10 local ice cream shops in Richmond, VA

Enjoy the sunshine with one of these local scoops

An employee at Scoop showcases a towering vanilla sundae topped with hot fudge and a pink macaroon.

Scoop serves creative flavor combinations out of their Strawberry Street location.

Photo via Scoop

If this warm weather’s got you craving a local scoop, why not try out a sweet treat from one of Richmond’s many enticing ice cream shops? Whether you’re a gelato aficionado or looking for a dairy-free fix, there’s plenty to discover on the Richmond ice cream scene.

Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets
Owner Rabia Kamara opened her standalone store in Northside in 2020, six years after starting her small-batch ice cream company. With creative seasonal flavors like carrot cake and Red Drank sorbet, it’s the place for dairy and vegan treats alike. Pop over to the storefront or catch their mobile setup at events around the city.

Study Hall
If you’re in the mood for soft serve, this walk-up window has you covered with dairy and vegan options. Plus, don’t miss out on the delectable — and very Instagrammable — toasted fluff topping.

Scoop
Cardamom honeyed pistachio, Blanchard’s coffee, brown sugar cookie dough — stop us if you’ve heard enough. Scoop is slinging all these flavors and more, plus pints and specialty ice cream cakes, at their Strawberry Street location.

An image of a flight from Ruby Scoops Ice Cream. Six mini scoops of ice cream rest in a pink egg carton.

Ruby Scoops serves colorful flights of ice cream in Northside.

Photo by RICtoday

Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream & Cafe
A New England-style staple, Bev’s has been serving up scoops in Richmond since 1998. Head to their Carytown storefront for sundaes, coffee, and myriad baked goodies. When founder Beverly Mazursky retired in 2021, she handed the business over to employee Erin Bottcher and her brother Connor.

Spotty Dog Ice Cream Co.
This Union Hill spot spent half a decade at farmers markets around the city before setting up in its first permanent parlor in October 2022. Another New England-style specialist, stop by for some Tea n’ Biscuits, Malted Madagascar Vanilla, or Cappuccino + Biscotti.

Westray’s Finest
Find the local ice cream truck at community events or swing by the Fan shop to try artisan flavors like Cookie Dough Clockout, Gold Rush, and Madagascar vanilla bean, Westray’s Finest can be enjoyed by the scoop or by the pint.

A hand holding a scoop of ice cream in front of a pink buildingwith a sign reading "Bev's homemade ice cream"

Bev’s has been serving New England scoops in Richmond since 1998.

Photo by RICtoday

DeLuca Gelato
You may have to drive to the West End, but trust us, it’s worth it. DeLuca Gelato serves up authentic, Italian-style gelato and sorbetto in over 36 flavors daily. Must-trys include Banana Nutella, Cioccolato Senza Zucchero, and Mascarpone gelato.

NarWhals Rolled Ice Cream
Richmond’s only local rolled ice cream shop, NarWhals in Carytown offers mix-ins like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, York Peppermint Patties, and mint Oreos. Or, if you’d rather learn the skills yourself, sign up for an ice cream rolling workshop.

Gelati Celesti
You can find Gelati Celesti’s artisanal ice cream at 7 different locations in the Richmond area, including shops in Scott’s Addition, Libbie and Grove, and Swift Creek. Staple flavor favorites include chocolate decadence and Rainbow Cookie.

Ellie’s Hot Dogs & Ice Cream
The only member of this list who also serves specialty hot dogs, Ellie’s opened near the Diamond in 2023. Stop by for a scoop, a milkshake, or a frank, then enjoy it on the stand’s outdoor patio. Pro tip: Real dogs — the furry, tail-wagging kind — are also welcome at Ellie’s.

With options like these, we feel like Richmond won the gelato-ry.

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