Because It’s Too Damn Hot to Pretend Frozen Yogurt Is Enough
Sacramento summers don’t play around. We’re talking triple-digit days, car seats that scorch your thighs, and the kind of heat that turns your steering wheel into a branding iron.
So what’s the cure? Ice cream. Real ice cream. The cold, creamy, sugar-filled kind your inner child — and current adult — desperately needs.
Here are 4 legendary (and local-approved) ice cream spots that don’t just survive the heat — they absolutely slay it.
1. Gunther’s Ice Cream
📍 2801 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento, CA
🧁 Est. 1940s — Old-school charm meets serious scoops
You can’t talk about ice cream in Sac without bowing down to Gunther’s. This place is a local institution — the kind of spot where your parents went on dates and your kids will, too.
They make all their ice cream on-site, and it’s so. damn. creamy. Must-try flavors include:
- 50/50 (orange sherbet + vanilla = childhood in a cup)
- Toasted Almond
- Rum Raisin (trust us)
Pro tip: The fruit freezes in the window? A spiritual experience.
2. Vic’s Ice Cream
📍 3199 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento, CA
🍦 Retro soda shop vibes + honest-to-goodness scoops
This one’s got major 1950s energy. Think white tile, red booths, and a menu that hasn’t changed much — because why mess with perfection?
They’re known for:
- Black & White milkshakes
- Classic Chocolate Chip
- Banana splits the size of your face
It’s low-key, no-frills, and perfect when you want ice cream without TikTok influencers crowding the booth behind you.
3. The Parlor Ice Cream Puffs
📍 2620 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA
🥐 Warm donut + cold ice cream = unholy perfection
Forget cones. At The Parlor, they stuff your ice cream inside a fresh, hot donut. Yeah. Read that again.
Build your own puff:
- Choose your donut (glazed, chocolate, whatever’s hot)
- Pick your ice cream (Salted Caramel Pretzel? Matcha? Yes.)
- Add toppings (cereal, sauces, edible glitter if you’re bold)
This is not diet food. This is “I earned this after living through I-5 traffic in July” food.
4. Baskin-Robbins
📍 Everywhere
🎉 31 flavors. Endless nostalgia.
Yeah yeah, we said “local,” but come on. Baskin-Robbins is part of Sacramento life.
Sometimes you don’t want artisanal. You want Rainbow Sherbet and a waffle cone the size of a toddler’s leg.
B-R delivers. Every. Single. Time.
🍧 Honorable Mentions
Because we’re extra.
- Cream Nation (Natomas): Ice cream cookie sandwiches to ruin your self-control
- Sweet Alchemy: Rolled ice cream that’s fun to watch and even better to eat
- Faria Bakery: Not technically an ice cream shop, but their seasonal soft serves are chef’s kiss
- Häagen-Dazs at DOCO: Clean, bougie, and dangerously close to your shopping route
Tips for Beating the Heat Like a Local
- Go early. Like before noon early — or face the lines of every high schooler in the zip code.
- Don’t be a hero. Bring a cooler if you’re grabbing pints to go.
- Share a scoop flight. It’s a thing at some spots and makes you feel like a dessert sommelier.
Final Lick of Wisdom
Sacramento doesn’t mess around when it comes to heat — or ice cream. Whether you’re team classic scoop, gourmet fusion, or donut-stuffed sugar bomb, there’s something here to satisfy every kind of sweet tooth.
Life’s short. Eat the ice cream. Especially when it’s 103 and your AC is whispering threats.
If ice cream is not your thing, check out our top sushi rankings here!
