Keep Your Cool: LA’s Ultimate Ice Cream Guide

Hot summer days just scream for ice cream. DTLA offers some tasty ways to keep your cool – from classic ice cream to European-style gelato, yummy soft serves, and other tempting treats, many just s short distance from Circa. Dairy not working for you? Many purveyors serve vegan and gluten-free options that offer the creamy richness, flavor and texture of traditional ice cream, without the drawbacks. So go ahead and chill out with our ultimate ice cream guide. Here’s the scoop.

Honey Mee Ice Cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Honeymee DTLA 645 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Our neighbor Honey Mee creates pure milk ice cream with 100% pure honey and honeycombs with no artificial colors or flavors. They use fresh California milk from a family-owned, kosher certified dairy factory, so you’ll get the authentic taste of what they call True Milk. The raw honey and honeycombs are 100% pure and natural, from a local, certified bee farm where they handle their award-winning honey with the utmost care. Honey Mee loves that something this delicious can provide such positive health benefits, such as increasing antioxidant levels and promoting digestive health. The product also has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. All the more reason to savor every spoonful.

Milkcow Ice Cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Milkcow Cafe 801 S Hope St B Los Angeles, CA 90017

Milkcow is a milk + honey concept ice cream brand, specializing in soft serve ice cream, premium drinks and desserts. With seven years in development, Milkcow has opened in over 15 countries with more than 50 locations, and now brings their authentic recipe to Los Angeles. They use locally sourced natural milk from California happy cows to make their smooth and creamy soft serve ice cream, which is characterized by a delicate milky aftertaste.

ce Cream Alley near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Ice Cream Alley Smorgasburg LA ROW DTLA 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Ice Cream Alley is back at Smorgasburg LA through September 5. The dairy-delightful array of vendors includes Happy Ice, Sweet & Hollow, and Wanderlust Creamery and more. Smorgasburg LA is the largest weekly open-air food market in Los Angeles, attracting 8,000 to 12,000 attendees every Sunday, year round. Located on the five-acre site of the weekday 7th Street Produce Market in ROW DTLA, Smorgasburg LA features food and lifestyle vendors, a beer garden offering local craft beer, pop ups, and other surprises. Sundays 10 AM – 4 PM. Sorry, no pets allowed. 

McConnells ice cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

McConnell’s Grand Central Market 317 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013

For 70 years, McConnell’s has been making dense and pure-flavored ice creams, with smooth, consistent texture and a rich, velvety mouth feel – all made from scratch with a few, simple ingredients. McConnell’s mission is to produce the finest ice creams in the world, in the most responsible and sustainable way possible. In the process, they aim to enrich and enliven the communities in which they operate, and leave the world just a little bit “sweeter” than they found it.

Van Leeuwen ice cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream 300 S Santa Fe Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream started in the Spring of 2008 out of a buttery yellow truck on the streets of NYC. The founders set out to revive the classic American ice cream truck and the art of traditional ice cream making, using ingredients perfected by nature, not science. Van Leeuwen Classic and Vegan ice creams are made with just a handful of fresh ingredients. Each flavor is a celebration of some of the world’s best artisan producers and farmers, both local and from around the world.

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ice Cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ice Cream

Van Leeuwen is offering a Limited Edition Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ice Cream –  a flavor mash-up combining two of America’s favorite treats – mac & cheese and ice cream. This popular product sold out in just a few hours, so if you missed out on getting your hands on it the first time, or were lucky enough to grab a pint but one wasn’t enough, sign-up to be the first to know when it’s available to purchase again HERE

Midori Matcha Cafe ice cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Midori Matcha Cafe 123 Astronaut Ellison S Onizuka St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Located in DTLA’s Little Tokyo, Midori Matcha specializes in serving Japanese Organic Matcha drinks, pastries and Kyoto style soft serve ice cream. Simple and pure are the two main ingredients. They hand-whisk each drink, using Organic Ceremonial Grade or Imperial Grade Japanese Matcha with never any preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners or added colors. Health is the number one priority, which is why most drinks are unsweetened or have minimal calories, fat and sugar. Midori Matcha believes in enjoying matcha as close to its original traditional roots as possible. 

Gelateria Uli ice cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Uli’s Gelato 541 S Spring St #104 Los Angeles, CA 90013

Named Best Ice Cream 2020 by LA Magazine, Uli’s Gelato was founded by Uli Nasibova, who’s originally from Baku, Azerbaijan. Uli opened her gelato shop in 2014 with the goal to make to make the best ice cream (not just gelato) in Los Angeles. Uli personally creates all recipes and sources the best possible ingredients for a taste treat that can’t be beat.

Little Damage ice cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Little Damage 700 S Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

Billing itself as “LA’s finest soft serve ice cream,” Little Damage is a small family owned business that draws its inspiration from the rich cultural fabric that makes Los Angeles special. Rather than offering a conventional selection, Little Damage offers a rotating menu of unique recipes that allow you step outside of your comfort zone and get a little adventurous, such as their famous charcoal cone. At least one vegan option is always included in the rotation to accommodate those who are dairy free.

Salt & Straw ice cream near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Salt & Straw 829 E. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

The bright, spacious Arts District Salt & Straw scoop shop is an outpost of the popular ice cream concept from Oregon, known for inventive flavors and farm-sourced ingredients. The founders chose the name Salt & Straw because the ice cream is handmade, in small batches, the way ice cream was made traditionally. Back in the day, ice cream makers used rock salt to make it freeze, then it was packed in straw to keep it cold. Dairy-free options are available.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Photo #2: Honeymee

Photo #3: Milkcow Cafe

Photo #4: Smorgasburg LA

Photo #5: McConnell’s

Photo #6: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Photo #7: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Photo #8: Midori Matcha Cafe

Photo #9: Uli’s Gelato

Photo #10: Little Damage

Photo #11: Salt & Straw

Beat the Heat: DTLA’s Best ice Cream, Frosty Coffee & Cool Concoctions

The Fourth of July is right around the corner and temperatures are rising. Hot summer days just scream for ice cream and other cool refreshments. DTLA offers some tasty ways to get your chill thrill – from classic ice cream to European-style gelato, cold brewed coffee, iced lattes, soft serves, and other tempting treats. Many purveyors also offer vegan and gluten-free options. Here’s the scoop.

McConnell’s Grand Central Market 317 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013

For 70 years, McConnell’s has been making dense and pure-flavored ice creams, with smooth, consistent texture and a rich, velvety mouth feel – all made from scratch with a few, simple ingredients. McConnell’s mission is to produce the finest ice creams in the world, in the most responsible and sustainable way possible. In the process, they aim to enrich and enliven the communities in which they operate, and leave the world just a little bit “sweeter” than they found it.

Gelateria Uli 541 S Spring St #104, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Named Best Gelato by LA Weekly in 2019, Gelateria Uli is gearing up for the 4th of July and taking pre-orders for three summertime frozen pies! Choose from three gelato flavors topped with vegan caramel and sprinkled with your favorite Speculoos cookie crumbs, with a crust made from Uli’s signature waffle cones. Gelateria Uli was founded by Uli Nasibova, who’s originally from Baku, Azerbaijan. Uli opened her gelato shop in 2014 with the goal to make European-style ice cream, which has lower fat and air content than the American variety. Uli personally creates all recipes and sources the best possible ingredients for a taste treat that can’t be beat.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream 300 S. Santa Fe Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is open for delivery and walk-up service, offering a full menu of classic and vegan ice creams. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream started in the spring of 2008 out of a buttery yellow truck on the streets of NYC. The founders set out to revive the classic American ice cream truck and the art of traditional ice cream making, using ingredients perfected by nature, not science. Van Leeuwen Classic and Vegan ice creams are made with just a handful of fresh ingredients. Each flavor is a celebration of some of the world’s best artisan producers and farmers, both local and from around the world. 

Little Damage 700 S Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

Billing itself as “LA’s finest soft serve ice cream,” Little Damage is a small family owned business that draws its inspiration from the rich cultural fabric that makes Los Angeles special. Rather than offering a conventional selection, Little Damage offers a rotating menu of unique recipes that allow you step outside of your comfort zone and get a little adventurous, such as their famous charcoal cone. At least one vegan option is always be included in the rotation to accommodate those who are dairy free.

Salt & Straw 829 E. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

The bright, spacious Arts District Salt & Straw scoop shop is an outpost of the popular ice cream concept from Oregon, known for inventive flavors and farm-sourced ingredients. The founders chose the name Salt & Straw because the ice cream is handmade, in small batches, the way ice cream was made traditionally. Back in the day, ice cream makers used rock salt to make it freeze, then it was packed in straw to keep it cold. Dairy-free options are available. Order online for local pick up or delivery.

Chimney Coffee 1100 N Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Originally opened as Los Angeles Chinatown’s first specialty cafe back in 2010, Chimney Coffee House has been constantly evolving to better serve the community and to be a destination for creatives, professionals, and families alike. This hip, casual cafe specializes in locally roasted single origin coffee, elevated breakfast fare, and sandwiches. Beat the heat with Bankok Iced Coffee and Cold Brew Iced Coffee, which is “flash brewed” over ice to amp up the flavor. They also have a frosty selection of iced lattes including Mocha, Caramel, Vanilla, Matcha Latte, Chai, and Thai Iced Tea.

G & B Coffee Grand Central Market C-19 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

From champion baristas Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinski, collectively known as G&B Coffee, this hot spot serves up coffees, espresso drinks, and teas selected from the world’s top roasters and farms. When you’re ready to cool down, G&B’s coffee milkshake and hop-infused carbonated ice tea are instant Market classics. Stop by for weekly cuppings every Tuesdays at 2:00 to taste the range of G&B coffees from around the world. Free 5 minute parking in the drop-off lane in front of the G & B stall.

Cafe Dulce ROW DTLA 777 S Alameda St. #150 Los Angeles, CA 90021

Cafe Dulce is open and offering pickup or delivery. This sleek cafe offers specialty coffees and teas, along with fresh salads, sandwiches and baked goods delivered daily from its original kitchen in Little Tokyo, Downtown LA. Cafe Dulce is widely known for its signature hand-crafted beverages including the Vietnamese iced coffee, single origin pour overs, blueberry matcha lattes, and green tea donuts.  Order vis phone (213) 536-9633 or delivery through Postmates & ChowNow.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Salt & Straw 

Photo #2: McConnell’s

Photo #3: Gelateria Uli 

Photo #4: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Photo #5: Little Damage

Photo #6: Salt & Straw

Photo #7: Chimney Coffee

Photo #8: G & B Coffee

Photo #9: Cafe Dulce

Chill Out! LA’s Coolest Ice Cream, Gelato & Shaves

Hot summer days just scream for ice cream…or gelato, sorbet, and other chilled treats. Since ancient times, overheated humans have been preparing cold desserts and beverages by harvesting ice and storing it in caves and underground caches. Ice cream, which is typically made with milk, cream, sugar, and flavoring, is churned by a machine to incorporate significant amounts of air, creating a more whipped texture. Italian-style gelato, comprised of milk, cream, sugar, and a flavoring, is slowly stirred by a machine while freezing, result in very little air being whipped in.

In Japan, a dessert known as kakigori has been made for centuries by storing ice formed in the winter, then shaved in the summer to make luxurious concoctions for aristocrats. Today these crushed or shaved ice desserts are known as shave ice.

Dairy not working for you? Many purveyors offer vegan and gluten-free options that feature the same creamy richness, flavor and texture of traditional ice cream, without the drawbacks of dairy. So go ahead and chill out with LA’s coolest ice cream, gelato and ice shaves!

McConnells

McConnell’s Grand Central Market 317 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013

For 70 years, McConnell’s has been making dense and pure-flavored ice creams, with smooth, consistent texture and a rich, velvety mouth feel – all made from scratch with a few, simple ingredients. McConnell’s mission is to produce the finest ice creams in the world, in the most responsible and sustainable way possible. In the process, they aim to enrich and enliven the communities in which they operate, and leave the world just a little bit “sweeter” than they found it.

Little Damage

Little Damage 700 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Billing itself “LA’s finest soft serve ice cream,” Little Damage is a small family owned business that draws its inspiration from the rich cultural fabric that makes Los Angeles special. Rather than offering a conventional selection, Little Damage offers a rotating menu of unique recipes that allow you step outside of your comfort zone and get a little adventurous, such as their famous charcoal cone. At least one vegan option is always be included in the rotation to accommodate those who are dairy free. Guests are invited to capture their best moments in the free photo booth.

Frenchs Mustard Ice Cream

Coolhaus 8588 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

French’s Mustard is debuting a Limited Edition Mustard Ice Cream in honor of National Mustard Day! Developed with Coolhaus Ice Cream, the unconventional flavor was created to bring together two all-American classics – ice cream and mustard – -in a surprising yet delicious offering. Served with an accompanying pretzel cookie, French’s Mustard Ice Cream is available at Coolhaus’s Culver City location Aug. 9-11.

Salt & Straw

Salt & Straw 829 E. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

The bright, spacious Arts District Salt & Straw scoop shop is an outpost of the popular ice cream concept from Oregon, known for inventive flavors and farm-sourced ingredients. The founders chose the name Salt & Straw because the ice cream is handmade, in small batches, the way ice cream was made traditionally. Back in the day, ice cream makers used rock salt to make it freeze, then it was packed in straw to keep it cold. Dairy-free options are available.

Gelato Festival

Gelato Festival America Pacific Design Center West Hollywood, CA 90069

Sept 28 -29  Experience the delicious taste of artisan gelato and celebrate the summer’s end at the Gelato Festival, held in the Pacific Design Center on Melrose Avenue. Bsides all the gelato you can eat in one day (flavors are limited), guests will enjoy Gelato Festival games and contests, with plenty of prizes to be won throughout the weekend – all included in the price of the ticket! Make sure you cast a vote for your favorite gelato flavor and the chef who created it – the winner will continue the journey towards the final of the Gelato Festival World Masters 2021.

Chinchinkurin

Chinchinkurin 350 E. 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Chinchinkurin is known for Hiroshima Okonomiyaki, an elaborate dish consisting of about 11 layers of various types of vegetables, moderate portions of protein, a decent layer of carbs, and a few layers of extra flavor, along with the famous Otafuku sauce that brings it all together.Whew! After this flavorful meal, you’ll be ready ti cleanse your palate with a refreshing bowl of shave ice!

Majordomo

Majordomo 1725 Naud St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Majordomo specializes in California cuisine inspired by LA’s different food cultures and the bounty of Southern California products. The eclectic offerings range from white sturgeon caviar to seafood, noodle & rice dishes, steak, and ribs. After all that sumptuous dining, try their seasonal flavor of kakigori (shave ice) on the dessert menu. Guests are allowed to bring their own wine for a corkage fee is $30 per 750 mls for the first two bottles and $50 for each subsequent bottle.

Van Leeuwen

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream 300 S. Santa Fe Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream started in the Spring of 2008 out of a buttery yellow truck on the streets of NYC. The founders set out to revive the classic American ice cream truck and the art of traditional ice cream making, using ingredients perfected by nature, not science. Van Leeuwen Classic and Vegan ice creams are made with just a handful of fresh ingredients. Each flavor is a celebration of some of the world’s best artisan producers and farmers, both local and from around the world. In case you want to try this at home, you can pick up a copy of the “The Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Cookbook,” sharing over 100 vegan and classic recipes along with stories from the past decade.

Divine Dips

Divine Dips Ice Crème 601 S. Los Angeles Street, DTLA 90014

Say goodbye to icy, bland, dairy-free ice cream concoctions and say hello to Divine Dips Vegan Ice Crème! After years of hands-on research, Divine Dips Vegan Ice Crème came up with the same creamy richness, flavor and texture of traditional ice cream, without the drawbacks of dairy. Skillfully crafted from a blend of organic coconut milk, cashews, nut milks, and other all-natural ingredients, Divine Dips are gluten free and contain no dairy. The product is sweetened with agave nectar, a low glycemic sweetener, providing just the right amount of sweetness without spiking blood sugar. Not just for vegans — anyone who enjoys richly indulgent frozen desserts will crave “a Dip of the Divine.”

Thrifty Ice Cream

Thrifty Ice Cream at RiteAid Various locations around DTLA

If you’re looking for a quick pick me up on a hot afternoon, slip into the closest RiteAid and grab a tub of their legendary Thrifty Ice Cream. Since 1940, Californians have cherished Thrifty Ice Cream’s quality ingredients, award-winning recipes, and incredible value. Now for the first time ever, eight signature flavors are offered at a store near you.