It’s July, which means one thing: National Ice Cream Month is in full swing — and Richmond knows how to scoop in style. Whether you’re a cone connoisseur, a sorbet sipper, or just in it for the Instagrammable swirls, RVA has the frozen treat for every taste bud.
To help you celebrate, I’ve created a custom Ice Cream Crawl Map of Richmond with all the local faves — from classic parlors to dog-friendly dessert stops. Grab your spoons, let’s dig in!
🍨 The Must-Try Scoop Spots:
🍦 Blue Cow Ice Cream Co.
📍 The Village & Short Pump
Creamy, small-batch, and seriously inventive. Don’t skip their signature Goat Cheese & Blueberry.
🍦 Ruby Scoops
📍 Brookland Park Blvd
Black-owned, bold flavors, and bakery items to boot. The Raspberry Cheesecake is as extra as July should be. Several delicious Vegan options!
🍦 Scoop RVA
📍 403 Strawberry St.
Locally churned love with a twist — they swirl in cookies and pastries from Whisk in Shockoe Bottom. Imagine brownie bites snuggled in your scoop!
🍦 Ray’s Italian Water Ice & Frozen Custard
📍 Henrico (3039 Lauderdale Dr) & Glen Allen (2416 Old Brick Rd)
Ray’s is known for their velvety frozen custard layered with fruity or classic Italian ice—plus thick rockslide shakes and monster sundaes with brownies, Oreos, and giant cookies. Don’t miss the signature rocket swirl cups!
🍦 Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (Carytown Exchange)
📍 3500 W Cary St #C150, Richmond, VA 23221
Part of the acclaimed Jeni’s family, offering creative flavors and sweet ice cream flights.
🍦 Mabel’s
📍 Powhatan
Worth the short drive! Family-owned and full of charm, their sundaes are stacked sky-high.
🍦 Kilwins
📍 Carytown
Part nostalgia, part fudge-fueled fantasy. One step in and you're eight years old again (in the best way).
🍦 Charm School Study Hall
📍 Forest Hill
Think: grown-up soft serve with childhood whimsy. Vegan and dairy-free options that don’t taste like compromise.
🍦 Vampire Penguin
📍 Glen Allen & Henrico
Shaved snow magic. These sweet stacks are as pretty as they are playful. Kids and grownups love this one.
🍦 NarWhals Rolled Ice Cream
📍 Carytown
Watch your ice cream get chopped, swirled, and rolled into perfect pinwheels of joy. Add all the toppings — no regrets.
🍦 Gelati Celesti
📍 Various Locations
Richmond’s hometown legend. Always creamy, always dreamy. Try the “Just Ask” — it never disappoints.
🍦 Coco + Hazel
📍 Bon Air
Over-the-top milkshakes piled high with donuts, cookies, and sometimes fireworks (okay, not really, but almost).
🍦 Salty Paws
📍 West Broad Village
RVA’s first dog-friendly ice cream bar! Because pups deserve a frozen treat, too. They will love the Cheeseburger in Paradise! It’s Bonkers and Merlin approved!
📍 Midlothian Turnpike & Staples Mill Rd
Authentic paletas, ice creams, and aguas frescas in an explosion of flavors including Mango Chili Pepper. Amazing popsickles! A Southside favorite and now in Lakeside too!
📍Near Forest Hill
Cookies + ice cream = the ultimate combo. Try their signature ice cream sandwiches made with fresh-baked cookies.
📍 Lakeside
Authentic Mexican-style paletas, ice cream, and colorful desserts made with real fruit and bold flavor.
📍 Chester
Waffles + ice cream = happiness. This West End shop combines homemade waffles with heaping scoops.
✨ Pro Tips for Your Ice Cream Crawl:
-
Go early to beat the lines and the heat.
-
Bring a cooler to store your leftovers or pack some pints or yummy popsickles.
-
Mix up your stops — try new flavors, new styles, and new parts of the city!
-
Snap pics and tag your favorites — share the joy, and support local makers!
-
Tag us at #OwnRVAIceCreamCrawl and you could win a gift card for one of these delicious locations!
🎉 Let's Celebrate Local!
This National Ice Cream Month, support your local legends and hidden gems one scoop at a time. Whether you hit one or all seventeen, each of these shops offers a unique flavor of RVA’s ice cream scene. Grab a cone, tag your friends, and enjoy every frosty bite this summer. While you’re savoring small-batch classics or indulgent milkshakes, remember: calories don’t count in July. 😉
