Rachel SmithThere’s nothing quite like the feeling of cold, sweet ice cream melting on your tongue during a warm afternoon. But finding the perfect scoop can be a serious mission when you have kids pulling your arm or you just need a great spot for a casual date night.
Luckily, whether you want a simple vanilla cone or an artisanal flavor flight, the options here are fantastic. Let’s dive right into finding the best ice cream stores in Indianapolis for your next treat.
How much does ice cream cost in Indianapolis?
A standard scoop of ice cream in Indianapolis typically ranges from $4 to $6, while specialty items and bulk takeout pints can cost anywhere from $7 to $15.
| Item / Service | Average Price Range |
| Standard Scoops | $4 – $6 |
| Specialty Sundaes & Shakes | $7 – $12 |
| Pints & Quarts (Takeout) | $8 – $15 |
1. LiftOff Creamery
Website: https://www.liftoffcreamery.com/
Address: 111 E 16th St Suite 104
Contact: (317) 884-8929 | [email protected]
Hours: Sun-Thu 12:00 PM-9:00 PM, Fri-Sat 12:00 PM-10:00 PM
Stepping into an aviation-themed shop makes grabbing dessert feel like a tiny adventure.
LiftOff Creamery takes this concept and runs with it while offering a massive selection of 30 to 40 rotating flavors daily from a roster of over 120 options. You can even endlessly customize your cup or cone with a massive variety of candies and fruit toppings!
I visited with my nephew recently, and the sheer excitement on his face over the airplane decor was totally priceless. Supporting a minority-owned small business right in the downtown area also feels incredibly rewarding.
However, you should prepare for a bit of a wait. The shop gets incredibly popular on summer weekends, leading to long physical lines and very limited seating in the parlor.
Customer Review
This was a cute spot that our server at dinner suggested and we were not disappointed. Friendly servers, a TON of options but regular and vegan, and plenty of space and time to roam and pick what the heart desires. I tried the Overstuffed and it was thick and delightful. My SO had the Amelia Earhart and was pleased and he isn’t a sweets person.
- Jocelyn Daniels | Google Review
I come here frequently enough to say that the ice cream is pretty good. They have a good variety of flavors and dairy free options. I appreciate that they label all the ice creams well with major allergens as a gluten free person. The manager did a great job of getting all the order done tonight as it was very busy.
- Natalia Cruz | Google Review
2. BRICS
Website: https://www.bricsindy.com/
Address: 901 East 64th Street
Contact: (317) 257-5757
Hours: Mon-Fri 2:00 PM-9:00 PM, Sat 12:00 PM-9:30 PM, Sun 12:00 PM-9:00 PM
Combining local history with frozen treats creates a wonderful community hangout spot. BRICS is housed in the historic Monon Railway station, offering an iconic atmosphere directly on the Monon Trail alongside dozens of premium hand-dipped flavors.
Taking a break here at this shop is practically a requirement for walkers and cyclists enjoying the trail. The beautiful historic railway architecture adds a touch of nostalgic charm to your dessert trip.
You can also relax on their large outdoor seating patio during warm summer evenings. There’s a wide variety of flavors available that you can enjoy, too. You can even easily find great vegan options if you have specific dietary restrictions.
Just keep your transportation plans in mind before driving over. Finding nearby parking can be somewhat difficult during peak weekend hours due to its busy trail-side location in Broad Ripple.
Customer Review
This little icecream shop was such a treat! Our group of 7 was visiting from out of town. Jay was so hospitable. He was friendly while making all of our orders, even brought us glasses of water and told us the history of the store front that used to be a train station! Adorable store and delicious icecream! I got the gluten free cookie sundae and it hit the spot! Everyone loved it!
- Holly Wilcox | Google Review
Incredibly delicious ice cream! There was a wide variety of flavor options (truly something for every person), my absolute favorite part was the many vegan/dairy free ice creams options that weren’t just sorbet🤩I personally appreciated their sustainability efforts and compostable cups. Great environment, kind staff. A 5 star experience, would definitely recommend to others👏🏽
- B Lee | Google Review
3. Sundae’s Homemade Ice Cream
Website: https://www.sundaeshomemade.com/
Address: 9922 East 79th Street
Contact: (317) 570-0533 | [email protected]
Hours: Mon-Sun 12:00 PM-10:00 PM
Finding a parlor that takes the craft of small-batch creation seriously is always refreshing.
Sundae’s deliberately crafts all of their ice cream in-house, featuring 32 rotating flavors that pair perfectly with their own locally roasted artisanal coffee.
They even offer a very wide variety of designated gluten-free options for sensitive diets. You also can select one or two flavors of your choosing here.
I actually ordered one of their custom, made-to-order ice cream pies for a family gathering last month, and it was a massive hit. It serves as a fantastic alternative to traditional cake delivery in Indianapolis.
You do need to plan ahead for those specialty items, though. The custom ice cream pies strictly require a 24-hour advance notice, which limits spontaneous large-group dessert pickups.
Customer Review
If you’re an ice cream person, don’t hesitate to stop in this place. The staff was on it! The selection was massive. We all left very satisfied and will be stopping back in next time we are in Indianapolis. Bussin!
- BullionNotBits | Google Review
This might be the best ice cream spot in all of central Indiana. The graham central station was highly recommended in reviews and it didn’t disappoint. You can taste that the ice cream is homemade. This is our new ice cream spot every time we want a sweet treat. Highly recommend this place.
- Tyler Wardrop | Google Review
4. Square Scoop
Website: https://www.sqrscoop.com/
Address: 1028 Virginia Ave.
Contact: 317-426-3320 | [email protected]
Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00 PM-9:00 PM, Fri-Sat 12:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM-9:00 PM
Stepping into a shop that feels like a trip back in time makes dessert even more special. Square Scoop offers a deeply nostalgic experience. The cozy interior design truly elevates the standard parlor aesthetic into something charming.
Here, you can expect a rotating selection of hand-dipped ice cream alongside classic shakes, sundaes, and vintage candies. This is the perfect place to stop after grabbing dinner at an Asian restaurant in Indianapolis.
They even serve unique vintage bottled sodas that you can pair with their traditional ice cream floats.
On the flip side, you’ll need to satisfy your sweet tooth on another day if craving a treat early in the week, as theyr’e closed on Mondays.
Customer Review
Stopped in after seeing people walk around with ice cream, I am so glad I did!
He was making fresh waffle cones, so I had to try one. The cone was crunchy with a rich flavor. Graham central station was amazing, the chocolate pieces had a really good crunch! I wanted to try the Elvis has left the building as well, so I got 2 scoops. The peanut butter in the Elvis was rich and strong with a bold banana flavor. Be warned, the scoops are large.. I over ordered.
- Taylor | Google Review
Yummy! Love their rotating seasonal flavors. And can’t go wrong with the classics! Texture is so soft and creamy. They have a decent sample of non-dairy options (not just sorbet, though those are good too) and a couple vegan options too! Portions are reasonable for the price – i love getting the 4-scoop sample because I can never settle on just one flavor!
- Alexandra Huang | Google Review
5. Lick Ice Cream Indy
Website: https://www.lickindy.com/
Address: 906 Carrollton Ave Ste 360
Contact: (317)-979-0237 | [email protected]
Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00 PM-9:00 PM, Fri-Sat 12:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM-8:00 PM
Adventurous foodies always appreciate it when a dessert spot tries new things with traditional recipes.
Lick focuses on highly inventive, chef-driven gourmet flavors, using natural and locally sourced ingredients for a premium-tasting experience. The flavor combinations here are highly unique and appeal directly to those wanting something different.
You can find them conveniently located right inside the bustling Garage Food Hall at the Bottleworks District. They also offer excellent late-night weekend hours until 10:00 PM for satisfying those post-dinner sugar cravings.
The overall atmosphere is incredibly energetic, but it does have a small drawback. Because it sits inside a massive food hall, finding open physical seating to enjoy your treat can be highly competitive during peak dining hours.
Customer Review
Lick icecream is worth the hype. It’s one of the shops located inside The Garage.
I tried their Munchies and Raspberry cheesecake flavours. Raspberry was heavenly.
The texture is so rich and creamy, doing justice to the price being charged.
I look forward to try more of their flavours
- N Surabhi | Google Review
I always look forward to visiting this shop to explore their creative and unique flavors. The staff is patient and allows us to take our time sampling different options. The latest flavor I tried, Earl Gray Peppermint, was absolutely delightful! Highly recommend stopping by to see what new flavors they’ve come up with!
- Julie Zhu | Google Review
