1. Purple Door
205 S. SECOND ST.
Known for its immense rotating supply of classic and eccentric scoops, Purple Door opened its first brick-and-mortar shop in 2014 to local acclaim. Flavors at the Walker’s Point location switch out daily. They range from local boozy favorites (absinthe ice cream, anyone?) to MKE Parks Trail Mix – a vanilla-based ice cream with peanuts, raisins and chocolate-covered pretzels created as a fundraiser for the Milwaukee County Parks Department.
2. Scratch Ice Cream
2205 N. CALHOUN RD., BROOKFIELD
Brothers Ryan and Justin Povlick sling over 20 flavors of small-batch ice cream with local ingredients, including six vegan options. Each three-gallon batch is produced at its Brookfield location, with popular choices including Door County Cherry and Cold Brew & Toffee made with Wonderstone Coffee.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Babe’s Ice Cream
2264 S. KINNICKINNIC AVE.
This family-owned shop on Kinnickinnic Avenue serves over 100 varieties of Madison’s Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream. The storefront alternates between 32 flavors, including limited releases such as the vegan Electric Watermelon, London Fog and Sundae Funnies – a mix of Blue Moon and marshmallow ice cream with cereal. Babe’s also offers custom ice cream cakes, shakes and sundaes.
4. Tastee Twist
2378 N. TEUTONIA AVE.
It’s easy to spot Tastee Twist’s retro red-white-and-blue stand and its giant ice cream cone sign. The longtime favorite’s menu features traditional cones, sundaes and floats, along with other nonfrozen foods like nachos and hot dogs. On Sundays, try the special lemon flavor.
5. La Michoacana Plus
3142 S. 13TH ST.
This ice cream shop’s name pays homage to family-owned heladerías in Michoacán, Mexico, that use the name with no central ownership. The name has become synonymous with paletas and Mexican ice cream made from 100% fruit, both of which La Michoacana Plus has plenty. Flavors of ice cream include strawberry, guava and zapote fruit, and the menu also has mangonada (mango sorbet, chamoy and Tajín).
6. Nite Owl Drive-In
830 E. LAYTON AVE.
The traditional burger joint on the city’s South Side sticks to its roots. Each morning, the place receives 250 pounds of ground beef, and when it runs out, it closes for the day. Some might find Nite Owl’s quirk either charming or irksome, but specialty sundaes like the Turtle Sundae and the Red and White – strawberries and bananas – are worth the irregular hours.
7. Isa’s Artisan Ice Cream
FOOD TRUCK
Despite new closing times and required applications for food trucks, Isa’s Artisan Ice Cream van is going strong. The shop has both milk- and water-based ice cream with over 20 options. Flavors include cucumber and bubble gum for water-based ice cream and coffee and Mexican chocolate for milk-based. Isa’s has made stops at various local food truck fests this summer.
8. Lee’s Dairy Treat
14040 W. GREENFIELD AVE., BROOKFIELD
Leander Bugs started this seasonal ice cream shop in 1971, and it’s been serving Brookfield for over 50 years. The family-owned shop boasts over 40 choices of treats, sundaes, shakes and malts, all housed in a ’70s-style storefront. Lee’s is open every year from March until the end of October.
9. AM Ice Cream
1232 MILWAUKEE AVE., SOUTH MILWAUKEE
Named after the owners’ two sons, Adam and Meng, this family-owned business specializes in rolled ice cream. The Southeast Asian style has a finer texture and vertical presentation, but scooped options are also available. Rolled flavors include Mocha, Oreo and Fruity Pebble, and they come topped with whipped cream and syrup.
10. John’s Drive-In
1317 ARCADIAN AVE., WAUKESHA
Here’s to the root beer float lovers. John’s Drive-In started in 1937 as an A&W and moved into its current bright orange building in 1962. It offers ice cream sandwiches and sundaes along with its signature root beer floats. You can also buy its homemade root beer in bulk, ranging from a quart, half a gallon and a gallon.
11. Frankie’s Ice Cream
313 N. FRANKLIN ST., PORT WASHINGTON
Frankie’s celebrates its fourth season of slinging ice cream out of a 1969 Airstream Safari parked in downtown Port Washington. The trailer serves 11 flavors of Cedar Crest Ice Cream, Jolly Good soda and doughnuts. Toppings can be drizzled over the doughnuts for a doughnut sundae. Frankie’s also offers ample outdoor seating.
