Mentioned by Austin Monthly Magazine
15 Austin Ice Cream and Gelato Shops to Keep You Cool
"4 out of 5 stars Restaurants Bakeries Bouldin Creek. They bill themselves as “Austin’s original desserts-only bakeshop” and we know people who literally drool at the thought of a cupcake from Sugar Mama’s. With more than 40 cupcakes to choose from (including gluten-free and vegan options), it’s a tough choice."
"Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop is grateful to continue to bring Austin the sweetest baked goods around. Every purchase you make allows us to retain incredibly talented and diverse staff and do what we love!. We need you now more than ever and hope you will continue to enjoy our offerings, with comfort classics to go with your cupcakes like our amazing seasonal Pot Pies."
"Do your Insta feed and your taste buds a solid and sink your teeth into these sugary sweet, scratch-made churros from the Churro Co. food truck. Traditionalists can enjoy some warm, simply sweet churros tossed in cinnamon sugar, but for the adventurous and the social media-savvy, we suggest ordering one of the specialty churros piled high with everything from S’mores to homemade apple pie."
"This dish features churros tossed in popcorn sugar, topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle, and a dash of sea salt. Any of their other options can be topped with vanilla ice cream too. Address: Trailer at 1906 South 1st Street, Austin, TX 78704"
"This Insta-famous food truck is definitely not just a one hit wonder. Austinites love loading up their favorite churros with Churro Co.’s sweet toppings like whipped cream, roasted s’mores, vanilla ice cream, and fresh fruit."
"North LoopUnapologetically cute Sweet Ritual makes killer vegan ice cream that ditches the dairy without losing one iota of flavor by incorporating plant-based ingredients like nuts, coconut milk, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, and avocado. Devotees swear by Peanut Butter Chocolate (swirls of chocolate chunks in a creamy peanut butter base) and Death Metal by Chocolate (locally baked, gluten-free chocolate cookies and chocolate “freckles” in a double chocolate sunflower seed butter base). They also make gorgeous ice cream cakes.How to book: Stop by for counter service or order delivery via Favor and Uber Eats."
"Previously in a Juiceland and now in its own brick-and-mortar, Sweet Ritual serves its entirely vegan and plant-based chilly treats on Airport Boulevard. But just as it always has, the shop serves scoops made from a base of coconut, almond, cashew, peanut or sunbutter. Stop by the new old-timey–inspired parlor for a truly allergy- and special diet–friendly treat, right down to the gluten-free cones and naturally derived hues."
"OK, so it’s not technically a restaurant, but as far as we’re concerned, Sweet Ritual focuses on the most important food group: ice cream. With a delicious, dairy-free assortment of small-batch artisanal ice creams, this sweet shop in the Concorde Center strip mall also offers a variety of sundaes, milkshakes (“basic” and “fancy”), and Insta-worthy ice cream cakes."
"Domain NORTH | SecondBar + Kitchen combines seasonal ingredients with local artisan products to create a sublime experience. SecondBar + Kitchen offers small plates for sharing, locally-recognized salads, delicious pizzas, entrees and desserts to enjoy. SecondBar + Kitchen is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch."
"The perfectly tender ribs are served under grilled and fried onions and on top of black truffle grits. 10/10 would recommend."
"Michelle’s Patisserie makes cakes for all kinds of special occasions, including weddings, and does catering and other baked goods as well. Beautiful cakes are their specialty, and they’re also pretty tasty – according to all of the votes for Best Flavor in some of the cake competitions they have been in. You get to choose from over 40 different kinds of cake; don’t forget their special icing and fondant decorations!"
"One last option for birthday cakes in Austin: Michelle’s Patisserie. This bakery is in far North Austin, and they offer (wait for it…) sculpted cakes!. As in, cakes in the shape of a taco, or a Kit Kat Bar, or anything else your heart desires."
"Satisfy your sugar craving with these moist, frosting covered confections. Choose from a sinful selection of flavors ranging from the typical, like chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, to the more inventive, like banana dark chocolate, triple cinnamon, and chocolate marshmallow. Order a cupcake from the 24-hour cupcake ATM or, if you’re up for the human interaction, go to the bakery for a wider selection of sweet treats like a cupcake ice cream sandwich or a cupcake sundae."
"Sprinkles is a cute little shop specializing in all things cupcake. They have tons of different flavors, including “pupcakes,” so your furry friend can have some too!. And if you find yourself needing a cupcake in the middle of the night don’t fret – they have a cupcake ATM that runs 24 hours a day."
"This Japanese-inspired bakery offers character macarons featuring cute cultural obsessions from anime creatures to panda bears. The Japanese cheesecake is a must-try as is the Tayaki sundae. The ice cream flavors change weekly and the macarons come in a huge variety of flavors including London Fog tea, matcha, Mexican vanilla, and fruity pebbles."
"Located in East Austin sits a unique spot for Tex-Asian sweets. One of their most popular baked goods to try: jiggly Japanese cheesecake (basically a combination between cheesecake, pound cake, and flan textures). They also offer cute macarons shaped and decorated as characters and taiyaki hot pockets (fish-shaped waffle pockets)."
"I’m very excited about more Asian desserts being available in Austin. OMG Squee offers a decadent Japanese cheesecake in classic or ube flavor (pictured below is the swirl flavor). It’s similar to a cheesecake you might be more familiar with but less dense and more fluffy, hence why it’s called a cotton souffle cheesecake."
"Not only does Fluff Meringues & More offer meringues, marshmallows, and an array of baked goods, they also have create-your-own pavlovas!. A pavlova is a large meringue topped with cream and fruit. Here you’ll pick your shell flavor, filling, toppings, and drizzle."
"Staring down the menu at Dolce Bacio will make you feel like you’re in a small Italian coffee shop, with the smell of fresh cream in the air and Nessun Dorma playing softly in the background. That is, until you realize you’re in a food truck park in East Austin and it’s 110 degrees out. The menu consists mostly of gelato and sorbet - all made in-house - but they also have tiramisu made with fresh mascarpone cheese, cannoli, and affogatos."
"Dolce Bacio was opened one year ago by an Italian couple newly planted in Texas. Prior to leaving Italy, Francesca and Dante trained at several top gelato schools, where they learned to make high quality products from scratch. “Our goal here is to offer the same quality and tradition you find in Italy, crossed with local flavors,” Francesca explained with gusto."
"Who needs a boring history museum when you could experience a living history museum?. At Pioneer Farms, the volunteers wear high-buttoned dresses and top hats as they take you through guided tours of farms and villages from the 1800s. You can pet animals, listen to stories and ride in horse-drawn buggies as you learn all about Texas history."
"Pioneer Farms is a living history museum offering workshops and programs for both students and adults. Step back in time and experience Texas history while you explore six themed historic areas. Some of the workshops available are blacksmithing, woodworking, knitting/quilting, candlemaking, soapmaking, and cheese making."
"Situated on a 30-acre site on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, the Library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, 650,000 photos and 5,000 hours of recordings from President Johnson’s political career, including about 643 hours of his recorded telephone conversations. The Museum contains more than fifty-four thousand objects donated by the President and Mrs. Johnson, their family, close friends, associates, and the American people. The iconic ten-story building was designed by award-winning architect Gordon Bunshaft and features a Great Hall with a stunning four-story, glass-encased view of the archives collection."
"Many of the events that took place during the 1963-1969 presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson still resonate today, and you can dip into this history at his library and museum on the east side of the University of Texas campus. The museum goes into the aftermath of the JFK assassination, displaying LBJ’s “Let Us Continue” speech and a letter to Johnson from Jacqueline Kennedy. You can find out about the president’s stance on social justice, and the background to the Voting Rights Act of 1965."
"At the LBJ Presidential Library you can experience the life behind the President – his Oval Office, his Presidential Limousine and more. We really enjoyed the Civil Rights exhibit they have as well. Sunday Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm"
"The Austin History Center features interesting historical and photographic archives of Austin that chronicle its history from founding days to present time. Look out for the special themed exhibits on several topics exclusive to Austin that take place during the year. As part of the local history division of Austin Public Library, the museum shares information on local government, other institutions and establishments, and figures."
"DowntownHours: Always free Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm; and Sundays, noon to 6pmA treasure trove of historical and photographic Austin archives, the Austin History Center also features special programs and themed exhibits in its stately Reading Room."
"The gist: Chef Davis Turner cut his teeth with top local chefs before returning to his Southern coastal roots with Huckleberry, a food truck peddling Gulf Coast-inspired comforts out of Circle Brewing’s lot. The food: Go big with favorites like the Gulf Coast Fish Sandwich (fried Gulf Black Drum, Barton Springs Mill cornmeal challah bun, pickles, tomato, lettuce, onions, lemon caper remoulade), po’boys stuffed with fried shrimp or fried oysters, or the Thursday-only Angus smash burger guaranteed to sell out in a flash. On-theme sides like fried green tomatoes, bean dip, and coleslaw round things out.The cost: Starters and sides $3 - $15, mains $12 - $36.How to order: Stop by for counter-service or call 512-900-5818 for take-out."
"Photo by: Flickr user Robert Hensley, Creative Commons licensed. It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: Stevie Ray Vaughan is a legend in the Live Music Capital of the World. The memorial statue erected of him at Auditorium Shores marks a great place to view the downtown cityscape and Lady Bird Lake."
"Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue is a well-visited tourist attraction. This bronze statue, sculpted by Ralph Helmick, is one of the most iconic sculptures of Austin."
"There’s also the University of Texas campus and a couple interesting post graduate neighborhoods like Hyde Park. To be honest, most of North Austin, apart from UT, is pretty boring to me. The Domain is kinda cool, and it has things like Topgolf, but The Domain seems like every other city in the states. It’s not very unique."