from local farms for their small-batch ice creams and waffle cones. How meticulous are they? Sustainability and organic practices are top priorities and they’re committed to only serving the freshest ice cream. Believe it or not, some of the milk used was taken from a local cow just days before it became your sweet treat.

4. Husky Deli – 4721 California Ave. SW., Seattle, WA 98116 
   For almost 100 years, Husky Deli has been providing West Seattle with everything from grocery staples and deli items to fresh sandwiches and delicious ice cream. Husky has you covered if you want to make National Ice Cream Month last for the rest of the year. They have nearly 60 different ice cream flavors between their Husky Regular, Husky Gourmet, Husky Premium, and Husky Girl Scout Cookie varieties. Available by the half-gallon, we have a feeling we’ll be stopping by Husky’s every week of National Ice Cream Month to try a new flavor. 

5. Parfait Ice Cream – 2034 NW 56th St., Seattle, WA 98107 
   Don’t let the name fool you – parfait in French means “perfect” and that’s the best way to describe the frozen flavors at Parfait Ice Cream. Made from scratch, this farm-to-table creamery grows and creates their own ingredients. They offer eight different signature flavors throughout the year, including classics like Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, and Milk & Cookies. Their dozens of chef-inspired seasonal flavors include Ginger Snap, Pumpkin Spice, Rosemary Almond Brittle, and Lavender Summer Berry. Looking for a dairy-free flavor? Their plant-based flavors include Coffee Candied Almond, Cherry Chip, and six other delicious sorbets. Best of all, they even sell their pints at local Seattle grocery stores so you can give into your sweet tooth every time you make your weekly food run.

6. Frankie & Jo’s – 1411 NW 70th St., Seattle, WA 98117 
   Ice cream made from plants? At Frankie & Jo’s, you’re going to radically shift the way you think about ice cream. Instead of using artificial ingredients, house-made cashew milk, and coconut milks are used as bases while organic sugars, seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruits, and superfoods are added into the milk. The result? Amazing ice cream that makes a positive impact on people, plants, and animals. While their seasonal flavors vary, they have everyday ice cream flavors like Brown Sugar Vanilla, Salty Caramel Ash, Chocolate Tahini Supercookie, everyday date flavors like Date Shake and Chocolate Date, and an everyday sorbet flavor of Beet Strawberry Rose. Try one scoop and you’ll realize that plant-based ice cream is a sweet way to end the day.

SOURCE: Coldwell Banker Bain