Bella’s Gelato Shop is known for its artisanal gelato, made fresh daily with locally sourced ingredients. The shop’s signature flavors, such as Stracciatella and Pistachio, are crowd favorites, offering a creamy, rich taste that transports you straight to Italy.

When available, my absolute favorite at Decibel is the vegan cinnamon affogato. That cinnamon scoop is so creamy and not too sweet — it’s just the right amount of cinnamon. I can’t get enough of it! But check out their rotating flavors.

The folks at Blue Ice Gelato make their 20+ flavors with the highest quality ingredients and state-of-the-art equipment. Grab a scoop (or three) of the likes of Spicy Mangy or Fig Mascarpone with Pecans — flavors change regularly — and chill out indoors or on the spacious patio.

The same place that sells those glorious garlic knots also serves up house-made gelato, sorbetto, and Italian ice in six-ounce servings and by the pint. Of the 12 flavors, the specialty is lemon, which packs a sweet-tart punch.

The ultimate comfort food destination, Ceres offers excellent versions of both soft serve ice cream and pasta. The ice cream’s rich, flavorful sweetness provides a refreshing complement to the savory pasta dishes. The place is also known for its cookies, which happen to go GREAT with ice cream.

In late 2023, Sundaze Yogurt harnessed new ownership and became Chill on Sunrise. The shop has a rotating menu of at least eight soft-serve frozen yogurts, nearly 10 Thrifty brand ice creams, milkshakes, malts, floats, smoothies, sundaes, and stuffed cookies! It’s like Disneyland for those with a sweet tooth.

Oh, and they have ice cream for dogs! They make their own vanilla and peanut butter “pup cups.”

So good that it now has locations across the country, Frost was founded in Tucson by best friends Jeffrey Kaiserman and Stephen Ochoa after an inspiring visit to Rome. With the help of a master gelato chef, they create a selection of 62 gelato flavors and 56 sorbets. When choosing flavors to mix and match, consider the Marble Black Cherry with Chocolate for a flavor marriage made in gelato heaven.

Frozen Delight, established in 1990, stands as Tucson’s oldest family-owned frozen yogurt and ice cream shop. They specialize in both soft serve frozen yogurt and ice cream, and offer fresh-made vegan options to boot. Grab a cup or, better yet, a waffle cone, and stack it high with ice-cold scoops!

HUB’s ice cream, served inside the restaurant, is renowned for using local, organic ingredients and for its creative flavors.  Past favorites include Whiskey Almond Brittle, a unique blend of sweet and savory with a hint of whiskey, and the Vegan Chocolate, a dairy-free delight that’s rich and indulgent. You’ve got to love a restaurant that pays such serious attention to ice cream — and plenty of people do.

The perfect spot to cool off after hiking in Catalina State Park — or after doing anything else or nothing at all —  Lick’s offers a wealth of cold treat options, along with creative coffee and tea drinks and Italian sodas. You’ll find such distinctive combos as bubble waffles a la mode and Hotsie’s Cannoli Cream, including Honey Nut Cheerios, chocolate chips, and vanilla ice cream. You can also build your own concoctions, with a choice of house-made ice creams (vegan versions available), cereals, toppings, and drizzles.

From Big Bopper Milkshakes to banana splits and the epic Wipe Out Sundae, Little Anthony’s Diner is a dessert hub here in Tucson. If you’re up for the challenge, order the Wipe Out Sundae — two people can share and if you eat it all within 20 minutes you’ll get it for free and an “I Conquered the Wipe Out” t-shirt.

Put simply, the place that specializes in transparently sourced chocolate also has phenomenal chocolate ice cream. But don’t sleep on their vanilla.

There’s always something new on the gelato menu at Noodies! The restaurant offers a rotating soft-serve gelato menu, which is a perfect addition to the menu as the warmer summer days scorch the streets of Tucson.

The first in Arizona to be certified to pasteurize ice cream, the Screamery is also known for using only hormone-free milk and all-natural ingredients — as well as for its wonderfully distinctive flavors. The shop’s popular Bees Knees blends lavender and local honey for a subtle and smooth refreshing taste, for example, while the heartier Drunken Cowboy incorporates bourbon and cookie pieces. Can’t decide?  A “flight” option lets you sample six mini-scoops.

The Screamery has multiple locations in Tucson!

Sweet Rolls and More gives ice cream a fun and flirty new twist — literally! Operating as both a food truck and a stationary venue, Sweet Rolls offers rolled ice cream made fresh and by hand right before your eyes. Want to make it vegan? Ask for coconut-based vegan ice cream. As for toppings, brownie and birthday cake crumbles are not vegan. Chocolate and strawberry drizzle are vegan. Vegan whipped cream is now available!

A combination water purification and ice cream shop? It makes sense. When you’re here to refill your supply of filtered H2O, enjoy a scoop, cone, pint, milkshake, or smoothie made with one of 32 Thrifty ice cream flavors.  Better yet, take this opportunity to check out golas, the Indian street version of snow cones, featuring such flavors as saffron, rose, and rajbhog along with standards like chocolate and strawberry. The shaved ice is, naturally, made with purified water.

“You must try the Taconnoli — made of pistachio, orange zest, ricotta, and creamy mascarpone inside crispy pastry shells flavored with Marsala and a touch of cinnamon.”

These desserts are definitely something a culinary “funcle” would enjoy serving up at any type of gathering.