Where to Find the Best Ice Cream in Palm Springs
Palm Springs is an ice cream lover’s dream town, and we can’t think of a tastier way to cool off on a hot day. Across the city you’ll find dozens of shops serving up everything from unique artisanal flavors like Prickly Pear to decadent milkshakes topped with toasted marshmallows. Of course, we have our favorites. Try one or try them all, just remember to grab extra napkins!
Kreem
Kreem was one of the first artisanal ice cream shops to open in Palm Springs, and remains one of the very best. Everything is made in-house at this small batch creamery, including a tempting selection of vegan options. Salted Chocolate, Lemon Merengue Pie, Rosemary, Ube with Toasted Marshmallows… the wildly creative flavors change daily, so check their Instagram if you don’t like surprises. If you feel like sharing, Kreem serves up a dee-lish banana split with ALL the fixings in a Chinese takeout box. Or stop by after dinner for an Affogato (a scoop of Vanilla topped with a shot of espresso). Kreem is about a 15-minute walk from Santiago (head south on Palm Canyon), or better yet, pedal over on one of our cruisers. Open until 9pm, closed Mondays.
Gelato Granucci
Luigi Granucci began making gelato in Europe in 1929, and now his granddaughter Simonetta (Sam) and her husband continue the tradition in Palm Springs. Everything at this gelateria is made fresh daily, from scratch, using only the best local and seasonal ingredients. Recent offerings included a classic Stracciatella, a lovely Amarena made with Fabri cherries, and a knockout vegan Meyer Lemon. Or try the dark and decadent Joshua Tree Coffee gelato made with beans from the High Desert roastery. Soooo good! Open daily until 9pm, and until 10pm on weekends.
Carmela Ice Cream Co.
Carmela may be new to Palm Springs, but they’ve been considered a pioneer in California “farm-to-table” ice cream since 2007. Located downtown inside the Flannery Exchange, Carmela churns out flavors that combine herbs and spices with fresh seasonal fruits. Winter favorites include Cardamom ice cream or Pear Champagne sorbet. In summer, don’t miss the White Peach Vanilla Bean. Open daily until 10pm.
Lappert’s Super Premium Ice Cream
This long-time favorite near the Forever Marilyn statue on Palm Canyon scoops up 32 different flavors everyday including dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options. Their award-winning Date milkshake lives up to the hype, and since Lappert’s has an outpost in Hawaii they also offer refreshing shave ice and an amazing Dole Whip Float (made famous at the Dole Pineapple Factory and Disneyland). The perfect dairy-free treat for a hot afternoon! Open daily until 9:30pm, and until 10:30pm on weekends.
Great Shakes
If you’re craving an old-school milkshake or malt on steroids, look no further. Choose from 25+ flavors, all made with premium soft serve, topped with your choice of homemade whip cream or toasted marshmallows, and served with a baked mini donut around the straw. For those who don’t do dairy, they also have a lactose-free base available. Located downtown on Palm Canyon, just up from Arenas. Open daily until 9pm, and until 10pm on Saturdays.
Shop(pe) Ice Cream & Shop
Not only is the Uptown Design District home to some of Palm Springs’ best shopping, it’s also where you can find some of the city’s tastiest artisanal ice cream. Located at the scenic Arrive Hotel, Shop(pe) scoops up a rotating selection of delicious foodie flavors like Pomegranate Chip, Mango Sorbet, and Blackberry Cabernet. Or treat yourself to a build-your-own ice cream cookie sandwich. Yummmmmm. Open daily until 10pm, and until 11pm on weekends.