Bambino Scoops is mixing up fresh gelato daily inside its small store in Jacksonville. The gelato shop makes 40 different flavors that rotate seasonally with options like banana chocolate, sweet pineapple and mango, and tropical guava and passionfruit. The best part about this ice cream spot is that it’s even using local produce to create the end product, so when visitors come to get a scoop they are truly getting a taste of Northeast Florida. 

The up-and-coming Springfield neighborhood is where ice cream fans are flocking to get a cup from Springfield Scoops. The ice cream shop is known for its abundance of flavors and endless amounts of mix-ins that visitors can choose from. One of the most popular flavors is the Garbage Can, which is a vanilla ice cream base with seven different types of candy bars mixed in. It’s definitely a sugar rush, but one that’s worth driving across town for. 

Part restaurant and part candy store, Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop is known for its over-the-top creations. Kids especially love this ice cream shop for the unlimited topping sundaes that start at $9. Those looking to try something that’s worth posting on social media will want to get a unicorn sundae, which puts together three scoops of “magical unicorn” ice cream, a few types of candy, and whipped cream to come out looking like the mythical creature. For a challenge try getting friends together to take a spoon to Farrell’s Zoo, which is an outlandish 30-scoop sundae with plenty of toppings — including animal crackers, of course.

Mayday Ice Cream is known for its creative flavors that rotate throughout the year. Each of the small batches of ice cream is hand-scooped into a house-made waffle cone and topped with a crispy house-made waffle cookie. The ice cream shop is even going the extra mile to make its own sprinkles too. There are a few mainstays on the menu like blueberry toast crunch, which is a sweet mix of blueberry compote and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Chocolate lovers will want to try the aviator, which is made of Nutella ice cream with chunks of Biscoff cookies and crunchy hazelnuts mixed in. 

Known around town as the late-night spot for ice cream, Cookies & Creme is the spot to be in Jacksonville Beach. Diners are delighted when they not only see the big bins of freshly made ice cream, but the rows of cookies waiting to be devoured together. The charming spot specializes in completely customizable ice cream cookie sandwiches, which have plenty of combinations to tinker with to get it just right. Even better for those who are vegan and gluten-free, this ice cream spot has options for those types of diets as well.