If you’re either a local or visiting Las Vegas, you’re going to want to know where the coolest things are to keep the sun from melting you on a hot summer day. There’s actually an interesting ice-cream culture in Las Vegas, including stories of drama, breakups, flavors being stolen and competitors fighting. The result has been some of the best flavors of ice cream and gelato I’ve had in a long time, bar none. I’ve gone the extra mile to try different ice cream places, and here is our selection of the best places in the Las Vegas Valley that we’ve tried and enjoyed—plus the opinions of some of the top experts on what they like, what they tried and what killer spots they recommend.
Art of Flavors
1616 S Las Vegas Blvd #130, Las Vegas, NV 89104
“The Art of Flavors has transformed the previous shop from a sweet afterthought to a culinary experiment into what flavor can be. Chef Douglas Taylor, formerly head of pastry for all of Batali’s Vegas restaurants, is drawing on his longtime experience in pastry and his farm-to-table expertise to honor the great tradition of gelato making. “ – Adam Rains
Gelato Messina @ Downtown Summerlin
2010 Festival Plaza Dr #130, Las Vegas, NV 89135
“I’m more than comfortable saying that Gelato Messina is immediately the best Gelato in town and although prices trend higher than other local scoop shops the amount of time, quality, and craft going into the production cannot be overlooked – a ‘get what you pay for’ experience with almost everything made on the premises.” – Michael Uzmann (told us this is an old review, and they aren’t the “best” anymore)
IcePan @ Harrah’s
3475 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 ·
“IcePan serves innovative frozen treats at Harrah’s Las Vegas. You choose the flavor and the type of milk you want, then watch the IcePan team make your favorite ice cream in about a minute right in front of you. They use 15 fresh toppings, including fresh fruits and vegetables, and 10 flavors of ice cream. There’s also a non-dairy soy option. The result are concoctions very low in sugar fat and cholesterol, compared to ordinary ice cream.” – Las Vegas Sun
Snowflake Shavery
5020 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Located in Chinatown and “Inspired by Thai ice cream, Snowflake Shavery has created the perfect cross between ice cream and shaved ice. This lighter version of ice cream will leave you feeling light and satisfied after you scarf down a bowl. But if you don’t like being #skinny, go for that second serving since it’s not actually ice cream. True story. Between the crazy combos on the menu, like Black Sesame Sensation, Crunchy Cookie or the make your own option, the possibilities are endless.” – Spoon University
EIS Cream Café
9711 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89183
The small batches of ice cream are made with natural ingredients, including hand-picked strawberries from Watsonville Strawberry Field, Guittard chocolate and mango, taro and coconut flown in from the Philippines, according to the shop’s website. It also advertises using real matcha in the green tea, as well as fresh roasted pistachios, almonds and peanuts. – LVRJ
Gelatology (Instagram)
7910 S Rainbow Blvd #110, Las Vegas, NV 89139
“Inside you will find Desyrée smiling and serving to her hearts content. And by “to her hearts content” we mean gelato and pastries that she’s been making for the previous twelve hours….from scratch…all naturally… from flavors, fruits and whatever frippery she has personally smashed, chopped, pureed, cooked, extracted, baked or boiled to elicit the strongest, cleanest, most intense sensations possible…Just as good as her milk based products are her fruit flavored sorbetti – wonders of purity that will have you doing a swoon dive of your own into flavor after flavor.” – John Curtas
