Culinary

Best Ice Cream Shops in Virginia Beach

Something sweet is always on the menu in Virginia Beach.

There may be no better pairing than a warm day and a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream. Mix that with the wide sandy beach and ocean breeze, and you have all the essential staples of a perfect summer’s day. From ice cream flights to creamy, custardy gelato, there is no shortage of ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. With these spots offering curbside pickup and some offering delivery, here are a few ice cream spots we can’t get enough of right now in Virginia Beach.

Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. 

Chesapeake Bay District

A hand holds an ice cream cone in front of a colorful, striped fish art piece mounted on a tiled wall.
Make waves with something sweet at the ice cream shops of Virginia Beach.

Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. in the Chesapeake Bay District, is the perfect spot to frequent after a day at Chick’s Beach. With a huge variety of creative flavor combinations, like Goat Cheese with Blueberry Swirl, Strawberry Balsamic and Sea Salt Brickle with Caramel Swirl, it’s hard to choose just one. Luckily, you don’t have to! For coffee fans, make sure you try their Three Ships Coffee Chocolate Chip, made with Three Ships Coffee, roasted and brewed right here in Virginia Beach.

Gelati Celesti 

Inland District

A hand holds a waffle cone with scoops of chocolate ice cream, a white plastic spoon is inserted, and a napkin wraps the cone.
Treating yourself to a big ice cream cone is a great way to celebrate a summer day.

@a.jilek89, Instagram

Located in the Hilltop Area in the Inland District of Virginia Beach, Richmond-founded Gelati Celesti makes its ice cream with techniques typically reserved for gelato, resulting in a denser ice cream with a custard-like richness. While many house favorites like Salted Caramel, Birthday Cake and Chocolate Decadence are always available, Gelati Celesti rotates through more than 85 flavors year-round, using fresh, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. (No wonder people keep coming back for more!) You can also enjoy Gelati Celesti at three other locations in the area: Columbus Village Shopping Center in Town Center, The Shoppes at Hickman Place in Red Mill and Volvo Place in Chesapeake. 

Lolly’s Creamery 

ViBe Creative District

Two children stand outside Lolly's Ice Cream shop on a sunny day, smiling and holding ice cream cones, with the shop and a striped awning in the background.
Who wouldn’t smile ear to ear after enjoying a cool treat from a classic ice cream stand?

@lollyscreameryandsoupco, Instagram

With delicious homemade rotating flavors like Strawberry Shortcake, Peanut Butter Monster and Lemon Oreo, it’s no wonder Lolly’s Creamery has quickly become a Virginia Beach staple. Starting as a delivery service, Lolly’s now has a brick-and-mortar shop right in the heart of the ViBe Creative District, near the Oceanfront, and we can’t get enough. While all their flavors are worth a try (and new flavors rotating in regularly) Lolly’s has received quite a bit of attention for its Real Deal Vanilla. Sometimes simpler is better, and Lolly’s does simple to perfection. And don’t forget to listen for the bells of their Joy Bike coming down the boardwalk to deliver ice cream throughout the summer season, as well!

Gerald’s Ice Cream

Inland District

Six ice cream cones with different flavored scoops displayed on a wooden stand.
Can’t decide on one flavor? Order an ice cream flight to try all of your favorites at once!

@captureyourappetite, Instagram

Located in the Hilltop Area of the Inland District, Gerald’s Ice Cream comes from the culinary mind of one of the founders of Terrapin Restaurant. This small-batch shop is churning out custard-based ice cream that is flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen, making for a consistency that is both dense and smooth. With flavors like Butterscotch Bourbon Pecan, Horchata and Tiramisu, this shop is always offering something new to keep you stopping in for more. For the dedicated ice cream connoisseur,  try ice cream flights offering four six flavors, cones included.

Gilly’s Creamery

Inland District

Person holding a waffle cone with vanilla ice cream seen from above, wearing a wristband and sandals.
Waffle cones and beach days go hand in hand in Virginia Beach.

@ktfrek, Instagram

Located within the artisan shops and handcrafted goods of the Virginia Beach Farmers Market, Gilly’s is a hidden gem scooping out old-fashioned ice cream done right. Made with fresh milk, this is the ice cream we’ve been enjoying for decades, and it always hits the spot. With an ever-changing list of flavors like Mom’s Apple Pie, Orange Creamsicle and Moon Pie, there’s always something new at Gilly’s for every ice cream fanatic.

Pungo Pizza and Ice Cream 

Pungo District

A scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass dish sits on a wooden table. The background shows a blurred outdoor scene with greenery and a railing.
Enjoy a simple scoop of ice cream made with the freshest local ingredients.

@pungopizzaandicecream, Instagram

This house-made ice cream served out of the Pungo District is as fresh as produce from the surrounding farmland. Pungo Pizza and Ice Cream offers rotating flavors like Banana Pudding, Pretzel Sundae and Mango Ice, so there’s always something new worth trying here. Come for a sweet treat when you’re in the Pungo area and stay for a slice of their amazing pizza.

Cover image: @newyorkscoops, Instagram

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