Scoop There It Is: The Best Ice Cream & Frozen Custard Spots in St. Louis

Whether you've just closed on your dream home in Kirkwood, are exploring neighborhoods in Clayton, or are a lifelong South City St. Louisan looking for your next sweet adventure, one thing is universally true: St. Louis takes its frozen treats seriously. This is, after all, the city that gave the world the waffle cone — born at the 1904 World's Fair right here in St. Louis.

From rich, velvety frozen custard to creative small-batch ice cream, our metro has no shortage of cold, creamy destinations worth a detour. Here's our guide to the best spots to cool down this summer (and beyond).

1. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard — The St. Louis Legend

Locations: South Grand & Chippewa

If there's one frozen treat that defines St. Louis, it's a Ted Drewes concrete. Founded in 1929, Ted Drewes has been a St. Louis institution for nearly a century, and it earned its legendary status the old-fashioned way: by being absolutely delicious. Made with premium ingredients using time-honored recipes, the frozen custard here is impossibly rich and creamy.

The famous "concrete" — a shake so thick that servers hand it to you upside down to prove it won't spill — was created in 1959 and remains the gold standard. Fan favorites include the Cardinal Sin (tart cherries and hot fudge), the banana split, and the strawberry shortcake. Lines are part of the experience, and locals wouldn't have it any other way.

Pro tip for new St. Louisans: The Ted Drewes on South Grand is a summertime-only operation, so don't wait too long into fall to get your fix!

2. Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery — For the Adventurous Palate

Multiple Locations: Lafayette Square, Clayton, Central West End, Kirkwood, Southampton, Town & Country & more

Named by BuzzFeed and Yelp as the most popular ice cream shop in Missouri, Clementine's has grown from a single Lafayette Square scoop shop to eight locations across the Missouri side of the metro. What sets Clementine's apart is their "naughty or nice" concept: choose from alcohol-infused boozy flavors (made using a patent-pending process for freezing wine, spirits, and locally brewed beers) or an equally creative lineup of non-alcoholic options.

Their beloved Gooey Butter Cake ice cream — loaded with chunks of St. Louis' favorite pastry — is a must-try. The rotating seasonal menu keeps regulars coming back, and the small-batch, handcrafted approach ensures every scoop is something special. Vegan and non-dairy options are available too.

Perfect for: Housewarming parties and neighborhood explorations — pick up a pint or two!

3. Fritz's Frozen Custard — A Family Recipe Worth Savoring

Locations: Multiple St. Louis area locations

Fritz's has been quietly serving some of the finest frozen custard in St. Louis since 1983, using a secret family recipe that has stood the test of time. A local alternative to the bigger names in town, Fritz's earns devoted fans who swear it's every bit as good (if not better) than more famous custard shops. Sundaes, concretes, cones, shakes, and malts are all on the menu, and they rotate a signature flavor for every day of summer.

If you're new to the area and someone tells you Fritz's is underrated — listen to them.

4. Andy's Frozen Custard — Missouri Born and Proud

Multiple St. Louis area locations

Andy's Frozen Custard was first churned in Osage Beach, Missouri, and has grown into a beloved statewide — and now multi-state — brand without losing its commitment to quality. The custard is notably rich and creamy, made with fresh ingredients year-round. Standout menu items include the Ooey Gooey Concrete (Heath bar, crème caramel, and almonds) and the Snowmonster Concrete (strawberries and melted chocolate chips). Feeling creative? The Jackhammer lets you fill the center of your concrete with whatever toppings your heart desires.

With multiple convenient St. Louis-area locations, Andy's is a reliable go-to for families and custard lovers throughout the metro.

5. St. Louis Frozen Custard Factory — A Mid-County Mainstay

Rock Hill, MO (Flagship at Manchester & McKnight)

Open since 1998, the St. Louis Frozen Custard Factory has been a Mid-County landmark for nearly three decades. Their custard is made the old-fashioned way — fed fresh from the machine rather than hardened — so what you get is an ultra-fresh product with the ideal creamy texture. Sundaes, concretes, shakes, and floats round out the menu. If you're house-hunting in Rock Hill, Maplewood, or the surrounding communities, this is your neighborhood custard shop.

6. Silky's Frozen Custard — Rich, Creamy, and Worth the Drive

St. Louis area

True to its name, Silky's delivers some of the smoothest, most indulgent frozen custard in the region. Known for customizable concretes at the walk-up window or drive-thru, Silky's also offers its custard by the quart to take home in chocolate, vanilla, or rotating specialty flavors. Fans often say the texture here is in a league of its own — velvety in a way that keeps them coming back.

7. Sugarwitch — Whimsical, Weird, and Wonderful

Carondelet, St. Louis

Founded by a couple of self-described "flavor-obsessed queer food system nerds," Sugarwitch brings a truly one-of-a-kind creative energy to the St. Louis frozen treat scene. Their ice cream sandwiches and novelties — including choco tacos — have become synonymous with St. Louis summers. Flavors rotate seasonally and tend toward the imaginative: think rainbow cereal milk, chili cherry chocolate milk, and vegan matcha Oreo. Milk-based and vegan options are available via store pickup or delivery.

Sugarwitch is the kind of place that makes you proud to be a St. Louisan — local, creative, and genuinely delicious.

8. Bold Spoon Creamery — Farm-Fresh Flavors

Tower Grove Farmers' Market (Saturdays April–November, Tuesdays May–October) | Also at Enterprise Center, The Muny & select grocery stores

Bold Spoon Creamery was born from one woman's backyard garden mint experiment. Founder Rachel Burns crafted small-batch ice cream from hyperlocal ingredients before eventually moving operations to Bold Spoon Farm in Park Hills, Missouri. The result is an extraordinary line-up of all-natural gourmet flavors — brown butter with miso caramel, goat cheese with fig jam, roasted peach, lavender vanilla, and more.

Bold Spoon doesn't have a traditional storefront, but you can find their scoops at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market and at major St. Louis venues. Pints are also available at select local grocery stores. This is the kind of ice cream that makes you slow down and actually taste what you're eating.

9. Baileys' Range — Bonus Scoops with Your Burger

Downtown St. Louis (near Missouri Botanical Garden)

Best known as a beloved burger spot, Baileys' Range is hiding a gem of a secret: scratch-made ice cream in imaginative flavors like Irish cream, salted caramel, and mint chip. Available by the scoop, as a shake, or shining in a sundae, the housemade ice cream here is far better than you'd expect from a restaurant primarily known for its beef. If you're already in the area visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden or exploring downtown, don't skip dessert.

10. Deters Frozen Custard — A St. Charles Gem

Weldon Spring & St. Charles

Venturing a bit west? Deters is a highly regarded custard spot in the St. Charles area that locals love for its high-quality product and creative add-ins. If you're exploring homes in St. Charles County, Deters is the kind of neighborhood gem worth knowing about.

Why We Love Talking About Our Community

At Nations Network, we believe that finding the right home is about more than square footage and school ratings — it's about finding the community where you want to live. That means knowing which custard stand has the best concrete in your new neighborhood, which farmers' market sells the best handmade ice cream pints, and which local institution has been feeding generations of St. Louis families since 1929.

St. Louis is a city with deep roots, passionate locals, and a genuine culture of community. Whether you're relocating here for the first time or looking for your forever home just a little closer to Ted Drewes, we'd love to help you find your place in it.

Ready to find your sweet spot in St. Louis?  Contact our team today!

Disclaimer: Hours and seasonal availability vary by location. We recommend checking each spot's website or social media before visiting. Some locations are seasonal.