8 Of The Best Ice Cream Shops In Richmond, VA

Ah, summer. A time filled not just with BBQs, vacations, swimming, and festivals, but also with sunshine, heat, and humidity. It’s also the time of year in which ice cream in copious amounts is widely accepted (to be honest, we think ice cream should be acceptable any time of year, but we can talk about that in the winter). So, where to find that cool, tasty treat? At one of our favorite Richmond scoop shops, of course!

Bev’s Homemade

Through the efforts of Bev Mazursky, this Carytown staple has been serving up some of the best homemade ice cream since 1998. Choose from everyday flavors (Espresso Oreo is a favorite) or the rotating selection of special flavors, which always includes at least one sorbet, one sherbet, and one sugar-free option. Whichever you choose, be sure to top it with Bev’s homemade hot fudge!

All of our Carytown Food Tours include a stop Bev’s Homemade! Check the tours out every Saturday at 2:30 PM.

Bev's Homemade - Best Ice Cream — Image Credit: Bev's Homemade

Bubs & Gracie’s Ice Cream and Cookies

Ok, technically bubs & Gracie’s isn’t IN the City of Richmond, but trust us when we say it’s worth the drive. Located off Hull Street, this family-run business has both classic and nontraditional flavors, and you canNOT miss the Ube. You’ll also find loads of dairy free flavors at bubs & Gracie’s, along with, as the name suggests, a variety of cookies with which to dip into that delicious ice cream.

Bubs and Gracie's — Image Credit - Discover Richmond Tours

Charm School Study Hall

Charm School Study Hall, a soft serve walk-up window in Forest Hill, is notable for its pastel color scheme, unique flavors, and vegan-friendly options. All of Charm School’s dairy is from a local Virginia dairy farm, and the majority of toppings and ice cream inclusions are also made in house.

Charm School Best Ice Cream Blog — Image Credit: Charm School

DeLuca Gelato

DeLuca Gelato specializes in true, Italian gelato, and they make it like nowhere else in Richmond. From start to finish (including pasteurizing their own gelato mix), everything is made in-house. When you visit, you’ll find up to 36 flavors on offer from among their 55+ rotating flavors, including sugar-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free options. Banana Nutella is our favorite!

Gelato - Wiki Commons — Image Credit: Wiki Commons

Gelati Celesti

Gelati Celesti began as a family business in 1984, and has grown to include eight RVA-based scoop shops and a scoop truck for festivals and events. Serving up thick, creamy ice cream scooped into baked-in-house waffle cones, the Edmonds family has been synonymous with the Richmond ice cream scene for three decades. Stop by any of their locations to try one of the 24 house favorites and 85 rotating flavors!

Gelati Celesti is a fan favorite on our Scott’s Addition Booze & Bites Tour, offered every Friday at 2 PM.

Gelati Celesti - Best Ice Cream Blog — Image Credit: Gelati Celesti

Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets

While Ruby Scoops is relatively new to the RVA ice cream scene, there is nothing amateur about these flavor profiles! Rabia Kamara opened the doors to North Side’s Ruby Scoops in late November 2020. The scoop shop sells ice cream, sorbet, and sherbet with flavor combinations like Roasted Pineapple Rosemary, Guava Daiquiri, Strawberry Sweet Red Bean, and of course all the classics perfect for a hot summer day (or any day, for that matter)!

Ruby Scoops is a regular stop on our Pizza & Ice Cream Tour, offered every other Sunday at 12:30 PM.

SCOOP

SCOOP, appropriately located on Strawberry St. in the Fan, comes from the owner of the popular WHISK bakery in Shockoe Bottom. This shop has some unique flavors on its signature menu, such as Brown Sugar Cookie Dough and the can’t-miss Croissants & Jam. We highly recommend ordering your ice cream sandwiched between a chocolate chip cookie or one of WHISK’s signature macarons!

Spotty Dog Ice Cream Co.

This New England style-scoop shop is always inventing new flavors, but don’t worry, Spotty Dog keeps us well informed on its Instagram! Based in Church Hill, Spotty Dog bills themselves as an Ice Cream Test Kitchen, making all the classics and of course testing out some uniquely awesome combinations, like Banana Puddin’, July Berry Pie, and our personal favorite, Key Lime Pie!

We’re so excited to have Spotty Dog Ice Cream Co. as a stop on our Church Hill Food Tour, offered both Saturdays and Sundays at 11 AM and 2 PM.