Posted by Andrea Durway
The Sweet Life St. Louis
Our team, like most of St. Louis, loves ice cream. And there is no shortage of great places to indulge in frozen sweet treats. To help you beat the summer heat, we thought we would share some of our favorites with you.
GELATERIA DEL LEONE
3197 South Grand in Tower Grove
A cozy interior and stellar patio are just some of the reasons this place is so popular. Select from approximately twenty daily varieties of homemade gelato made with fresh ingredients from local suppliers. You can’t go wrong with pistachio or mascarpone, but if you are feeling adventurous try the sweet potato pecan or Mayan Chocolate (Chocolate, Cinnamon and Cayenne). Great coffee and baked goods too.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
389 N Euclid Avenue in the Central West End
I first experienced Jeni’s in 2006 when we traveled through Columbus, Ohio where the now national chain got its start. One taste of the sweet corn and black raspberry inspired me to try my hand at making flavors like rosemary honey, lavender lemon, and brown butter. I became obsessed (and popular) that summer. Unique seasonal flavors like Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach Jam and Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk keep adventurous ice cream lovers coming back for more.
TOWER GROVE CREAMERY
3101 S Grand Boulevard in Tower Grove
At the corner of Grand and Arsenal, this traditional shop gets high marks for its service and atmosphere. They serve Central Dairy ice cream and self-serve frozen yogurt. Dawn loves this place because it is an easy walk. The fro-yo with as many toppings as possible is poplar with the kids, while the grown-ups appreciate Moose Tracks.
ICES PLAIN & FANCY
2256 S 39th Street in Shaw
Ices offers made-to-order Nitro ice creams, boozy ice cream drinks, floats, dairy free options and even dog treats! Their menu is constantly changing featuring collaborations with local breweries and businesses. I haven’t been here yet, but hear that The Back Up (Sump soft serve coffee ice cream and cold brew toddy with coffee whipped cream) wakes you up and cools you down! Lance loves that it has a dog-friendly patio.
CLEMENTINE’S CREAMERY NAUGHTY & NICE ICE CREAM
1637 S 18th Street in Lafayette Square
4715 Macklind Ave in Southampton
Newcomer to the scene and darling of foodies, Clementine’s is a small-batch creamery that incorporates booze into some of the (naughty) recipes and incorporates unique flavor combinations in the (nice) recipes. I loved the olive oil and lemon verbena, but on my second trip tried their most popular flavor, Gooey Butter Cake, made with lots of Park Avenue Coffee’s cake, and Midnight Pleasures, a double-dark chocolate ice cream made from three African chocolate and my mind was kind of blown.
TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD
6726 Chippewa Street and 4224 S Grand Boulevard
Ted Drewes is a St. Louis institution. Since 1930, they’ve been serving up frozen custard and the lines at the Chippewa location (old Route 66) are large enough in the summer that street barricades are set up to help with traffic flow. But the eager staff is crazy quick at delivering the renowned concretes. Personal favorite: Oatmeal Cookie + Heath Bar concrete.
MR WIZARD’S FROZEN CUSTARD AND YOGURT
1712 S Big Bend in Richmond Heights and 8411 Gravois in Affton
Blasphemous to some, I emphatically believe Mr. Wizard’s custard is creamier and better than Ted Drewes. The Richmond Heights location has ample outdoor seating, which makes them great for people watching. Mr. Wizard’s has, hands down, the best dipped cone in town, and awesome hot fudge.
THE FOUNTAIN ON LOCUST
3037 Locust Street in Midtown
Located in former auto showroom, The Fountain has killer ice cream and sandwiches. The art deco murals and lighting make this place a real winner. We save it for special occasions. Don’t miss the Dark and Sinister, which is a tall glass coated with hot fudge, filled with dark chocolate ice cream, topped with marshmallow sauce, whipped cream and a chocolate coin.
