Listen. If we’re being honest with ourselves, not everything about living in New Orleans is sunshine and roses. Hurricanes, potholes, boil water advisories — this city can sometimes test the patience of the most loyal resident.
But if you have what it takes to live here, NOLA is a city that will reward you. One little-discussed example of this is that — just by living here — we get what amounts to a 10-month-per-year ice cream season! While New Yorkers and Chicagoans frantically dig around for their cold-weather coats, we New Orleanians can just kick back on our porches and keep eating ice cream.
Swing by Prytania Street’s Creole Creamery any night of the week and you’ll see a line down the block. And, while we love lactose leaders like Creole Creamery and Angelo Brocato, when your ice cream season is this long, it’s nice to mix things up from time to time.
That’s why we’ve come up with our list of the 11 New Orleans Ice Cream Shops You Never Knew Existed…Until Now!
Sundae Best
The Elysian Bar at the Marigny’s Hotel Peter & Paul is a New Orleans dinner favorite. The dessert options are awesome, but hold on just a second. Right next door is a classic ice cream shop with flavors that are anything but!
Banana splits, floats, milkshakes and sundaes all grace the menu, but with flavors that will make you go “Mmm!” Peanut Crackle & Jam, and Honey & Zapps are two fun ones, but you really can’t go wrong. And don’t skip the homemade dulce de leche topping. They also deliver right to your door!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFfbzoZFll-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
La Michoacana
This ice pop-stand-on-steroids isn’t in New Orleans, but they do have locations in Metairie, Kenner and Harvey. And, trust me, it’s worth the trip. Their menu is about as creative as it gets, but we’ll start with what they’re most famous for: the ice pop. Flavors range from mango, kiwi or tamarind, to cinnamon churro, cookie monster or strawberry cheesecake!
But that’s not at all! How about a Concha Sandwich — which is a Mexican sweet bread ice cream sandwich with your favorite toppings. Or a mango sorbet topped with fresh mango pieces, candy, chamoy, tajin and a tamarind straw. That’s called the Mangonada. Or — if you’re feeling especially crazy and want something wild with your ice cream — go with the Elote En Palo. It’s corn on the cob, brushed with mayo and topped with cheese & butter. Add hot Cheetos if you’re feeling like a maniac.
View this post on Instagram
Ice Cream 504
Just off Freret Street, Mr. Michael is a local celebrity. His portfolio of creative flavors makes this small ice cream shop in New Orleans worth a visit. Everything they create is housemade with the freshest ingredients around. Flavors rotate, but Pineapple Cilantro, Fig, Fruit Cake and Coquito (an iconic Puerto Rican cocktail) are just a few recent favorites.
View this post on Instagram
Laozi Ice Cream
Laozi ice cream is the opposite of lousy (which is really, really good!). They announce a new flavor release every Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. A recent variation included a tribute to Prytania Theatre that included sea salt and buttered popcorn custard with crushed butterfingers, Reese’s Pieces, and a little salted caramel on the container’s rim. Another was a dairy-free plum, melon and ginger sorbet.
Pay via Venmo (@laoziicecream) or PayPal to reserve your pint after the announcement, and then pick it up at Monkey Monkey coffee shop during their regular hours.
View this post on Instagram
Rahm Haus Ice Cream
Pastry chef Jillian Duran opened up her New Orleans ice cream shop within the last two months, but she’s hit the ground running producing lots of exciting flavors and tasty treats. The Cookies & Dreams was a recent favorite — with brown butter miso ice cream accompanied by house-made rye, misco chocolate chip cookies pieces, and a whole cookie on top, it’s no wonder it sold out!
Rahm Haus also sometimes features dog-friendly ice cream, and other made-for-human dessert options (including for vegan customers). Keep an eye on their Instagram page for new releases (typically on Thursday). You can Direct Message them to schedule a delivery, or just meet them on the weekends at Courtyard Brewery on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
View this post on Instagram
7th Ward Ice Cream Speakeasy
Since this is a speakeasy, you’re going to have to put in the work to find it on your own. But if you do, we promise it’ll be worth it!
Founder Rahn Broady calls the speakeasy “an experience more than a business,” and says the support he receives making and selling ice cream allows him to help the community. So do your part by supporting this venture, and for your efforts, you’ll receive extraordinary flavors that range from Purple Unicorn (ube, white chocolate, honey, mayhaw, vanilla and almond extract) to Chocolate Stout (NOLA stout syrup, cocoa, salt, and cream cheese) and many more released nearly every week!
View this post on Instagram
Popsicle Doorbell
At 1201 St. Roch Avenue, you will find a doorbell. Ring it on Wednesday through Sunday, from 2 until 8 p.m. and you will be greeted with an array of delicious homemade popsicles to choose from? Cheesecake+Chocolate+Graham Cracker? Fruity Pebbles? Key Lime Pie? Watermelon+Cantaloupe? Even puppy-friendly options! Swing by and you’ll find a rotating cast of mouth-watering original flavors.
View this post on Instagram
MORE: Ring this doorbell in the Bywater and you’ll get amazing popsicles
Sweet Handkraft
We like doughnuts, we like macarons, and we like cookies. But it turns out we like them all better with ice cream!
This Metairie shop features a half-dozen varieties of their famous Mochi Donuts — lychee rose and matcha strawberry, just to name a couple! And that creativity of flavors extends to everything they do. Thai Tea, Jasmine Boba Milk Tea, and Durian are just a few of the special ice cream options they’ve had in recent months. Use them as filling for a large macaron sandwich, and you’ll have a colorful, delicious treat.
View this post on Instagram
Gail’s Fine Ice Cream
If you haven’t been over to Harrison Avenue for a while, you might not know about Gail’s Fine Ice Cream! They’ve almost always got their six year-round flavors (Lemon Ice Box Pie is an especially fun one), but also mix in some rotating options.
And if you want to really make a statement, you can have the Gail’s Fine Ice Cream truck cater your next birthday, event or wedding!
View this post on Instagram
Hoodoo Ice Cream
Even though their storefront is in Covington, you don’t have to travel all the way to the Northshore to get pints of this delicious ice cream made from fresh cows’ milk at Mississippi’s Mauthé Progress Milk Barn. Just order online with Laughing Buddha Nursery and pick-up your pint of rich, creamy ice cream (and a plethora of other local produce, meats and ingredients from upwards of 12 Louisiana and Mississippi farms) at their shop in Metairie!
View this post on Instagram
Frey Smoked Meat Co.
They don’t make their own ice cream, but these wild milkshakes will most definitely make your dreams come true. Their “regular” flavors include the Cookie Monster, the Nutella Reeses, and the Milk Chocolate Chip — but you’ll also find seasonal shakes around most holidays. (The King Cake milkshake includes a slice of the namesake cake right on top!)
The milkshakes are $10-a-pop, but they’re massive and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
View this post on Instagram
———————————————————————————————————
WRITER MATT HAINES LIVES IN NEW ORLEANS. FOLLOW HIM FOR ALL THINGS ICE CREAM (AND EDIBLE, IN GENERAL) — AT MATTHAINESWRITES.COM, AND ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER.
