July is National Ice Cream Month, and the most chill of holidays definitely calls for an equally cool celebration. After all, what other frozen treats can really compare to the iconic dessert? It’s so classic, it deserves a full 31 days of recognition. And with the summer season in full swing, appreciation for the icy snack is at an all-time high. It’s the perfect time to swap your usual afternoon coffee run for a refreshing soft-serve break.
So the next time you’re soaking in the sun on Fort Lauderdale Beach and need to cool yourself down from the inside out, make your way over to one of our favorite spots lickity split and celebrate with a cool treat.
1. Häagen-Dazs
The famed ice cream brand is anything but Vanilla with new flavors inspired by all of the sweet, salty, tasty flavors of on-the-go-bites with their new “street foods” flavors. We’re not talking hotdogs on a stick, but sweet treats as only the luxury ice cream brand is known for, like Coffee Chocolate Brownie featuring coffee ice cream swirled with brownies, espresso chocolate sauce, and crunchy cocoa nibs and just in time for summer, the Summer Berry Cake Pop with strawberry ice cream swirled with sweet cream ice cream mixed with fluffy cake pieces and a tangy raspberry sauce.
Haagen Dazs Beachplace | 17 S. Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd. 1st Floor
2. Rita’s Italian Ice
If you’re looking for the perfect place to cool down on a scorching summer day, there’s no better option than Rita’s Italian Ice. As the name suggests, this restaurant focuses on two things: Italian ice and frozen custard – but really there is so much more. Dishing out a rotating selection of over 60 mouth watering Italian Ice, Frozen Custards, Gelati, Concretes and Shakes, Rita’s is a sure spot to keep you cool on a hot summer day.
Rita’s Italian Ice | 3011 E. Las Olas Boulevard
3. The Market at Bahia Mar
Located across from Fort Lauderdale Beach Parks’ outdoor gym, the Homemade Gelato at The Market Deli at Bahia Mar is a great reminder to burn the calories off before calories in. And it’s worth it – as are the fresh-baked muffins, pastries, and desserts, plus the plethora of grab and go snacks, beverages, Boar’s Head premium sandwiches, pizzas and more.
The Market Deli | 801 Seabreeze Boulevard
4. Ben & Jerry’s
The iconic Vermont-based ice cream parlor chain, known for its creative, cleverly named flavors has become a staple of ice cream euphoria in the Central Beach neighborhood. If you’re a Ben & Jerry’s fan you know summer brings visions of a sweetness when the flavor gurus churn out an exciting lineup of new flavors and this years line up of nine new flavors will not disappoint. The most buzzworthy however is the new Cherry Crumble, a buttery ice cream brimming with sweet cherries and swirls of oat crumble. The brand’s talented team envisioned a deconstructed fruit crisp with a soft butter ice cream that allows the cherries to remain center stage.
Ben & Jerry’s | 235 S Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard
5. Yo Mama’s Ice Cream and Pops Corn
Tucked away on Sunrise Lane is Yo Mama’s Ice Cream™; half homemade ice cream parlor, half homemade popcorn shop, and all fun. Specializing in “create your own” Ice Cream Sundaes, prepared with made-on-premise ice cream ranging from classic Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry, to the unexpected Orange Creamsicle and Oreo Bomb and more, the hardest decision you need to make is whether to top off a Waffle Cone, settle for a cup or churn your favorite flavor into a Hand-Spun Milkshake.
Yo Mama’s Ice Cream | 901 Sunrise Lane
