Denver’s ice cream scene has flourished in recent years, with artisanal scoop shops and innovative flavors popping up across the Mile High City. Whether you’re seeking a classic cone or bold new flavor combinations, Denver offers exceptional frozen treats year-round. From small-batch makers using locally-sourced ingredients to beloved institutions that have stood the test of time, here are the best ice cream place in Denver that deserve a spot on your list.
Little Man Ice Cream
Little Man has become a Denver icon, with its milk-can-shaped shop standing tall in the LoHi neighborhood. Their handcrafted ice cream is made in small batches, with flavors ranging from classics like vanilla bean to innovative creations such as salted Oreo. The shop’s community-minded ethos extends to their “Scoop for Scoop” program, which donates a scoop of rice or beans to communities in need for every scoop of ice cream purchased.
🍦 2620 16th St, Denver, CO 80211
Sweet Cow
Sweet Cow has captured the hearts of Denver ice cream enthusiasts with their commitment to freshness and quality. Each batch of their super-premium ice cream is handmade using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Their rotating selection of flavors ensures there’s always something new to try, though their Dutch chocolate and honey vanilla remain perennial favorites.
🍦 3475 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
High Point Creamery
High Point Creamery elevates ice cream to an art form with their distinctive flavor profiles and meticulous attention to detail. Their small-batch process and focus on seasonal ingredients result in extraordinary offerings like Earl Grey with shortbread cookies or basil with blackberry swirl. The shop’s ice cream flight—five small scoops served on a wooden paddle with accompanying sauces—is perfect for indecisive connoisseurs.
🍦 215 S Holly St, Denver, CO 80246
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
A Denver institution since 1986, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream represents the gold standard of traditional American ice cream parlors. Their creamy, dense scoops have satisfied generations of Denver families, with over forty flavors available daily. Signature creations like Chocolate Almond Fudge and Cake Batter have developed cult followings among locals.
🍦 799 S University Blvd, Denver, CO 80209
Sweet Action Ice Cream
Sweet Action stands out for its innovative spirit and commitment to inclusivity, offering outstanding vegan options alongside traditional dairy flavors. Their creativity shines through seasonal offerings like Colorado peach, blackberry lavender, and stranahan’s whiskey brickle. The shop sources ingredients from local farmers and producers, ensuring peak freshness and supporting the regional economy.
🍦 52 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Glacier Homemade Ice Cream & Gelato
Glacier brings exceptional versatility to Denver’s frozen dessert landscape, offering premium ice cream alongside authentic Italian gelato and dairy-free sorbets. With over 80 flavors in rotation and unique mix-ins created in-house, including their own cookie dough and brownies, the possibilities feel endless. Their signature birthday cake ice cream, studded with colorful sprinkles and cake pieces, has become a local favorite for celebration treats.
🍦 4760 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80212
Inside Scoop Creamery
Inside Scoop Creamery combines old-school service with contemporary flavors for a genuinely special ice cream experience. Family-owned and operated, their dedication shows in attention to detail—from hand-rolled waffle cones made throughout the day to homemade hot fudge simmered to perfection. Their signature salted caramel ice cream strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory notes.
🍦 1535 Platte St, Denver, CO 80202
Nuggs Ice Cream
Nuggs has earned its reputation through consistency and quality, serving generous portions of rich, creamy ice cream in a welcoming environment. Their signature flavor, Exhausted Parent—a potent combination of bourbon-infused ice cream, espresso fudge swirl, and chocolate-covered coffee beans—has developed a cult following among Denver parents. The shop’s playful approach to naming and flavor development makes browsing their menu half the fun.
🍦 5135 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220
Heaven Creamery
Heaven Creamery has quickly made a name for itself with its globally-inspired approach to frozen treats. Offering both traditional ice cream and authentic Turkish dondurma—known for its uniquely elastic, chewy texture—the shop provides a truly international dessert experience. Their signature flavors include Middle Eastern-inspired options like saffron pistachio and honey lavender, alongside comforting classics.
🍦 6955 S York St #404, Centennial, CO 80122
Milkbox Ice Creamery
Housed in Denver’s historic Union Station, Milkbox Ice Creamery offers a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern craftsmanship. Serving Little Man Ice Cream in a beautifully restored former barbershop space, complete with original fixtures, the shop creates a unique experience that honors Denver’s past while embracing its culinary present. Their boozy shakes for adults and classic malts for traditionalists have become station staples.
🍦 1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202
Sweet Cooie’s
Sweet Cooie’s, the sister shop to Little Man Ice Cream, brings vintage charm and refined flavors to Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood. Designed to evoke the elegant ice cream parlors of the 1930s, complete with brass fixtures, marble countertops, and a nostalgic soda fountain aesthetic, the shop offers a delightfully immersive step back in time. Their ice cream maintains the exceptional quality that made Little Man famous, with standout flavors including honey almond and salted caramel oreo.
What truly distinguishes Sweet Cooie’s is their signature “Ice Cream Bombs”—hand-dipped chocolate shells filled with ice cream and toppings that create a multidimensional dessert experience. The shop’s attention to presentation extends to their space as well, with Instagram-worthy touches like their iconic tiffany blue branding and vintage serving dishes, making a visit feel special beyond just the exceptional frozen treats.
🍦 3506 E 12th Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Right Cream
Right Cream has quickly established itself as Denver’s most boundary-pushing ice cream maker, with rotating small-batch flavors that challenge conventional expectations. Their culinary-forward approach results in combinations like roasted strawberry with black pepper, brown butter miso, and cereal milk with caramelized cornflakes. Operating primarily through pre-orders and pop-ups before opening their permanent RiNo location, they created a cult following that eagerly anticipates each new flavor announcement.
Denver’s ice cream scene offers something for every palate and preference, from nostalgic classics to boundary-pushing innovations and international inspirations. These seventeen establishments represent the cream of the crop, each bringing something unique to the city’s dessert landscape while maintaining the exceptional quality that sets them apart.
🍦 3201 Walnut St #101, Denver, CO 80205
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Like Tucson, Phoenix’s sweltering temperatures make ice cream more than just a treat—it’s a necessity. Fortunately, the city is home to a variety of incredible ice cream shops, each offering unique flavors and experiences.