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Guide to Ice Cream In Tucson

Guide

Guide to Ice Cream In Tucson

by Edie JarolimAug 21, 2023Updated Jun 24, 20268 min read
I scream, you scream...oh, hush! In this warm weather town, there's no need to scream for ice cream. This year-round favorite treat and its cool cousins, gelato, and sorbet are widely available in a variety of distinctive styles and flavors. You'll also find more unusual fare such as Indian golas, a version of shaved ice. Read on to learn about some of out locally-owned spots in Tucson to enjoy ice cream and more.
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18 spots

Bella's Gelato Shoppe

2648 E Speedway BlvdUniversity & 4th Ave

Bella's Gelato Shop is known for its artisanal gelato. The shop's signature flavors, such as Stracciatella and Pistachio, are crowd favorites, offering a creamy, rich taste that transports you straight to Italy.

Bisou Burger

Bisou Burger is a roaming Tucson food truck run by co-owners William Jacobs and Jeff Garland, both veterans of local restaurant kitchens. The truck centers on smash burgers built with house-ground chuck from K4 Ranches in Prescott, a fire-roasted poblano puree, and sautéed onions in yellow mustard. Garland bakes every fluffy bun from a high-hydration milk dough, and the duo makes their own American-style cheese by emulsifying Tillamook white cheddar with sodium citrate.

The core menu stays tight, with rotating weekly specials that have included spicy bulgogi and Valentine's Day beet burgers. A falafel burger rounds out the options for vegetarians. The truck also sells house-made ice cream sandwiches. Bisou Burger posts its locations on Instagram; follow @bisouburger for updates.

Brucha

3435 E Speedway BlvdMidtown

Brucha describes itself as a high-end cafe/boba tea concept that serves batch-brewed tea and tea-pressos — they’re using espresso machines fine-tuned to brew tea at precise temperatures and pressures. They’re offering more than just tea, too, at Brucha! Aside from tea, you’ll find different coffee drinks, waffle bites, and multiple flavors of gelato — tea gelato, fruit gelato, etc.

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CERES

77 W Washington StDowntown

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.

(Photo courtesy of Chill On Sunrise)

Chill on Sunrise

4777 E Sunrise DrFoothills

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."

Decibel Coffee Works

267 South Avenida del Convento bldg 9Downtown

Decibel Coffee Works at the MSA Annex operates from a converted shipping container in Tucson’s Mercado San Agustín Annex. The space feels relaxed and creative, with outdoor seating shaded by desert vegetation and accented by warm wood details. They offer a variety of seasonal drinks and pastries.

Frost Gelato

7131 North Oracle RoadNorthwest

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.

HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery

266 E Congress StDowntown

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.

Licks Ice Cream & Coffee

16130 N Oracle RdCatalina

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.

(Photo courtesy of Little Anthony's Diner)

Little Anthony's Diner

7010 E Broadway BlvdEastside

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.

The Screamery

5920 Arizona Pavilions DriveMarana

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!

Macarons and other pastries at Treat (Photo by Hannah Hernandez)

Treat Dessert Studio

3230 North Dodge BoulevardMidtown

Treat Dessert Studio, located at 3230 N. Dodge Blvd. in Tucson, offers a bright, modern space with clean lines, natural wood accents, and a minimalist design. The open-concept layout features a display case showcasing an array of colorful pastries and desserts, creating an inviting atmosphere for guests. As an extension of Ciao Down, Treat provides a cozy spot for dessert lovers to indulge in handcrafted sweets.

Signature offerings at Treat include old-fashioned molasses cookies, mini macarons, brown butter crispies, and a variety of gelato flavors. Pastry Chef Bina Kiwaczyk crafts each dessert in-house, utilizing the studio’s pizza oven for baking, which imparts unique flavors to the treats. Additionally, Treat offers dog-friendly gelato made with organic coconut milk, honey, maple syrup, and fresh bacon, ensuring a delightful experience for all guests.

Variety H2O & Ice Cream

6330 E Golf Links Rd Ste 138South Side

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.

Zio Peppe

6502 E Tanque Verde RdEastside

These desserts are definitely something a culinary “funcle” would enjoy serving up at any type of gathering.
"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."
— Matt Sterner’s favorite

[Editor's note: this article was originally written in Aug. 21, 2023 and last updated on June 24, 2026.]


Frequently asked questions

Tucson has strong options across the city. The Screamery uses hormone-free milk and all-natural ingredients across multiple locations. HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery on Congress Street crafts creative flavors with local, organic ingredients. Bella's Gelato Shoppe on Speedway makes artisanal gelato fresh daily.

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Read the full story on tucsonfoodie.com.IOU Sushi III has closed. The all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant on North Oracle Road announced the news on Facebook after about 10 years in Tucson. “This is the hardest post I’ve had to write,” the owners said. The post continued, “we have met some great friends who have become family to us.” Tucson Foodie first visited the restaurant in 2017, when it operated as IOU Sushi IV. Read the full story on tucsonfoodie.com.
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Read @sea_lyon’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com 
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