It's definitely a toss up of a question, but I think Jeni's has the best ice cream in the city…read more With a basic vanilla that hits that hard, everything else is bound to be good. I've been a regular at Jeni's for some time now. This location operates on a smaller plot of land for sure, but the line moves quickly, because of a super helpful, super friendly set of staff. Note, there's a good chance that you'll be eating your ice cream outside on the side walk, but honestly it won't be too long before it's gone anyways. Flavors are reliable and on-point. Prices have fluctuated for sure over the years, but if you're coming with a group, I'd recommend the Story, to be able to try as many of their excellent flavors as you can. Plus, it's cheaper per scoop than all other options. My only knock is that they used to be way more adventurous in the past than they are now. I remember way back when they had an everything bagel flavor... that literally was spot on. Like so much so that it was not a good ice cream flavor because it was too accurate. Wish they had that same adventuring spirit again, but that's no knock to the quality of this local establishment.

Stopped in here on the walk back to a friend's apartment and got a few pints to take with us…read more Butter Cream Birthday Cake, Gren Mint Chip and Goat Cheese with Red Cherries. All were great, but if I had to choose just one, it's the Goat Cheese with Red Cherries. OMG. The Bomb !!!

A famous ice cream shop in Center City East, reportedly still using traditional ice cream machines…read more Despite the lack of seating, it was always packed with customers. Green Tea: A typical American green tea flavor, which I think is similar to a cheap matcha flavor. At least for Chinese tastes, its biggest advantage is that it's not too sweet, and the flavor is relatively mild and fragrant. Especially when the shopkeeper seemed to be scooping ice cream away like it was free, I was even more glad I chose this flavor... Sea Salt Caramel: The flavor recommended by the staff. Objectively speaking, it was indeed good, with a distinct caramel aroma, but for me, who had already eaten ice cream that day, it was still too sweet. Coconut: Less sweet than Sea Salt Caramel, but also less milky. Relatively refreshing, but still quite sweet. The server offered samples warmly, which is definitely a plus.

A visit to Franklin Fountain is definitely a splurge -- but it's one of those Philly experiences…read moreyou just can't skip. From the moment you step inside, the specialty shakes and sundaes start calling your name. Everything on the menu sounds over-the-top in the best way possible. We landed on an apple pie shake, a peanut butter shake (PB ice cream, PB sauce, and fudgy brownie chunks), and the Lightning Rod sundae. Each treat was clearly crafted with care. You can tell time and quality go into every detail. I loved that they actually warmed the apple pie and the brownie chunks before blending them in. That extra touch elevated everything. The textures, the flavor balance, it wasn't just thrown together; it was thoughtfully built. Now let's be real: it's pricey. Three treats ran us about $50. But they're generous, rich, and indulgent. I was absolutely stuffed, fully sugared up and ready to power my way up the Rocky Steps afterward. The nostalgic charm is half the fun. From the old-fashioned decor to serving ice cream in those classic Chinese takeout-style containers, the whole place feels like stepping back in time. It adds to the experience in a big way. I personally appreciated that the sundae wasn't drowning in sauce -- it let the ice cream shine. That said, the PB shake was my clear favorite (even if I went way overboard on the brownie chunks). Bottom line: I highly recommend it. Just consider sharing to cut down on the cost and maybe to avoid the inevitable sugar crash. Totally worth it for the experience. Bonus Tip: Bring a receipt to Shane's Confectionary and get a 5% discount on your order (or vice versa).

My favorite cookie chain! This location is small, quick, friendly service. Zayyir was very helpful…read more Cookies were warm & fresh, always delicious. A little pricey, starting at $2.99 per cookie. $30 per dozen

Insomnia is one of my favorite dessert spots. This one was conveniently located a block from Del…read moreFrisco's where we'd just had dinner. It is the largest Insomnia location I've seen. It has a dining room with seating and merch for sale. There was a large showcase of cookies and ice cream options at the order counter. Service was good. The cookies were great as expected.

I love this place! It's been one of my favorites since I was younger. The ice cream alone is easily…read more5 stars for me. It's always delicious and worth the visit. If I'm rating the overall experience, I would take off a couple of points because the shop is pretty small with limited seating, and the cleanliness could be better. Service isn't the fastest either, but honestly I don't mind waiting because the ice cream is so good. It keeps me coming back. The portions are so worth the price. Even the kids size is really plentiful and not too expensive considering the quality and the city. I love the unique flavor combinations and how many choices there are. I really recommend this spot if you want great ice cream.

Have been here several times. Would recommend looking at menu ahead of time bc there are SO many…read moreoptions. Lots of good ones and honestly can't go wrong. They also cakes and bigger sweet treats for groups as well. Easy thing to do is make your own swirl where you get to pick 1 flavor, 3 toppings and they mix it all for you.

ALWAYS hits. Love the variety with changing soft serve every week, especially when it comes with a…read morespecial sundae. The "bricks" (like a blizzard in an icecream sandwich) are also awesome but you can definitely split with 1 or 2 people. The line can be long on weekends, so if you want a quick trip I recommend going on a Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday night. Really small inside so recommend dressing for the weather and standing outside to enjoy your ice cream!

1-900 is a Philly staple. With a variety of rotating flavors there's always something new to…read moretry.... but be warned, getting the new flavor comes at a cost of waiting in a line that usually goes around the block and a high price tag. I'd say it's worth it when you see a flavor combo that really excites you (they post frequent updates on their Instagram) but isn't a spot I'd consistently go, especially with a Van Lewen just a block or so over. The staff is friendly and they churn (no pun intended) people out quickly.

This was the experience I was waiting to have the entire time I was in Philly!!! I can see why it…read morehave managed to last the rest of time. It is truly a classy experience. From the moment I walked in I felt as if I was VIP. The hostess, the manager, maitre dee (?), server, gelato server all the most please t and so willing to explain and re explain- whew and no ..... I did not have a reservation- and I went for lunch. Now on to the food!!! Dare I say it - dare I say it .... Freshly prepared- expertly delivered.... Impeccable taste!!! THE PASTA !!! I wish I could have ordered more- but I'm also on a fitness journey and literally can't - but I ordered the RAGU!!!! Baby !!! The flavors paired so well, not heavy, the meat so juicy not fatty. My partner got the Gnocchi- the creamy factor.... Just so delicious.... We chatted on the balcony just before the joint got busy on a Sunday and completed it all with their Caffee Aquila Espresso ..... it's my namesake and it's essential! Enjoy yelpers

Came here while traveling back East as I know L'Aquila really well and have many relatives there…read more This place offers authentic Italian regional fare with emphasis on quality imported ingredients and artisanal gelato. We had an excellent tagliere di salumi with the unique Parmesan gelato (can only compare it to a cheese flavoured cold butter!), panzanella salad, Cesarina (Caesar salad) pappardelle al ragù and GF penne alla carbonara. I would have preferred my pappardelle a bit more 'al dente' and for my taste it was a tad overcooked but maybe that's how they like it here in Philly or the guy at the stove overcooked it. (Hence the 4 stars instead of 5) Gelato afterwards was excellent. Really fabulous store selling all kinds of unique high end Italian gastronomical goods, making it also an excellent destination for gift shopping.

I stopped by Van Leeuwen and it was really good. The ice cream was super tasty and had the perfect…read moreconsistency. It was not melted at all when I got it. The service was quick, which I appreciated. It was a little hectic when I was ordering since they do not offer any samples, and that kind of slowed the line down because people were trying to decide what to get and waiting off to the side. Overall, the ice cream itself was delicious and definitely worth it.

It was a very hot day in Philly and I wanted some ice cream. I am familiar with Van Leeuwen from…read moreNew York City so I went in to try. I was immediately greeted with this interesting cinnamon sugar scent which brightened up my day. I want to have this smell every time I enter my home. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They let me taste all the different flavors that I was unfamiliar with. Van Leeuwen has several unique flavors. I am a big fan of ice cream cake so having a couple scoops of that made me super happy. For an extra dollar you can have a second flavor. This time I ordered the brown sugar cookie dough. It was okay but nothing can top the ice cream cake flavor in my book. This place was great and I will be coming here more often this summer.

Generous portions and plenty of ice cream options! I was especially intrigued by the avocado…read moreflavor, and they actually use real fruit. The staff didn't seem very happy to be there.

Second time getting the Avocuddle (which has avocado and condensed milk) and this time I got…read moreStrawberries, Bananas and Coconut Flakes as toppings. The combo of avocado, condensed milk with fresh fruit and coconut flakes is truly one of my favorite rolled ice cream flavors of all time! I also noticed they use very good quality fruits - both the bananas and strawberries were sweet and very fresh.

Came here for some ice cream during a pretty warm day in November. Actually I've been to a number…read moreof other Van Leeuwens in the US more broadly, so I pretty much know what to expect. I actually tried strawberry and matcha for the first time which was really good. the lady behind the counter was really nice and let me try it before i bought it overall i love van leeuwen for the fact that it has dairy free ice cream

I first discovered Van Leeuwen at this location and I have been a fan since. Their flavors are…read morealways on point - present but never overwhelming. The quality is so good and I always get great service from the staff. This past visit was a good time for the mango sticky rice and strawberry matcha!

I keep hearing about Italian Ice and gelati and it a prolific thing in Philly…read more Well at 92+ humidity making it feel like 100 I found myself dragging myself out of my hotel and walked the 8 blocks at 7pm (still in the high 80s') to try it. There were two young girls working the windows. I told her I'd never had these before and then I opted for the gelati which is like a icee (slurpee, think 7-11) and layered with custard or a harder version of softserve. I opted for the large coke and chocolate/vanilla twist. They were very helpful. Oh my,it was good. I didn't think I'd finish but by the time I got to the hotel I had 1/4 left. There is a Rita's just in the next town over where i live (Alameda) so i am sure to go over and get again.

Closed an hour early. Again. 2 days in a row! Great weather out. To close over an hour early in…read morethis weather is unacceptable. Guess we gotta start coming 2 hours before close lmao