The Best Ice Cream Parlours in the United States

Florida

Seven of the American parlours are in Florida, and nearly all of those make gelato. Italian owners run Gelati di Roma in Cocoa Beach, where Italian music plays in the shop, and Gladiators Ice Cream, a walk-up window near Mallory Square in Key West that sells key lime pie ice cream. Duci Gelato of Sicily in Delray Beach has cannoli and gelato cakes at the counter. V Gelato & Cafe in Miami's Wynwood district makes every flavour without dairy or gluten.

The mountain West

A second group sits in the mountain states. Blacksmith Ice Cream Co. is in Millcreek, Utah, and Timberline Ice Cream in Flagstaff is owned by two brothers who make the ice cream from scratch. Scoops N Sliders in Pocatello is a family shop. Most of these are ice cream makers with a permanent list of flavours and others that rotate. Fat Batter Ice Cream in Denver stays open late and has shop dogs that greet visitors.

Cones and flights

Timberline Ice Cream bakes its waffle cones fresh each morning, gluten-free and vegan, and they can sell out. Allora Gelato in Scottsdale makes gluten-free cones in view of the line. A flight is a set of small scoops for trying several flavours at once. Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, serves six in an egg carton with waffle chips, and Scoops N Sliders offers flights of four.

Dessert flavours

Many American flavours are named after desserts and sweets. Blacksmith Ice Cream Co. has cookie butter and s'mores, 1022 Cafe & Gelateria in Oceanside rotates its list every two weeks or so, and Super Secret Ice Cream changes its menu with the seasons, with blueberry basil beside classic chocolate.