Posts from May 22nd, 2026

Ohioans love their ice cream so much that the state has spawned its own Ice Cream Trail. Can't get enough of this tasty treat? Check out these favorite ice cream shops in Cleveland, Akron, and North Canton.

Top Ice Cream Shops Around Northeast Ohio

Apple Cart

4313 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103

Find out firsthand why Apple Cart has been cited as one of the best soft-serve ice cream spots in America. The shop is housed in a modest storefront that belies its status as a local icon.

Go beyond the basics with one of these specialty treats on the menu:

• Arctic Swirl, Apple Cart's take on a Blizzard
• Caramel Apple Sundae
• Banana Boat

Hours are noon - 7 p.m. daily except Tuesday, when closing time is 5:30 p.m.

Sweeties Soda Shoppe

6770 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44129

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Sweeties Soda Shoppe brings the classic ice cream parlor into the 21st century. Take a seat at a table or pull up a chair at the counter to enjoy your choice of 36 flavors of homemade ice cream or 300+ soda varieties.

Distinctive features include:

• Open-kitchen format
• Sundae topping dispensers and topping bar
• Whipped cream, hot fudge, waffle cones, and chocolate syrup made in-house

Hours are noon -11 p.m. daily except Sunday, when doors close at 9 p.m.

Hip Hop Smoothie Bar

1300 W. 9th St., Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44113

Hip Hop Smoothie Bar invites you to create your own "mixtape" of ice cream, milkshakes, and smoothies with your choice of add-ins and toppings. If you're really hungry, start out with one of their wraps or thin-crust pizzas.

Many items have a whimsical music-themed name, such as:

• Cereal Remix, which is a strawberry milkshake with Frosted Flakes, Fruity Pebbles, and Reese's
• Blue Electric Dance Bowl with tropical fruits, bee pollen, granola, and coconut flakes
• Mini Crispy Waffle Collab, a "sandwich" with grilled or crispy chicken topped with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar

Hip Hop Smoothie Bar is open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon - 8 p.m. Sunday.

Chill Artisan Ice Cream

209 S. Main St., Suite 2, Akron, OH 44308

Appropriately located in Akron's Historic Arts District, Chill Artisan Ice Cream brings a true artisan approach to gourmet ice cream. Inspired by childhood experimentation with their home ice cream maker, the Jaworski brothers apply a "food sensibility" to flavors such as French Toast & Bacon, Bourbon Granola, and Whiskey Pistachio Brittle.

Vegetarians and vegans can also indulge in creative flavors:

• Key Lime Coconut
• Fudgsicle
• Dr. Pepper Sorbet

Hours are noon - 7 p.m. every day but Monday.

Pav's Creamery

3769 Manchester Road, Akron, OH 44319

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Opened in 1969, Pav's Creamery still uses the old-school Soeder Sons Batch machines from iconic Euclid Beach Park. When the Micochero family purchased the shop from founder Robert "Pav" Pavlik, they upped the game with custard, ice cream, yogurt, and sorbet made fresh daily.

Here are a few of the Flavors of the Week scheduled for this summer:

• Strawberry Jam Shortcake / Strawberry Pretzel Palooza (6/15-6/21)
• Fluffernutter (7/6-7/12)
• Buckeye Fudge (8/24-8/30)

Pav's Creamery is open seven days a week from noon - 9 p.m.

Waylon's Handcrafted

3979 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44319

Waylon's Handcrafted proudly proclaims to be "mom-owned and family-inspired." Jenn Myers was inspired to open the shop after travel adventures with her husband and named it for their son, Waylon.

Live dangerously with dessert-for-lunch with one of their gourmet ice cream sandwiches on freshly-baked cookies:

• 4 Love of Chocolate
• Biscoff Coffee
• Mint Chip

Waylon's Handcrafted is open noon - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon - 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Swensons Drive-In

1558 N. Main St., North Canton, OH 44720

Take a trip back in time with a visit to Swensons Drive-In. Wesley T. "Pop" Swenson went from selling burgers out of his station wagon in front of Buchtel High School to a classic drive-in format with carside service.

While Swensons is well-known for their ice cream, the restaurant also features some legendary savory and beverage items on their menu:

• The Galley Boy, a double cheeseburger layered with Swen Red and Swen White sauces and secured with a green olive pick
• Potato Teezers, fried nuggets of potato, cheese, and mild jalapeños
• Whips, made with soft serve and your choice of fountain soda and shot of flavor

Hours are 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

2191 E. Maple St., North Canton, OH 44720

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Founded in 1945, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream still employs many of the methods and recipes of their namesake. Alice Handel famously used fresh ingredients from her backyard garden to make each batch of ice cream by hand.

Throughout the years, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream has been recognized by nationally respected publications such as:

• USA Today
• National Geographic
• Newsweek
• Entrepreneur Magazine

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Ro's Custard Creations

1166 S. Main St., North Canton, OH 44720

No need for GPS when you're heading to Ro's Custard Creations. Just look for the giant candy-colored rooftop sign that's a local landmark.

The pet-friendly shop leaves ice cream to others, offering custard and frozen yogurt for cones, cups, and specialty treats such as:

• Blizzard-like Concretes, available in a dozen different flavors
• Sundaes topped with Heggy's hot fudge
• Root beer floats and Boston coolers

Ro's Custard Creations is open 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 - 9 p.m. Sunday.

I Scream, You Scream...

If you could have only one ice cream flavor for the rest of your life, what would you choose?