Top Ice Cream Shops in Sacramento

Summer is the perfect time to sample some of the best ice cream shops in Sacramento. Pick up a couple scoops of your favorite flavor, whether you prefer traditional ice cream, fruity sherbet, or the lighter frozen yogurt.

Gunther's Quality Ice Cream
2801 Franklin Boulevard
916.457.6646
www.gunthersicecream.com
10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

As "Sacramento's oldest ice cream parlour," Gunther's Quality Ice Cream remains one of the favorite ice cream shops in the city. The store itself is easily identifiable by the enormous neon "Jugglin' Joe," who lazily tosses a scoop of ice cream from his right hand to the top of a cone in his left over and over. Legend has it that if the scoop ever misses the cone, the ice cream is free for everyone.

They process their ice cream the old-fashioned way, with a hand-controlled machine, but they also serve other forms of frozen desserts, from sorbets to non-dairy freezes. Or, if you're not really in the mood for ice cream, grab a deli sandwich or a smoothie. They also sell their ice cream in containers so you can take larger portions home to enjoy.

Big Spoon Yogurt
3644 J Street
916.731.4655
www.bigspoonyogurt.com
11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

If you're looking for Sacramento ice scream shops with more of a modern twist, Big Spoon Yogurt might be the best choice. They focus their products on low-fat, low-sugar yogurt desserts, and their topping bar has more than 75 options to choose from. Big Spoon is a great place to stop with the kids after soccer practice because they'll love forming their own concoctions. Big Spoon is also unique because customers pay by the ounce. In other words, you can load your cone or bowl with whatever yogurt flavors and toppings you like, rather than sticking with the traditional one-scoop-two-toppings method. You can book parties and ever corporate events at Big Spoon or just stop in for an afternoon treat.

Vic's Ice Cream
3199 Riverside Boulevard
916.448.0892
www.vicsicecream.com

A little retro, a little old school, Vic's Ice Cream has been around almost as long as Gunther's (since 1947), and has become something of a landmark in Sacramento. It's housed in an unassuming building on Riverside, with a narrow awning that provides shade for those who would rather enjoy their treats outside. Vic's Ice Cream shop is family-owned and '"operated, with plenty of flavors to choose from, and the store possesses a small-town charm despite its big-city location. They also serve deli-type food if you're hungry for more than ice cream.

Chain Ice Scream Shops in Sacramento

In addition to these unique Sacramento ice cream shops, there are also chain stores operating in the area. Stop at Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery, or Dairy Queen if you're looking for a frozen treat from a familiar brand.