From new arrivals to old favorites, beat the heat at these Los Angeles ice cream shops.
By Heather Platt, adapted from Sweet Scoop Shops in the August 2016 issue of WHERE Los Angeles Magazine
Summer’s getting hotter, but the city is getting cooler, with new Los Angeles ice cream shops joining perennial favorites on what seems like a daily basis. Here are 10 parlors packing ‘em in and scooping it up across the Southland.
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, a hit at downtown LA’s One Santa Fe, is now open at Culver City’s hip new Platform lifestyle center.
>> 300 S. Santa Fe Ave., Ste. R, downtown, 213.625.0705; 8820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 424.341.0850. vanleeuwenicecream.com
McConnell’s
Following its LA debut at Grand Central Market, McConnell’s is scooping up its “fine” ice cream in Studio City.
>> 317 S. Broadway, downtown, 213.346.9722; 12073 Ventura Place, Studio City, 818.308.7789. mcconnells.com
Smitten
Smitten, the ice cream made to order using liquid nitrogen, is now satisfying South Bay sweet tooths at the Point.
>> 850 S. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo, 424.220.7100. smittenicecream.com
Salt & Straw
Portland-original Salt & Straw is set to open its fourth L.A. location this month, in downtown LA’s Arts District.
>> 240 N. Larchmont Blvd., L.A., 323.466.0485; 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.310.8429; 12180½ Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818.358.2890; 829 E. 3rd St., downtown. saltandstraw.com
Magpies Softserve
Homegrown Magpies Softserve scratch-recipe dessert shop is proof that Silver Lake can never have too many ice-cream parlors.
>> 2660 Griffith Park Blvd., L.A., 323.486.7094. magpiessoftserve.com
Carmela
Farmers-market favorite Carmela has brick-and-mortars in Pasadena and near the Grove. Now a Woodland Hills shop is sweetening up the Valley.
>> 2495 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, 626.797.1405; 7920 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.944.0232; 5301 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818.914.5401. carmelaicecream.com
Afters Ice Cream
Find out why everyone is talking about Afters Ice Cream’s Milky Buns at one of several SoCal spots, including one in Long Beach and a new Pasadena outpost.
>> 5708 E. 7th St., Long Beach; 1265 E. Green St., Pasadena. aftersicecream.com
Sweet Rose Creamery
With five LA locations, Sweet Rose Creamery tempts taste buds across the Southland.
>> Brentwood Mart, 225 26th St., Ste. 51, Santa Monica; 970 Monument St., Ste. 103, Pacific Palisades; 4377 Tujunga Ave., Studio City; 7565 Beverly Blvd., L.A.; 826 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.260.2663. sweetrosecreamery.com
Scoops Ice Cream
Find new dairy and vegan flavors every day at cult-favorite Scoops Ice Cream.
>> 12 N. Heliotrope Drive, L.A.; 5105 York Blvd., Highland Park; 727 N. Broadway, Ste. 125, downtown, 323.739.8675; Scoops Westside, 3400 Overland Ave., L.A. scoopswestside.com
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams planted its first West Coast scoop shop conveniently near the L.A. Zoo, Griffith Observatory and the Greek Theatre.
>> 1954 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, 323.928.2668. jenis.com
Heather Platt is a Los Angeles based food writer and photographer. Her work can be seen in The Infatuation, We Like LA, PopSugar Food, Cooking With My Kid, Bon Appetit, Los Angeles Magazine and LA Weekly.
