The Columbus food scene is one of the bright spots of our lovely city. You can find basically any cuisine you want, from Yemeni to Mexican, BBQ to French fine dining, and it’s some of the best you’ll find anywhere.
But one thing that I think is SEVERELY underrated about Central Ohio (and the state as a whole) is our ice cream scene.
Folks, we have some of THE BEST ice cream… PERIOD.
Travel literally anywhere else and you will not find homemade ice cream like the stuff we have here in Ohio, let alone at the quantity that we have it. Everywhere you look, there’s a mom and pop ice cream joint that has some of the creamiest, freshest, and most delectable ice cream your sweet tooth could ever ask for.
I mean, let’s be honest. For a state that has produced Jeni’s, Graeter’s, Mitchell’s, and Handel’s, it’s hard to argue: It truly is Ohio against the world.
But if you’re looking to go beyond the big names and experience the heart and soul of our ice cream culture, these family-owned shops are absolute must-visits.
Toft’s Grand Scoop
📍 1288 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
Toft’s Dairy farm is one of the oldest dairy farms in the state, which is why it’s no surprise their ice cream is phenomenal. They’re basically Ohio dairy royalty. A staple of Sandusky and Cedar Point-goers, Toft’s Grand Scoop in Grandview brings their creamy history to Columbus. Their ice cream is hand dipped with 24 different flavors, as well as milkshakes, sundaes, flurries, and sandwich cookies!
Johnson’s Real Ice Cream
📍 Multiple Locations across Central Ohio
Grandpa Johnson opened up the first Johnson’s Real Ice Cream in 1950, and they haven’t looked back since. They’ve since expanded to 9 locations across Central Ohio, with many of them popping up over the last 5 years or so. They have tons of flavors available, but a scoop of the Praline Pecan with a scoop of Mocha chip is something SPECIAL.
Shake No Eight
📍 1537 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
A much more recent addition to the Ohio ice cream scene, Shake No Eight has made quite the mark since their inception in 2020. Their milkshakes are insane, with tons of toppings like entire cookies, caramel corn, slices of cake, and more! They also have traditional shakes, vegan shakes, sundaes, crepes, hot chocolate, and so much more!
Dari Point
📍 303 E Winter St, Delaware, OH 43015
This seasonal soft serve joint is a local favorite for Delaware residents. Family owned for over 50 years now, their ice cream is literally perfect on a warm summer day. They also have cyclones which are like Dairy Queen blizzards, but they put a little treat on top like a cookie or a chocolate covered strawberry depending on what you order. Their cherry dip is second to none, so order the Papa Smurf and thank me later.
Piazza Pelino
📍 772 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Not exactly an ice cream shop, but this Italian sandwich and wine shop has some of the best gelato money can buy. All of it is made fresh daily with a constantly rotating menu of flavors. Their gelato is so creamy that the flavor just explodes on your tongue. I’m a huge fan of their pistachio and ricotta flavors, which will rival any of your favorite ice creams. All of their ingredients are handpicked and sourced directly from Italy by the owners, so this is perhaps the most authentic gelato you can buy in the states!
Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream
📍 1947 Hard Rd, Columbus, OH 43235
Mardi Gras is home to some of the most unique ice cream flavors you can find, and all of them are done so extremely well. You can get Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream, Jamun ice cream which is made from a purple Jamun fruit (known as the Indian blackberry), and so much more. If regular ice cream isn’t cutting it, a trip to Mardi Gras will open your eyes to a whole new flavor profile.
Dulce Vida
Dulce Vida ice cream is bringing the sweet (and sometimes spicy) taste of Mexico to Central Ohio with delicious flavors like Mango Chili and Lavender. Some of the favorites include the Mangonada, which is a blend of Mango, chamoy, and chili. You can also enjoy Strawberries with cream, which is my personal favorite.
Dairy Depot
📍 390 N Sandusky St, Delaware, OH 43015
If seeing the cute little awning and ice cream shop didn’t already give it away, let us confirm your beliefs that this spot has incredible soft serve. This is like the ideal ice cream shop that you’d see in a movie set in the 50s that everyone in the town would drive to after a football game. There’s no other way to describe it. A slice of Americana in Delaware. The orange and vanilla twist is what got them popular, but I love a nice vanilla with a cherry dip. Man oh man!!
Clown Cones & Confections
📍 3431 Cleveland Ave F, Columbus, OH 43224
40 ice cream flavors to choose from? Uhhh, yes please! I consider this one of the city’s biggest hidden gems when it comes to ice cream. I can’t get enough of their Oreolicious scoop, but they also have flavors you probably wouldn’t find anywhere else that are plays on popular flavors, like the cappuccino crunch or the Elephant Ear, a perfect ice cream to bring you back to those nights at the local fair.
Libby Lou’s Fun Factory
📍 6065 Central College Road, Columbus, OH 43054
Formerly operating out of owner Tara Becker’s home, and then a small space on Indianola Avenue just north of Ohio State’s campus, Libby Lou’s is now enjoying a new space at Bubbly Food Hall in New Albany, where she pumps out some of the most innovative ice cream treats money can buy. She has everything from milkshakes topped with a full slice of Cheesecake to Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream Nachos, which are as wildly delicious as they sound.
The Dairy Hut Pataskala
📍 42 S Main St, Pataskala, OH 43062
A true case study that backs up the saying “size does not matter.” This small little shed/hut is pumping out truly incredible soft serve ice cream that will leave you coming back (and waiting in line) for more. I’m partial to the hawaiian delight, which is coconut soft serve with fresh pineapple, sliced bananas, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. They also have a coffee toffee sundae that is to die for, with coffee soft serve that’s hand-mixed with sea salt and topped with caramel, roasted pecans, and whipped cream. This would’ve been a STAPLE for me after baseball games as a kid if I knew about it back then!
Tony’s Coneys
📍 5266 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43228
📍 9901 US-62, Orient, OH 43146
Tony’s Coneys is a local favorite for a cheap meal, especially if you love slurping down hot dogs like no one’s looking. But they also are home to some incredibly cheap and delicious ice cream concoctions. I once got a 32 ounce milkshake here for $5. THIRTY TWO OUNCES. That’s bigger than those oversized waterbottles that power lifters always carry around with them!
Dairy Isle
📍 303 S 30th St, Heath, OH 43056
📍 527 E Main St, Newark, OH 43055
Famous for their Pumpkin soft serve, Dairy Isle is a local staple for those Northeast of Columbus. They also have something I personally have never seen before, GUMMY Cones! Yes, cones made entirely out of gummy candy. That alone has piqued my interest. These cones come in mango, lemon, and strawberry flavors.
Mona’s Eats + Treats
📍 4362 Broadway, Grove City, OH 43123
Mona’s is a favorite for Grove City Residents and rightfully so. With tons of different flavors of Soft serve available like Peanut Butter, Marshmallow, and even raspberry, their soft serve is truly worth traveling for. They also have regular scoops available that are just as to-die-for as their soft serve, like Blueberry pie, cotton candy, salted caramel chocolate pretzel, and even Chubby Elvis!
Schaffner’s Drive In
📍 601 W Market St, Baltimore, OH 43105
Rapidly approaching their 70th birthday at the end of the decade, Schaffner’s Drive In in Baltimore has some of the best American fare you can get, like burgers, wings, paninis, and more. But their ice cream is why I come. The Peach melba sundae is a personal favorite of mine and my mom’s, but they also have other flavors like Lemon, Black Raspberry, and even a christmas cookie soft serve, served around the holidays, of course.
Circleville Dairy Shed
📍 350 Kingston Pike, Circleville, OH 43113
Sort of a hidden gem of sorts, this is a must-try if you are down in the Circleville area. Quite frankly, it’s worth the drive even if you’re not down there. Their ice cream is phenomenal, even serving a sundae atop fresh donuts. Their 30 flavor soft serve menu is a highlight, with popular favorites like bubblegum and cherry.
Weldons’ Ice Cream Factory
📍 2887 Canal Dr, Millersport, OH 43046
A famous name in the Millersport area since 1930, Weldon’s has had nearly 100 years under their belt to perfect their ice cream, and they’ve done just that. With favorites like their Lemon Pie Sunday, complete with creamy vanilla ice cream, lemon sauce, sweet pie chips, whipped cream, and a cherry on top, it literally tastes just like a lemon pie. They also have a key lime pie flavor, a llama drop flavor with vanilla ice cream swirled with blue marshmallow and pink & purple sanding sugar, and so much more.
Little Ladies
📍 673 Worthington Rd, Westerville, OH 43082
Their soft serve is incredible. Start with a base of either a cup, cake cone, or waffle cone, and then load it up with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, peanut butter, vanilla chocolate twist, or dairy free vanilla soft serve. You can also get delicious sundaes, like the IDA which comes with fruity pebbles, white chocolate crumble, marshmallow sauce, and a strawberry cookie stick.
Coppa Gelato
📍 925 N State St, Westerville, OH 43082
Another phenomenal gelato spot that we’d be remiss if we didn’t put it on our list. Their gelato is a bit less “traditional” than Piazza Pelino, with flavors like Birthday cake and cookies & milk, but it’s lights out. Their gelato is dense and creamy, allowing for an explosion of flavor on your tongue as it melts. Gelato has made quite the case for being my favorite form of “ice cream,” since I’m a sucker for creaminess and a super smooth texture.
Whit’s Frozen Custard
While Whit’s has grown and expanded exponentially over the years, we wanted to include them on this list because, not only are they a product of Granville, Ohio, but each Whit’s location is family-owned and operated! Sure, it’s not technically ice cream, but it’s creamy and cools you down on a hot summer day, and that’s all I can ask for! Special shoutout to Joe Schirtzinger, who owns and operates the Sunbury, Westerville, and Pataskala stores. Go grab some custard from him and his team and tell ’em we sent ya!