Hot Fudge Sundaes & Ice Cream
Classic soda fountains, hot fudge sundaes, scoop shops and Chicago's old-school ice cream parlors.
Lickity Split
A retro candy-and-custard shop with a soda-fountain feel.
Shawn Michelle's Homemade Ice Cream
Bronzeville's homemade ice cream with soul-food flavors. The Infatuation's #1.
Pretty Cool Ice Cream
Hand-dipped ice cream bars from a pastry chef. A Chicago signature.
Black Dog Gelato
Small-batch gelato with weird-in-a-good-way flavors.
Margie's Candies
The old-school soda fountain in Chicago, with homemade hot fudge since 1921.
The Original Rainbow Cone
A 100-year South Side summer ritual in a pink building. Go to the original.
Scooter's Frozen Custard
A classic walk-up custard stand with lines all summer.
Old-school sundaes and modern scoops
Chicago has a soft spot for old-fashioned ice cream parlors: wooden booths, homemade hot fudge and sundaes big enough to share. A few of these soda fountains have been around for close to a century.
Alongside them, you'll find walk-up frozen custard stands with summer lines around the block, small-batch gelato and inventive scoop shops.
Chicago originals to try:
- The Rainbow Cone: five flavors stacked in slabs, including the Palmer House flavor (cherry and walnut)
- A hot fudge sundae with the fudge on the side, served the old-fashioned way
Good to know: some custard stands and ice cream shops are seasonal, so check before you go in the winter months.