Is there anything better than a freezing cold scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day? If you’re lactose intolerant, maybe something dairy free, but you get the idea. There is a certain nostalgia that comes with enjoying something sweet and cold when the mercury starts rising.
July 18 is National Ice Cream Day, but there’s never a bad time to indulge. If you find yourself riding around town looking for a treat to cool you down, be sure to check out one of these local joints. From ice cream to paletas to shave ice, you’re bound to find something to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Angel’s Donuts & Ice Cream
Locations: 8115 NE Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 40, Vancouver (Routes 32, 78) • 212 NE 164th Ave., Suite 5, Vancouver (Route 30)
Menu MVP: Angel’s Donuts & Ice Cream started in Portland before crossing the river and putting down roots in Vancouver. It has almost every variation of ice cream you could ask for, including sundaes, shakes, banana splits, and floats. For the ultimate sugar rush, try their donut sundae.
Ice Cream Renaissance
Location: 1925 Main St., Vancouver (Routes 31, 71, The Vine)
Menu MVP: Ice Cream Renaissance is famous for its handcrafted, imaginative ice cream creations. Where else in town can you get your ice cream served in the shape of an erupted Mt. St. Helens? If you like surprises, order the ¿INDECISION? and let the Ice Cream Artist craft you a one-of-a-kind dessert.
Paleteria La Super
Location: 2850 NE 65th Ave. #6803, Vancouver (The Vine)
Menu MVP: Paleteria La Super offers a wide variety of paletas (Mexican popsicles). You can find classic flavors like strawberry and chocolate, or more unique selections like arroz con leche and walnut. The best part is, you can stock up and fill your freezer to enjoy them at home!
Rally Pizza
Location: 8070 E Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver (Route 37)
Menu MVP: Frozen custard is ice cream’s yolkier, more elusive relative. Rally Pizza has folks in Vancouver covered with its custard-based deserts. After indulging in a wood-fired pizza, you can round your meal out with a concrete, shake, float or affogato made with vanilla bean frozen custard.
Savona Coffee House
Location: 1898 SE Columbia River Drive, Vancouver (Route 6)
Menu MVP: If you find yourself on the east side of Vancouver’s waterfront on a sunny day, we suggest stopping by Savona Coffee House. The selection doesn’t stop at coffee; Savona has a variety of ice cream options as well including shakes and floats. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, opt for the ice cream iced coffee.
Treat
Location: 210 W Evergreen Blvd., Suite 600, Vancouver (Routes 2, 25, 30, 41, 71, 105, The Vine)
Menu MVP: Whether you’re a fan of soft serve or hand scooped ice cream, Treat has you covered. With flavors like Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and Freckled Peanut Butter, Treat takes your standard scoop of ice cream and puts its unique twist on it with elevated flavor combinations.
Tropical Sno
Location: 2009 NE 117th St., Vancouver (Route 19)
Menu MVP: On any given hot day in Vancouver, there is bound to be a line at the Tropical Sno stand. Open seasonally during the summer, Tropical Sno brings shave ice, a popular Hawaiian treat, to the Pacific Northwest. There are tons of flavor options, as well as fun toppings to choose from like coconut cream or gummy worms.
