Top Philly Summer Treats to Beat Heat Waves

Tranzilli Real Italian Water

This renowned family-owned water ice retailer has been serving the community since the 1960s, offering one of Philly’s little-known dynamic duos: water ice (with over twenty flavors including mango, black cherry, cotton candy, and strawberry lemonade, just to name a few) and cheese pretzels. Planning a gathering or looking to join in the fun with your family? Order one of its party buckets—a gallon bucket of your chosen flavor that can serve up to 17 people.

Cloud Cups

Cloud Cups excels at the creamiest gelato and sorbet. With over 100 dreamy flavors to choose from (including gluten-free and vegan options), along with many fun collaborations with other local brands, stop by the shop for a taste, get it shipped to your home, or catch them at local festivals and events all summer long.

Philadelphia Tropical Treats

Water ice with a twist, Tropical Treats started as a Black-owned food truck and now has a storefront in Northern Liberties. Here, fan favorites like the Ultimate Paradise and the ‘Luxury Experience are made in fresh fruit bowls (a whole pineapple or melon cut in half with flesh removed) filled with water ice and then topped with diced fruit and other delectable fixings like pretzel sticks and shaved coconut.

Weckerly’s Ice Cream

A micro-creamery with a mission rooted in using locally sourced ingredients, Weckerly’s has been scooping up its deliciously bold ice cream (think flavors like blueberry rhubarb swirl and lemon cookie dream) since 2012. While you might prefer more traditional ice cream in a cone or cup, the ice cream sandwiches (with options like black and white, blueberry cream, and a people’s choice made with coffee ice cream incorporating beans from Caphe Roasters) are equally satisfying.

Banana Mousse

Mousse and milkshakes are on deck at this popular West Philadelphia dessert spot. Its original mousse is a crowd-pleaser made with creamy mousse and Chessman’s crackers, or you can go big with its Fruity Pebbles milkshake, which combines vanilla ice cream and multi-berry extracts, and is topped with whipped cream.

Lil’ Pop Shop

Cherry cola, Vietnamese iced coffee, chocolate salted caramel brownie, and vegan mango passionfruit are just a snippet of the extraordinary popsicles menu at lil Pop Shop in University City.

Franklin Fountain

Founded by brothers Eric and Ryan Berley, a visit to this Old City ice cream shop is like taking a trip down memory lane, offering an experience that pays homage to classic ice cream parlors of the past. Here, your ice cream fantasies can come true with over two dozen flavors (including vegan and sugar-free options), larger-than-life sundaes and splits, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas.

Scoop DeVille

The legendary ice cream shop has two locations in Center City where it scoops up ice cream cones and cups, sundaes (with playful nods to Philly, like the Whiz Wit featuring cheesecake topped with pretzel ice cream, peanut butter, and hot fudge), and ice cream cakes (such as the chipwich-style cake, its version of a gigantic and shareable ice cream sandwich, making it perfect for summer cookouts and parties).

John’s Water Ice

Perhaps one of the most famous spots in the city for “wooder ice,” South Philly’s John’s Water Ice has been sharing its cherished treat with the community since 1945. Mix and match, or stick with your favorite flavor from its no-frills but always refreshing old-school options like pineapple, chocolate, strawberry, and mango. Be sure to add a soft pretzel to your order for the full experience.

Milk Jawn

With a location in East Passyunk and plans to open a second location in Northern Liberties, the small-batch ice cream shop Milk Jawn boasts a menu full of playful flavors such as Earl Grey with honeycomb, malted milk toffee crunch, and vegan mango sticky rice.

Main Squeeze

For a protein packed cool down (with gluten-free options), a fulfilling acai bowl is always a great choice, and Main Squeeze Philly offers several outstanding options. Visit one of its two location (in South Philly or Fishtown) to try the trendy Frutti Tutti bowl made with granola and topped with bananas, strawberries, and blueberries, or the Peanut Butter Jelly Time bowl made with strawberries, chopped walnuts, and a choice of peanut or almond butter.