Craving ice cream in Nashville? You're in luck! Whether you want a giant, colorful milkshake from Legendairy Milkshake Bar, a custom cookie ice cream sandwich from The Baked Bear, or a classic scoop from Mike's Ice Cream Fountain right in the heart of downtown, this city delivers.
Don't miss Elliston Place Soda Shop, a true Nashville icon reinvigorated with new life, or the Goo Goo Shop for a sweet DIY chocolate experience. Dive into the details of these delightful spots in the blog below and find out why Nashville is as famous for its ice cream as it is for its music. Enjoy!
Legendairy Milkshake Bar
It would be safe to say that the folk over at the Legendairy Milkshake Bar are artists more than mere ice cream vendors. Just checkout their Instagram feed for a taste of the unbelievable work that they do.
Every ice cream comes in a frosted mason jar overflowing with color and pizzazz. They call the people who make your ice cream “milk shake artists”. I can’t think of a better description!
Each of the pieces of your dish are handmade, painstakingly, and lovingly put together. The ice creams and milkshakes are creamy and cold, packed full of flavor and so big that you won’t know where to start eating!
Each milkshake is so decadent and a little over the top, but you won’t care. This place is perfect for kids.
Neighborhood: Downtown Nashville
Kokos Ice Cream Scoop Shop
Are you ready for creamless, non-dairy ice cream? Since I’ve been in Nashville, I’ve seen more and more vegan and vegetarian food options appear. Produce is readily available in Middle Tennessee.
Koko’s Ice Cream is a plant-based ice cream. They have vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free options.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Gracie's Milkshake Bar
Gracie’s create handcrafted shakes and fries. They specialize in the outrageous and fun art of milkshake art, and they create fantastic things!
At Gracie’s you’re not just paying for a shake, you’re paying for an experience. Take for instance The Unicorn shake. It has fresh strawberries topped with a massive heap of whipped cream, with a waffle cone and part of a pop tart projecting from the cream, gummy worms protruding and covered in sprinkles. Ridiculously fun. How are you supposed to eat that thing?
Gracie’s has been described as masterfully artistic and good quality at the same time.
The downside is that it’s a little pricey and messy. However, for the experience, it is probably worth doing it once. Plus, the kids will love it.
Neighborhood: Downtown Nashville
Ben & Jerry's
This one a simpler option: Ben & Jerry’s. I stumbled across it when I was visiting family in Vanderbilt. It’s a great location if you’re in the area. It’s just down the street from 21st Avenue in Hillsboro.
At this location you can take your time and try as many samples as you want, and they are open late. There’s not a lot of seating so best to go when the weather is warm and walk outside.
Neighborhood: Hillsboro
The Ice Cream Bar
The Ice Cream bar is a popular place that offers a HUGE selection of desserts, ice cream and popsicles. In total, you will find 50 different flavors of popsicles, 32 flavors of ice cream, milkshakes, and ice cream combinations like ice cream hot dog, ice cream spaghetti, and ice cream burgers. Basically, anything that you can think of, they can do.
For example, recent visitors have recommended the chocolate martini, banana split, strawberry and cream shake, and churro treat. You can make any combination of flavors.
It’s a little bit out of downtown Nashville at 5572 Nolensville Pike.
Neighborhood: Hickory Valley
Goo Goo Shop
The GooGoo Cluster is a special type of candy in Nashville. It was created in 1912 and continues to be sold here to this day.
Today, they have a storefront in downtown Nashville that offers “Chocolate Experiences”. This includes the chance to make your own candy bar and pair wine or spirits with Goo Goo chocolate with hands-on candy making.
This store also has “Design Your Own” kiosks, where you can use a digital panel to have chocolatiers build your custom candy in front of you.
They’re open 7 days a week from 10 am-6 pm right in the heart of downtown Nashville. Check out their website for details on where to park.
Neighborhood: Downtown Nashville
The Baked Bear
The Baked Bear sells custom homemade cookies, and ice cream. This is another one of those spectacular Nashville locations that sell more ice cream art than just ice cream itself. Just check out their Instagram page for a sample of their work.
The goods look like giant ice cream hamburgers—the most colorful and delicious hamburgers you’ve ever seen.
As you move around the different stations you get to choose the type of cookie, followed by the toppings and then the fillings. Everything is made in-house, and there are a ton of amazing flavors.
It’s in a great location on Division Street surrounded my restaurants like Chuy’s, Hattie B’s, The Row Kitchen & Pub, and Losers Bar and Grill. So, if you are eating or going on a date in the area I would 10/10 recommend as a fun time.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Mimi's Ice Create & Coffee Shoppe
Mimi’s Ice Cream Shoppe is a Nashville staple that locals love. The ice cream is made and handcrafted on-site.
A favorite menu item is the Derrick Henry Banana Split that includes whipped cream and toppings of your choice. If you have a candy in mind, they have it – you can create anything you like.
Another favorite is the Birthday Cake Ice Cream cone (the cones are also made in-house). It’s a cake batter ice cream that is a favorite with the kids.
Another restaurant created by the same family is Caney Fork River Valley Grille that has one the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award for 6 years.
I have a fond memory of this place when I visited with my father-in-law, Joe Chambers. That day we were riding in his brand-new red Corvette. I ordered us both the vanilla ice cream cone dipped in chocolate. It was a hot summer day and as we drove home the ice cream melted all down our hands and onto our clothes. A miserable but memorable experience.
Neighborhood: Near the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center