With Tampa’s temperatures skyrocketing, there couldn’t be a better foodie holiday than National Ice Cream Day! Established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, National Ice Cream Day is always on the third Sunday of July, and this year it falls on Sunday, July 16th. There is certainly no shortage of ice cream in Tampa, but don’t grab a bowl or cone from just anywhere this Sunday. Check out our guide to the best ice cream shops as well as some sweet deals for National Ice Cream Day in Tampa Bay.
Next to foodie paradise and sister restaurant, Datz, Dough draws crowds with their premium, handcrafted ice cream, and impressive flavors. This ice cream and dessert shop offers favorites like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but it’s innovative flavors like their black Galaxy Ice Cream and Sweet Potato “Nice Cream,” featured in Shape magazine, that make Dough stand out. You can make your ice cream creation with any flavor and toppings, which change on a weekly basis so you can try new flavors and combinations.
Yogurtology has mastered “the art and science of frozen yogurt” as their motto boasts with more flavors and toppings than you can imagine. Although not technically “ice cream,” the frozen yogurt at Yogurtology is so sweet and creamy that you won’t notice the difference. See for yourself and make your signature frozen yogurt at any one of their three locations in the Tampa Bay area.
Mr. Penguin is a small, Twistee Treat-style ice cream joint that will cool you down with soft serve, Italian ice, and creamy gelato made fresh daily. There are many fruit and dessert Italian ice flavors, so there’s something for every taste. Not sure which one to get? They will be more than happy to give you free samples!
French patisserie meets industrial at this vintage ice cream and dessert shop in the trendy Soho district. Their ice cream is just as authentic as the vibes at Chocolate Pi use high-quality ingredients and real, local fruit. In addition to a variety of ice cream flavors, they also serve ice cream sandwiches, floats, and sundaes. Their flavor selections change frequently and seasonally, so give them a call if you're curious what Chocolate Pi has today.
Not your typical ice cream parlor, Snobachi’s handcrafted ice cream provides a fun twist reminiscent of a Japanese steakhouse. Instead of the usual ice cream bowl or cone, they serve SnoRolls that look like sushi made with ice cream, fruit, toppings, dessert sauce, and whipped cream. Snobachi has a menu of SnoRolls, but you can make create your SnoRoll by choosing your ice cream and ingredients. They also have a cold fondue dessert called Dragon’s Breath where you dip sweets like chocolate, donuts, and wafers into liquid nitrogen.
Brandon
Like the start of any revolution, Revolution Ice Cream Co. had humble beginnings with bold flavor. Ice cream began as a hobby for owner Bill Workman, known as “The Willy Wonka of Ice Cream” because he thought WAY out of the box creating flavors with crazy ingredients with habanero peppers, candied bacon, and curry. Workman continues to experiment at his ice cream shop, so stop by Revolution Ice Cream Co. to see what he has up his sleeve for National Ice Cream Day in Tampa Bay.
Seminole Heights
Bo’s Ice Cream
Across from Lowry Park Zoo, Bo’s Ice Cream serves soft serve, shakes and malts, sundaes, floats, and dip cones. They also have upside-down banana splits and “thick-n-chunckies,” a Blizzard-like treat. All make a perfect way to end your day at the zoo or for just a summertime treat.
Icesmile
Instead of ice cream scoops, you'll find rolls of ice cream in your bowl at Icesmile. Inspired by East-Asian style, Icesmile makes their ice cream by pouring dairy or soy milk onto a chilled pan with other flavors and rolling it all together. The ice cream rolls are then served in a bowl and topped with fruit and whipped cream. The sweet flavors and presentation at Icesmile are sure to bring a smile to your face!
If you're in the mood to kick it old school, hit your favorite Dairy Queen Grill & Chill for a sweet treat; and if you're hungry for a meal, they have you covered there too!
St. Petersburg
Don Cesar
St. Petersburg Beach's only 4 Diamond, beachfront hotel offers you pure indulgence all month with an Ice-Cream-for-Breakfast Sundae! Available at the Don’s Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor and Sea Porch Restaurant, the sundae features salted caramel ice cream, homemade peach compote and candied bacon, fresh whipped cream, and chocolate sprinkles! What a way to start the day! Available through August 7th, a portion of sundae sales will be donated to Give Kids the World Village.
Fast Food
McDonald’s
On National Ice Cream Day, participating McDonald’s locations will offer their signature vanilla soft serve cones for free! No purchase is required, and there is a limit of one ice cream per person.
Baskin Robbins
A spin on classic ice cream cake, Baskin-Robbins’ new Polar Pizza is the ultimate treat: a cookie crust topped with ice cream then crumbled cookies or candy pieces, fudge, caramel, marshmallow or sprinkles. On Friday, July 14th, celebrate National Ice Cream Day early with a free slice of Mint Chocolate Chip Polar Pizza from any participating Baskin Robbins from noon to 5:00 PM.
Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery makes their ice cream every day, so you know it's fresh. They use only the finest ingredients and happily mix in as many toppings as you'd like! Get your personally designed, one-of-a-kind ice cream Sunday at Cold Stone.
Dairy Queen
Kick it old school and hit up your local Dairy Queen for a twistee delight or signature spoon thick Blizzard. They've been doin' it right for years at Dairy Queen, a favorite of many.
Beat the heat this Sunday and grab a sweet, refreshing treat from any one of these Tampa Bay ice cream shops for National Ice Cream Day! Looking for more things to do this weekend? Check out Top 10 Things to Do This Weekend Tampa Bay 7/14 -7/16/2017.
(All photos from business Facebook pages. Cover Photo by igor-cvsyannykov)
