Fast service So many wonderful flavors! I enjoyed the chocolate peanut butter. Nice area to relax and enjoy inside and outside. read more

I would not order from here again, they got my order wrong very rude, No customer service. old ice cream..

Visited this Calgary institution again and not disappointed. A lot of flavours and the store is well organized. Good portions. When you want ice cream don't Leavitt this place off your list! read more

Went here for the first time for a couple of Friday night cones and I'll definitely be back! The inside is super cute and has nice antique/vintage decor. So many delicious flavours to choose from. I got strawberry cheesecake and salted caramel in a regular cone. Portions are generous and both flavours tasted as good as they looked! My boyfriend got chocolate peanut butter and birthday party in a waffle cone, which he finished in record time because it was so good. Will be back for sure! Classic ice cream, nice staff and a nice local spot. This place is exactly what I picture when I think about going out for ice cream. read more

Was here with a friend on a hot day after I finished a run Along the river & I was dressing for cooler weather earlier so was completely covered in clothing: ice cream was a great way to cool down (Refer to the photo). Normally, I am not a big fan of ice cream. However, this is a great social gathering place. The location is near the University on the other side of the hill, across the street from the river path, cycle paths. near a couple of cafés so Great place for dessert. Plenty of ice cream choices - Naturally, I picked chocolate based ice cream, in a cup rather than a waffle or cone. I usually don't finish ice cream. Nice piano!Nice decor.atmosphere was great. staff were friendly. Lovely experience. read more

See all

Also known as Lic's, this is the best little ice cream parlour in the NW. If you're looking for a nice way to cool off in the summer visit Leavitt's for a nice, chilly treat. They have so many different flavours to choose from you'll be deciding for hours. Each of their flavours is written on a giant chalk board on the wall and is updated with every new addition. Sometimes they have special feature flavours that are only around for a certain amount of time, so I like to try them. Choose your size, flavour and eating method - cone, waffle cone or bowl. You can't go wrong with these tasty treats. There isn't much seating inside, but who needs it? Lic's is so close to the Bow River you may as well take your ice cream with you on a nice little walk! It's sure to be an entertaining, and delicious, experience! read more

Lics Ice Cream Shop - *photo credit urbanspoon.com - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Best ice cream in Calgary... And probably a lot further! Rich, creamy ice cream with excellent flavours. Absolutely worth the trip, but a bit pricey. read more

A classic and busy ice cream place. There are plenty of flavours to choose from including dairy free options. You are welcome to sample to help decide from all of the choices (though you have to pay first). There are options to customize including several sizes and options for cup, cone, and waffle cone. The prices feel a bit high but I do feel that you're paying for the quality of ice cream you receive. We stopped by one week day evening and the place was packed. There is plenty of space inside for all customers to move around. Unfortunately, there isn't much seating inside, but it's not far from the Bow River trail. We enjoyed our ice cream by the river - the perfect summer treat! read more

Lics Ice Cream Shop - enjoying LICS by the river - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

The boys and I dropped in here for our winter ice cream fix. It wasn't too busy today(Dec. 27) because people were still in the malls or out of town. I decided to order two scoops of ice cream since I couldn't make up my mind. Mmmm... I love the sweet and tart combination of black cherry ice cream ( the store bought versions always taste like cough syrup). The salted caramel had just the right balance of salty sweetness without being over powering. Please take note that the empty space to the west of the building is now closed to the public for parking (for reasons unknown). read more

Lics Ice Cream Shop - Black cherry and salted caramel ice cream. Yum! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

It used to be our favourite ice cream shop for many years. We stopped today first time this year and ordered our usual flavours. To our disappointment everything tasted different from what it used to. My husband's Rum and Raisin tasted the same as Raspberry Cheesecake, except for the colouring. It had a single raisin in a full scoop. My Mocca Almond Fudge was OK, but Pralines and Creme was horrible; totally different from what it was in the past. After eating, we were both left with artificial starchy/powdery aftertaste. Even the waffle cone had cardboard texture. You lost two customers. read more

This ice cream shop has 3-4 coolers of different ice cream flavors. Homemade waffle cones/bowls and sugar cones. Open till 10pm on weekdays. A little bit outdated, some seating and a bench outside. Has traditional flavors (tiger tiger, cherry cheesecake) I got root beer and cookies n creme. It was delicious! read more

extensive list of flavors, many no sugar added, frozen yogurt, sorbets, and non diary. The single scoop was too big for me to finish myself. The scoops are definitely bigger here than at village. They also have ice cream cakes in the store. They also give you the option of half scope which is good. The waffle cones are very good. When you first walk in it smells like fresh donuts which I think might be the making of the waffle cones. read more

Lics Ice Cream Shop - Chocolate brownie and banana fudge swirl - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

This is a really good ice cream place. Come here on a warm evening and it speaks for itself. You will find quite some lineup even though they have several people behind the counter working as fast as they can. Lots of different flavors! They also offer lactose free ones with no sugar added. Price is okay, starts from about $3 for a baby cone. The sizes of the scoops seem to vary depending on the person who is serving you, but I guess that's normal. You can have your ice cream in freshly made waffles, regular sugar cones or plastic bowls. You can also get a shake mixed with fresh fruit or sundaes. They also have warm food like burgers on the menu, but I don't know if someone is ever ordering that. Grab your favorite ice cream here and go for a walk along the river!!! read more

Our last visit to Lic's was disappointing. Their specialty is hard ice cream with the key word being hard. We had to change our selection because it was obvious that the freezers were not doing the job or could it be that the staff was keeping the ice cream soft to make it easier to form the scoops? Another disturbing thing about our visit was the server weighing our cones several times on a scale making the serving process tedious and us questioning whether we were getting ice cream or gold bullion. Not a great way to project value when you are paying $6.50 for a double cone. We have supported Lic's for years and would like to continue to do so but they need to return to their roots and do the kind of job that has helped them remain in this location for so long. Ditch the scales and keep the ice cream hard! read more

If I had to add up all the time that I've spent at Lic's (AKA Leavitt's Ice Cream Shop), I'm sure we'd all be shocked. Growing up in Calgary, it was a tradition, and it still is, to meet up at Lic's, grab an ice cream, and take our dogs for a walk along the Bow River. Much to my sheer pleasure, this place hasn't changed at all. I recently took a trip over and it's as popular and delicious as ever! The smell of fresh baked waffle cones is undeniable, and they've got everything from ice cream to soda floats. This time I opted to get the cherry cheesecake flavour in a waffle cone. TO. DIE. FOR. Lic's has been making me happy for almost three decades and I have full faith that it will continue doing so for the rest of my days on this planet. read more

It's OK...but nothing made me think wow I can hardly wait to go back. In fact, I thought they had a fairly boring & safe selection. It also could use a good cleaning, smelled a tad musty after being shut for the winter season. I have also never seen an ice cream shop be so meticulous about weight. It took forever to get our order and we felt odd standing there watching them shave off a tablespoon of ice cream from our order so it weighed within their standards. Odd. read more

I'm surprised by reviews honestly because it's basically gas station ice cream with more selection. That flavor is very chemical and fake and I can buy better elsewhere easily and even a grocery store really. At least they are able to keep it at a great temp but could just use better ingredients. I'm sorry but banana ice cream shouldn't be yellow - something which is my best hack to figuring our which gelato places in italy were worth a visit even if you don't buy banana as it tells you who uses the real bananas. The lines certainly are long and it's close to the river so that's probably the reason it's so popular. Honestly, I wouldn't really go there again unless I was bribing a kid and that was the closest place. read more

We are always passing by here and tonight wanted to grab a baby cone and see what it was all about. There is one bench outside the shop that is always full of people! Went on a not-too hot night so the lines I figured would be shorter. Busy place in the warmer months for sure. Unorganized line situation verging on hectic. We were budded on as people crept up to look at the ice cream types which could have been annoying but we were in no rush. I liked the selections of ice cream and sorbets. I was thrilled to find black cherry with the real chunks of fruit and got that. Baby scoop for calorie counters for me is perfect, $3.25, good value. Hubby got raspberry cheesecake and a half scoop at $4.50 was still a LOT of ice cream. His was delicious but to be honest, the treats were nothing special. The ice cream could have been store bought, just kept in a cool, nostalgic place where people gather. The cone was a generic one too that you could buy at Co-op. Nothing homemade tasting. That said, the shop was charming in its own way and despite being a bit chaotic, no complaints about the service. Cash and debit only. read more

The best birthday surprise in the world is always an ice cream cake from Lic's. The bad thing about ordering one is that it always takes me a good half hour to remember that while the sign outside may say Lic's, it is actually called Leavitt's Ice Cream Shop (LIC's). This is no doubt the best place in Calgary to get true Ice Cream. They have a ton of different flavors, and while it can be disappointing when my favourites get phased out, they always have something excellent to replace it. The ice cream cakes are "choose your flavours" if you call more than 24 hours in advance, so I have tried many combinations. Each one has been excellent, and the helpful staff will advise you away from the nastier combos. I think that Lic's is perfect for both kids and kids at heart. I try to ride my bike down at least once a summer solely for the payoff at the the end. The store is conveniently located in Parkdale, just off of Memorial Drive and the bike paths, so by car or by bike, Lic's is where it's at. read more

Dozens of flavors and reasonable prices make Leavitt's an irresistible little ice cream shop. Once, when the shop was really busy, the scoopers forgot about our order. When we went up to the till to remind them they remembered right away and offered my boyfriend and me an additional scoop each on the house. Of course, we said yes and were very impressed with the service correction! The location is really nice for taking a cone to go and strolling in the park across the street. read more

Lic's is a great part of summer in Calgary; I know there must be something wrong with my diet if I'm looking for solutions in an ice cream store, but they have just introduced the new "Yo-topia" - it's a low fat frozen yoghurt mixed into a softserve with frozen fruit - and my research says its only about 120 calories per serving (unless you have it in the big waffle cone :)) Two visits today...and it's well worth the drive. Great ice-cream, awesome service, delightful place!! read more

Hands down, my favourite ice cream shop in the city. They are always open, and despite the fact that it's pretty much run by people under the age of 19, the service is always quick and friendly. The portions generous, and they have a great selection of flavours, as well as milkshakes, floats, cones and lactose free options as well. A great spot to grab a cone on a date and stroll near the river on a summer's night. Or you could just eat it in the parking lot like I did. TIP: Espresso flake and raspberry rocky road are killer!! read more

Lots of flavours to choose from, and an authentic retro-minimalist interior feel with just the right tinge of small-town nostalgia thrown in for good measure. It's always busy during the summer months, but the buzz is part of its charm, so if you don't feel like driving all the way to Mackay's in Cochrane, this is definitely one ice cream place to visit in Calgary. There's plenty of parking in the lot just west of the building, and a couple of benches out front. read more

Lics Ice Cream Shop - Summer lineup - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I have lived in Calgary for 6 years and had never been to LIC'S. Every summer I'd say over and over that I wanted to go here, but it just never happened. Finally I got some of our friends reved up to stop in on our walk along the river. That is one great thing about their location, you can grab a cone and sit by the bow river on a beautiful Calgary day. We got there at 6pm on a Sunday, the line up was insane! We waited though, a long while, the service was quite slow. So don't come here on a busy day and be in a hurry, otherwise you won't get your ice cream. They have about 6 freezers of ice cream, so thats about 36 choices! Once we finally got to order, they were out of waffle cones, which was a bit disappointing. I got a double in a cup, my Hubby got a half double in a cup. I don't really like that they charge 30 cents for a cup, seems pointless to me, especially when they are already charging $3-6 for the ice cream. Our order came to $11. I got the kit kat and chocolate rainbow. I was blowin away by how much ice cream I got! It was very delish and I had a hard time finishing all of it. My Hubby's half double was the perfect size. They also offer simple snacks, baked goods and lunch items. The ice cream cakes go for between $23-49. They do have some seating, but with the line up it was very crowded. I'm glad that I finally got to try out LIC'S! They have a huge selection of ice creams, even fat free and organic options! Though the staff was slow moving they were very cheerful! I can't wait to return on a nice day and try something else! read more

I would travel far and wide to get icecream from Lics. They are a quaint shop but full of great customer service and perfect ice cream flavors. You can get everything from a small cup (but why?!) to a huge waffle cone (mmmmm). My favorite flavour is thier peanut butter chocolate....THE most perfect I have ever found!!! They also offer small, medium and gigantic tubs of ice cream if your feeling in the mood for more. Stop by Lics for a tasty treat on a hot sunny Calgary day and you won't leave dissapointed!! read more

Rob took me here as a treat once, after visiting his folks. I notice it is not a huge store, nor is it extremely decorated, but it still offers something great: really friendly service from behind the counter, and also some unique icecream flavors that Baskin & Robbins wouldn't even offer. We got a big bowl of Rolo icecream (I mean, hand-made there, not store-bought Rolo icecream). We shared it, and after awhile, I noticed I was eating too fast, because I was saddened to see it going down. I remember how difficult it was to lick the inside of a styrofoam bowl lol. It's a tad pricey, but it's totally worth every penny! :) P.S. If you don't drive, I believe the #1 bus goes past it. read more

Love supporting family owned business, and this ice cream shop does not disappoint at all! Great service and amazing ice cream.

Spent a lot of time in the area during university, so Lic's is a bit nostalgic for me now when I come by. There were many summer days of rafting down the bow and then stopping for ice cream on the way back to the car. Pretty classic ice cream shop with tasty flavours with quite large scoops. No trendy charcoal or ube, but I think you'll find that good ice cream doesn't need to be hyped up. read more

Might have been in there at a bad time before close but the service was pretty slow. It seemed like there was 1 person operating the till while one scooped, which made the short line feel very long. read more

Delicious ice cream. Great size portions. Friendly service. Nice variety of flavours. Love that they have a double come for double scoops! It's definitely my go-to place for ice cream :) read more

We were so excited to go to LICS for the first time this summer! Was very surprised to see that they started weighing their ice cream portions. We ordered a double baby & a double scoop both in waffle cones and were very disappointed to receive what amounted to (and I wish I was exaggerating) maybe a single baby scoop each at any other hard ice cream shop in the city for $15.75 (!!!). Terrible value. read more

I think the 5 star reviews for this place are a reflection of people's love for ice cream shops generally, or bonus nostalgia points, rather than something in particular about this shop. I live in the neighborhood, but am rarely particularly tempted by their wares. They have about 30 hard ice cream flavours, from the usual suspects such as Nestlé. Not bad, but nothing to go out of the way for unless you're with young children. I think that mostly its handy location across the road from the river pathway system is what ensures a steady lineup during the summer months. read more

Nothing special. Overpriced. Less selection and less kitsch than "My Favourite Ice Cream" in Marda Loop. Great location though, close to the river. The owner was quickly shutting down the store just as we were leaving, even though there were still plenty of people coming in?!! Not the best business model. Probably won't be back. read more

I ate my first Ice Cream in 1983 it was great Ice Cream then and while I lived in the area for years and got an ice cream to eat along the river. Then when I brought my kids to visit Calgary LICS was the first place he took them. Was in Calgary the other day the decor was the still simple staff still great young people. The ice cream still of the best quaity. Elizabeth you are the Best small business in the area do not change a thing you give youth jobs and build work ethic. Miss you guys. Blue berry cheese cake has and is still my favourite.My children go they before thir Grandpa's house a block ay read more

Love this local ice cream shop! It is easy to get to from the riverside bike trails, and is a perfect spot to stop for a snack! A classic yyc destination that has been around for decades. I LOVE their Oreo ice cream on a homemade waffle cone. Cannot wait until the next time I go to lics! read more

Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of summer? Oh yes I know there are a lot of things but ice-cream should be one of them!! I finally got the chance to visit Lic's. When I first stepped in the door, I went straight to look at the ice-cream selection. There's not much seating, but there is a bench outside you can sit on and enjoy the weather. My boyfriend and I ordered two scoops each in a cup. I got the chocolate peanut butter and cookies and creme, and he ordered heavenly hash and smarties. There were two people working, a girl and a boy. We ordered from the girl and it took a while because she was taking care of an order of french fries for an elder couple but she apologized for the wait. As for the boy...while we were waiting, I beleive it was his friend that came in to order ice-cream because he was using the terms "yo, man, dude, sup?" They were both yacking away about hats and bikes. Not in a quiet manner but in a loud obnoxious manner. I was quite turned off because he was just hovering over the glass and talking. Anyways, the ice-cream was good, I really enjoyed the chocolate peanut butter, it had bits of peanut butter inside as well as I found a small reese's pieces cup inside too! We sat outside and enjoyed the +25 degree weather. Will I go back? ..........yes, only if the other good places are closed. read more

yummmm! I love ice cream and I love Lic's! So many delectable ice cream flavours to indulge in on a sweltering day! I really enjoyed this place so I'm really not sure what all the negative reviews are about! Lic's is great, you should check this place out if you're in the neighbourhood! read more

Very good ice cream!! And ... The burger surprised me... It was just delicious!... The service was slow and the people working there didn't seem very experienced in customer service ... But I would go back, when I won't be in a rush; just to have the ice cream.. read more

Lics is a wonderfully unpretentious and charmingly parochial ice cream shop that delivers big-time on flavor. While I can't claim to have tried every one of the 48 or so flavours, what I can say is that every one I've tried was exceedingly good--even the NSA (no sugar added) black cherry and maple walnut that are personal favorites. Hold on... add rum raisin and butter pecan to that list. The monkey tails are an equally delicious treats (frozen banana rolled in either roasted peanuts or sprinkles). They don't have those off-the-wall flavours that some gelaterias boast of, but then you go to LICS for the classics. A friend of mine from Vancouver was over the moon after she rediscovered a flavour that she used to enjoy as a youngster but couldn't find anywhere else. I suspect she'll be back quite a lot to rekindle those childhood memories. If it's a classic, you're bound to find it here. read more

Good selection, friendly servers. Creme brûlée ice cream is excellent. On Fathers Day, fathers got free cone. Sweet!