Beat the heat with a treat from some of the area’s best ice cream spots. Each of these locally owned and operated institutions serves frozen favorites that make summer that much sweeter.
The Charlottesville and Crozet area is home to mouthwatering options for every meal of the day, including the most important one: dessert!
Chiles Peach Orchard
You didn’t think we’d skip our very own soft serve, did you? Our newly renovated Ice Cream and Wine Shop draws dessert lovers from near and far. The whole family will love our sundaes, milkshakes, and seasonal slushies. Those looking for different treats can savor our cider donuts, homemade pies, fudge, and much more!
Pro tip: Our seasonal slushies (made with orchard-fresh fruit) are the perfect pick for anyone hoping to skip dairy in their dessert!
“The peach ice cream and donuts could save the world.”
Chris W., Google review
Chaps Ice Cream
Located on Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Mall, Chaps Ice Cream is sure to inspire nostalgic memories. The timeless atmosphere isn’t the only thing that can be traced back to the 1950s: all their ice cream is made on-site using a 75-year-old family recipe. From butter pecan to chocolate and sherbet, every flavor is a classic!
If you see peach ice cream on the menu, make sure to try it! This seasonal flavor is made in-house with ripe peaches from Carter Mountain Orchard.
Moo Thru
Originally known to locals as a pullover on Route 29 North near Culpeper, Moo Thru’s Dairy Market location is the newest addition to the Charlottesville ice cream community. This can’t-miss stall scoops ice cream made with all-natural ingredients from a family of Virginia dairy farmers.
It’s nearly impossible to miss Dairy Market’s central location on Preston Avenue. Stop by for the perfect conclusion to a relaxing day at the Washington Park Pool!
Splendora’s Gelato Café
Splendora’s Gelato Café is a must-visit spot for its unique, handmade gelato. The only venue of its kind in the area, Splendora’s rotates its menu with common and novelty flavors to suit every craving. That’s right, we’re talking everything from chocolate to ghost pepper honey raspberry. If you can’t choose between the old and the new, have no fear! The café’s five-scoop sampler lets you try a little bit of everything.
Plus, Splendora’s new location in the Shops at Stonefield Commons makes it an easy stop for a pick-me-up snack during the day.
Crozet Creamery
Found in the heart of downtown Crozet in Piedmont Place, Crozet Creamery is a local classic. Each of their flavors, available online in an ever-rotating list of decadent delights, checks all the boxes: handcrafted, taste-tested, and made in small batches every single day.
The creamery’s classic setting is a lovely spot for an impromptu date with that special someone.
La Flor Michoacana
With the mission to bring the vibrant flavors of Michoacán, Mexico to Charlottesville, La Flor Michoacana is your family’s one-stop shop for all things frozen. Their menu features a broad selection of ice creams, popsicles, and aguas frescas that are homemade with all-natural ingredients. Visitors hoping to stick to the classics are sure to find their favorite flavors, while daring dairy lovers can try flavors like Fruity Pebbles, tamarind chili, or Thai tea!
Chandler’s Ice Cream
An area favorite, Chandler’s Ice Cream is situated on River Road in Charlottesville. Their short and sweet menu of vanilla, chocolate, and twisted soft serve ice cream (with the classic array of toppings, of course) has a special way of making you feel like a kid again!
Any Chandler’s enthusiast will give you one essential tip before you visit: go hungry! While this spot may be small in appearance, it’s known to pack a serious punch when it comes to serving sizes.
Carter Mountain Orchard
It’s impossible to talk about Charlottesville area ice cream without mentioning our sister venue: Carter Mountain Orchard. A short drive from downtown Charlottesville, the orchard is a memorable place to visit for your dessert fix.
All you need to do is walk up to the ice cream window for a delightful soft-serve cone with an unbeatable view. For an added touch of sweetness, enjoy your scoop on top of a pie slice, in a cider donut ice cream sandwich, or in an ice cream slushie float!
Just listing these delicious destinations has our mouths watering and our feet heading for the door. Now, go get yourself some dessert!
