A TampaCityGuide.com Local Guide • Updated June 2025
🏆 Tampa ranked #1 in the United States for ice cream shops in 2026
Tampa isn’t just a great city for beaches and Cuban sandwiches — it’s officially the best city in the United States for ice cream shops, according to a 2026 study that analyzed Google reviews across the 100 largest U.S. metro areas. With an average ice cream shop rating of 4.71 out of 5, Tampa topped the entire country. Whether you’re a lifelong local or a first-time visitor, these five scoop shops represent the very best the city has to offer.
#1 Chill Bros. Scoop Shop
Tampa Magazine’s 2025 Best Ice Cream Winner • 5 Locations
Founded by fourth-generation Tampa natives — three Chillura brothers and a Chillura sister — Chill Bros. Scoop Shop has grown from a single neighborhood stand in historic Ybor City into Tampa’s most celebrated local chain with five locations. The shop was named Best Ice Cream in Tampa by Tampa Magazine’s 2025 Best of the City awards.
Middle brother Max traveled to Bologna, Italy to study the art of gelato before bringing those methods back home. Every scoop starts from a five-ingredient custard base — Florida milk and cream, all-natural egg yolks, pure cane sugar, and a dash of sea salt — then gets built up with house-made mix-ins, sauces, and baked goods by their in-house pastry chef. No artificial stabilizers or emulsifiers.
Flavors like Cafe Con Leche and Pastelito de Guava capture Tampa’s Cuban heritage in frozen form. At the flagship Ybor City location you can watch the entire ice cream-making process through the open kitchen window.
Must-Try Flavors
Cafe Con Leche, Pastelito de Guava, Apple Pie, Double Down Oreo, Ybor Spiced Rum Toasted Coconut Meringue Pie.
Contact & Hours
| Address | 1910 E 7th Ave, Ste 101, Tampa, FL 33605 (Ybor City Flagship) |
| Phone | (813) 247-2767 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM • Fri–Sat 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM • Sun 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Website | www.chillbros.com |
| Other Locations | SoHo: 1205 S Howard Ave | Water Street: 1061 Water St | Armature Works: 1910 N Ola Ave | Bay to Bay: 3302 W Bay to Bay Blvd |
| Features | All-natural • Vegan options • Pints to go • Watch ice cream made in-store |
#2 Bo’s Ice Cream
Tampa’s Oldest Ice Cream Shop • Open Since 1954
If you want to understand Tampa’s ice cream culture, you start at Bo’s. Open since 1954, Bo’s Ice Cream in Seminole Heights holds the proud title of Tampa’s oldest ice cream shop — and it remains almost entirely unchanged from the era in which it opened. Regulars who went there as children in the 1970s return to find the same vibe, the same walk-up window, and the same commitment to generously portioned, classic frozen treats.
Bo’s is a soft-serve specialist. Their dipped cones — dunked in flavors like butterscotch, cherry, and chocolate — are the stuff of Tampa legend. The Upside Down Banana Split has its own dedicated following: a mountain of banana, ice cream, and toppings turned inside out and piled sky-high.
The drive-thru is a Tampa rite of passage, especially on sweltering summer evenings when the line stretches out onto Florida Avenue. The vibe is pure Florida nostalgia — palm trees, warm nights, sticky fingers, and a reminder that some things just don’t need to be improved.
Must-Try Items
Butterscotch Dip Top Cone, Upside Down Banana Split, Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae, Peanut Butter Milkshake.
Contact & Hours
| Address | 7101 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604 |
| Phone | (813) 302-9644 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu & Sun 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM • Fri–Sat 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Website | tampapix.com/bos.htm |
| Neighborhood | Seminole Heights |
| Features | Drive-thru • Walk-up window • Outdoor seating |
#3 Dairy Joy
South Tampa’s Retro Ice Cream Institution • Since 1958
Tucked into South Tampa’s Manhattan Avenue corridor, Dairy Joy has been a neighborhood institution since 1958 — making it one of the most enduring small businesses in the entire Tampa Bay area. Under its current family ownership, the shop has been lovingly refreshed while preserving every inch of its 1950s soul: an Elvis statue out front, two vintage cars in the lot for photos, corn hole games, and shaded outdoor patio seating.
The menu is impressively broad. Dairy Joy serves authentic soft serve in a rainbow of dipped flavors — cherry, blue raspberry, and butterscotch — plus an extensive selection of hard-packed ice cream in over 30 flavors, including non-dairy chocolate and vanilla. Sundaes run from classic strawberry to showstopping originals like the Fluffer Nutter (peanut butter, marshmallow, and peanuts) and the Carmello (caramel, peanuts, and marshmallow).
The community ties here run deep. After Hurricane Milton, Dairy Joy gave away free ice cream to neighbors. They also offer ice cream for dogs, making it a genuine stop for the whole family — including four-legged members.
Must-Try Items
Cherry Dipped Cone, Fluffer Nutter Sundae, Carmello Sundae, Coffee Chip ice cream, Banana Split.
Contact & Hours
| Address | 3813 S Manhattan Ave, Tampa, FL 33611 |
| Phone | (813) 839-5485 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu & Sun 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM • Fri–Sat 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Website | dairyjoy.com |
| Neighborhood | South Tampa |
| Features | Drive-thru • Pet-friendly • Outdoor seating • Non-dairy options • Dog ice cream |
#4 The Revolution Ice Cream Co.
Adventurous Artisan Flavors for the Bold Palate
If you believe ice cream can be an art form, The Revolution Ice Cream Co. is your manifesto. Tucked into a strip of shops in Seminole Heights, this homemade artisan creamery has built a passionate following on the strength of flavors that nobody else is making — combinations that sound unusual until you taste them.
Think Blueberry Muffin Tops, Callie Hotcakes, and a dairy-free coffee ice cream that routinely surprises customers who didn’t expect a vegan option to taste this good. The balance of sweetness here is notably restrained — Revolution’s ice cream is rich without being cloying, letting the actual flavors carry the experience. The Vanilla Espresso Bomb is a perennial favorite, and the Cookie Monster brings playful nostalgia to elevated technique.
The atmosphere is cozy and unpretentious. Pints are available to buy in-store ($40 for regular flavors, with a refundable $10 container deposit), and Revolution also handles event catering.
Must-Try Flavors
Vanilla Espresso Bomb, Blueberry Muffin Tops, Callie Hotcakes, Cookie Monster, Dairy-Free Coffee.
Contact & Hours
| Address | 6701 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604 |
| Phone | (813) 513-5053 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM • Fri–Sat 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM • Sun 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Website | revicecream.com |
| Neighborhood | Seminole Heights |
| Features | Dairy-free options • Delivery available • Pints to go • Event catering |
#5 Sea Maids Creamery
Whimsical Mermaid-Themed Creamery & Micro Bakery
Sea Maids Creamery is the most visually distinctive shop on this list — a mermaid-themed ice cream oasis in Seminole Heights that opened during the pandemic and has been making Tampa’s food scene more colorful ever since. The creamery is a mother-and-daughter-owned operation, and the shop is dedicated to their grandmother (abuelita), whose portrait watches over it from the wall.
The ice cream rotates weekly so that regulars always have a reason to come back. Flavors like Purple Haze and Sea Salt Kisses have earned a devoted following, and the playful chocolate mermaid tails used as cone garnishes make every order look like it was designed for a photoshoot. Sea Maids also serves as a micro bakery, with fresh-baked cookies and brownies that have developed their own fan base.
Vegan options are genuinely good here, not an afterthought. The shop also offers ice cream for dogs, custom ice cream pies and cakes by order, flans, and a sampler board with six flavors. The outdoor seating area adds to the festive, eclectic vibe, and the staff — often including the owners — create a warmth that keeps people coming back.
Must-Try Items
Sea Salt Kisses, Purple Haze, Fresh-Baked Chocolate Cookie, Vegan soft serve, Ice Cream Cake (order ahead).
Contact & Hours
| Address | 4230 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603 |
| Phone | (813) 766-1097 |
| Hours | Mon–Wed: Closed • Thu–Fri 2:30 PM – 10:00 PM • Sat 12:30 PM – 10:00 PM • Sun 1:30 PM – 9:30 PM |
| Website | seamaidscreamery.com |
| @seamaidscreamery | |
| Features | Micro bakery • Dog-friendly • Delivery via Uber Eats • Custom cakes & pies |
Quick Reference: All 5 Shops at a Glance
| Shop | Neighborhood | Phone | Best For |
| Chill Bros. Scoop Shop | Ybor City / SoHo / +3 | (813) 247-2767 | Award-winning Tampa flavors |
| Bo’s Ice Cream | Seminole Heights | (813) 302-9644 | Classic soft serve since 1954 |
| Dairy Joy | South Tampa | (813) 839-5485 | Retro drive-thru & dipped cones |
| Revolution Ice Cream Co. | Seminole Heights | (813) 513-5053 | Artisan & dairy-free flavors |
| Sea Maids Creamery | Seminole Heights | (813) 766-1097 | Whimsical vibes & micro bakery |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best ice cream shop in Tampa, FL?
A: Chill Bros. Scoop Shop was named Best Ice Cream in Tampa by Tampa Magazine’s 2025 Best of the City awards. Founded by fourth-generation Tampa natives, they make scratch-made, all-natural ice cream with locally sourced ingredients and flavors inspired by Tampa’s culture.
Q: What is the oldest ice cream shop in Tampa?
A: Bo’s Ice Cream at 7101 N Florida Ave in Seminole Heights is Tampa’s oldest ice cream shop, having been open since 1954. They’re known for classic soft serve, dipped cones, and the legendary Upside Down Banana Split.
Q: Which Tampa ice cream shops have drive-thrus?
A: Both Bo’s Ice Cream (7101 N Florida Ave) and Dairy Joy (3813 S Manhattan Ave) offer drive-thru service. Both are open late on weekends.
Q: Which Tampa ice cream shops have vegan or dairy-free options?
A: Chill Bros. Scoop Shop makes dedicated vegan ice cream at all locations. The Revolution Ice Cream Co. is particularly praised for its dairy-free coffee flavor. Sea Maids Creamery and Dairy Joy also offer non-dairy selections.
Q: Is Tampa really the best city in the US for ice cream?
A: Yes. According to a 2026 study by baby product brand Chicco, which analyzed Google reviews for ice cream shops across the 100 largest U.S. metro areas, Tampa ranked #1 in the country with an average ice cream shop rating of 4.71 out of 5.
Hours and contact information verified as of June 2025. Always confirm current hours directly with each shop before visiting. TampaCityGuide.com