Jaime AlfaroFinding the best ice cream in San Antonio means navigating a delightful maze of local dairies, vegan alternatives, and vibrant paleta shops. Parents want fun spots for the kids, while foodies hunt for rare, seasonal flavor profiles.
If you’ve already explored the top candy stores or sampled the finest cake shops around town, rounding out your dessert tour with a frozen treat is the logical next step. Let me walk you through my absolute favorite local scoops.
How much does ice cream cost in San Antonio?
Prices typically range between $5.00 and $10.00 for a single or double scoop at specialty shops, depending on the ingredients and serving style.
| Item | Price Range |
| Single Scoop | $5.00 – $7.00 |
| Double Scoop | $7.50 – $9.00 |
| Specialty Sundaes/Items | $9.00 – $14.00 |
| Pints (Take-home) | $10.00 – $15.00 |
1. Lick Honest Ice Creams
Website: https://www.ilikelick.com/
Address: 312 Pearl Parkway #2101
Contact: 210 314 8166
Hours: Mon – Thu: 11:30am ’til 11pm; Fri – Sun: 11am ’til 11pm
Chasing down a scoop made with purely traceable, farm-to-table ingredients led me straight to this popular spot.
Lick Honest Ice Creams builds every batch around what’s currently sprouting at local Texas farms, skipping artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup entirely.
The small-batch, handmade approach shines through in both the rich texture and the crisp, house-made waffle cones. Their commitment to supporting local artisans brings an undeniable freshness you can actually taste.
When I visited last summer, their seasonal roasted beet and fresh mint flavor completely shifted my perspective on savory desserts.
Unfortunately, high demand occasionally leads to order accuracy issues during busy shifts. You might find yourself holding a different seasonal flavor than the one you originally requested.
I will come back.
This is THE best ice cream shop IN THE WORLD (read with Jeremy Clarksons voice). I love the creativity with the unique flavors. Goat cheese, Thyme, and Honey was wonderful! Coffee and mint flavors were great. The staff was wonderful and gave us samples. The ice cream itself is soft and creamy. I will come back.
Danny A | Google Review
Always a good choice!
Lick ice cream is always a good choice! My go to is the hill country honey and vanilla bean and add pecans. The staff is always so sweet and helpful and will let you try as many flavors as you’d like.
Mel Johnson | Google Review
2. Freshest Ice Creams
Website: https://freshesticecreams.com/
Address: 8053 Callaghan Rd
Contact: 210 371 6510
Hours: Open everyday 1:00pm – 9:00pm
Finding a dessert haven that caters to dairy-free diets is a major win for health-conscious foodies. Freshest Ice Creams specializes in vegan and lactose-free options, building many of their creations on a naturally sweet frozen banana foundation.
They churn these fruit-heavy bases entirely in-house to maintain strict quality control.
Latin American culinary influences peek through their menu with exciting Brazilian and Colombian flavor twists. You can sample various options before committing, ensuring you walk away with a treat tailored to your palate.
However, some of the specialty selections lean quite heavily on the sugary side. A few customers have also noted that the portion sizes feel slightly small given the premium pricing.
Most unique flavors alongside classics
This place has the most unique flavors alongside classics! I’ve never had kiwi ice cream before, or papaya mixed with mango and banana, or papaya and cream cheese! Half are lactose free the other half are dairy free. They also have Brazilian cheese bread, milkshakes, and smoothies.
Rebecca Slininger | Google Review
Best place for a cool treat
Absolutely the **freshest ice cream in San Antonio**! 🍦 Owner **Angela Córdoba** brings recipes from Colombia & Brazil, using natural ingredients, coconut milk, and alkaline water—so many **lactose-free & vegan flavors** like Açaí, Pineapple Mint, and Dear Texas Pecan. Ranked in **Yelp’s Top 100 Ice Cream Shops in the U.S.**, and you can taste why—every scoop is creamy, unique, and made with love. Friendly service, bright atmosphere, and truly the best place for a cool treat.
Robert Acosta | Google Review
3. El Paraiso Ice Cream
Website: http://elparaisoicecream.com/
Address: 1934 Frederickisburg
Contact: (210) 737-8101
Hours: Mon – Sun 10 AM–8 PM
El Paraiso Ice Cream masters the art of the paleta, churning out thousands of affordable, culturally authentic treats every single day.
A close friend of mine regularly buys their pickle and tamarind flavors in bulk for weekend family gatherings, raving about the bold, tangy bite.
This family-owned staple has anchored the community since 1984, maintaining an impressive volume of production to keep prices incredibly low. You can easily feed a large crowd without stretching your budget here.
Just be prepared to pack some patience if you visit during a weekend heatwave. The sheer volume of customers often results in extended wait times and occasionally rushed interactions at the counter.
Definitely something for everyone.
Always a Blast! I love bringing out of town visitors here. Tons of flavors. Great price point. Love love love.
Palletas are locally made ice cream pops; one case is full of nondairy pops, the other is dairy based.
Definitely something for everyone.
My favorite had been Pecan; but this visit definitely brought Strawberry and Cream to the front. Yum🥰
Christina Mantas | Google Review
The variety of flavors is simply amazing
**Hidden Gem with Amazing Flavors!**
If you’re in town and craving ice cream, you absolutely must stop by. This place is a hidden gem that has been a local favorite. The variety of flavors is simply amazing—there’s something for everyone! From classic vanilla and chocolate to unique options. The staff is friendly and always ready to help you find your new favorite flavor. Don’t miss out on this not-so-hidden gem—your taste buds will thank you!
Rabi Rodriguez-Guerrero | Google Review
4. Bee Nice Cream
Website: https://www.beenicecream.com/
Address: 8003 Broadway
Contact: (210) 765-3057
Hours: Sun – Tue: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM; Wed – Thu: 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Fri – Sat: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Those seeking a truly decadent dessert experience will appreciate a shop that prioritizes rich textures and high-fat cream. Bee Nice Cream handcrafts small-batch scoops on-site, utilizing fresh Texas honey and Poteet strawberries.
They rotate an inventive menu of globally inspired profiles, such as ube and saffron, alongside comforting classics.
Beyond the standard scoops, the shop expands its repertoire with affogatos and freshly baked goods. Their inclusive menu even features a stellar coconut-based alternative for those avoiding dairy.
Despite the inviting menu, however, the actual shop atmosphere sometimes falls short of expectations. Patrons occasionally report abrupt communication and an unwelcoming tone from the staff during the ordering process.
A great experience
Best Ice-cream shop in town!!!
Stella is a delight! great customer service .
All flavors were delicious 😋, from your old timer Vanilla bean to an exotic Tiramisu! We also got honey lavender, Purple passion Ube and Persian dream.
The also offer a wide variety of toppings sauces and drinks.
The place looks clean and beautifully decorated.
Thank you for a great experience, we all loved it
Angelica Trejo | Google Review
Super adorable ice cream parlor
Stopped by this super adorable ice cream parlor and 5 stars
All icream is homemade (made in house)
Plenty of indoor seating
Super clean
The owner and staff were so nice
Card only no cash
I definitely recommend
A little expensive but in my opinion its worth it Legit homemade ice cream is hard to find in my opinion
A R | Google Review
5. Tropicana Ice Cream
Website: https://tropicanaicecream.com/
Address: 11019 Culebra Rd Suite 118
Contact: +1 (210) 560-2083
Hours: Mon – Thurs 12–10 PM; Friday 12–11 PM; Saturday 11 AM–11 PM; Sunday 11 AM–10:30 PM
Satisfying a group with wildly different cravings requires a destination that serves much more than just frozen dairy.
Tropicana Ice Cream functions as a comprehensive snack shop, offering authentic homestyle scoops alongside mangonadas and savory Mexican street snacks.
You can easily pair a classic chocolate cone with spicy chamoy-drizzled fruit cups under the same roof.
Operating out of multiple locations across the city makes this casual parlor highly accessible for spontaneous outings. The vast menu also guarantees an enjoyable treat for adventurous eaters and traditional dessert fans alike.
With such a massive menu, however, executing every item perfectly proves difficult for the crew. You might encounter inconsistent preparation methods or staff members who are unfamiliar with certain traditional recipes.
Overall excellent service
Super clean, staff very friendly, large variety of ice cream flavors with a touch of our beautiful Mexican culture. Need to visit soon to see everything they have to offer. Overall excellent service highly recommend this place.
aren chapa | Google Review
You gotta try this place
dude…this spot has more flavor than Flava Flava with the original flavored ice cream which they also use to make milk shakes that cater to your taste bud’s delight. Want a the flavor to go? No problemo memo, they have the same OG flavors in a paleta…whaaat?
On a “diet”…get you a savory fruit cup. Feeling a lil froggy? Then leap into a master piece churro split or banana split. And man, the Josh (staff) moves n grooves on these works of art like a darn Super Hero…fa real! You gotta try this place, it’s Bombaliscious!
Alvaro Ferrel | Google Review
