Sweet Treats: The Best Ice Cream in Pittsburgh

Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor

📷 Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor

Gus & YiaYia's

Gus and YiaYia’s on the Northside is as synonymous with Pittsburgh as our yellow bridges and three rivers! Gus Kalaris has served delicious sweet treats in Allegheny Commons for nearly seven decades. Since its inception in 1934, the stand’s menu has stayed the same – ice balls, peanuts and popcorn. There are a total of 12 fruit-flavored syrups all of which can be mixed into your own creation. Kalaris makes the syrups by hand, daily, ensuring the best possible flavor!

Gus and YiaYia’s Details
 Sun-Sat | 11AM–7PM – Weather Depending
 638 West Ohio St., Pittsburgh PA 15222

Millie's Homemade Ice Cream

📷 Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream

Did you hear the “scoop?” Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream serves up some of the best ice cream in Pittsburgh! Owners Chad and Lauren Townsend make each sweet treat with love and all natural, real ingredients. They work with local purveyors to source dairy, eggs, and seasonal produce which enhances the taste of their treats. Since opening in Shadyside in 2016, Millie’s has grown to 3 store fronts, 4 kiosks and a food truck!

Dogs are welcomed at Millie’s and are known to eat a scoop of vanilla (or two). They also offer multiple dairy-free options (we suggest the berry chocolate)! We know that you will have a gelato fun a Millie’s!

Millie’s Details
 Hours vary by location
 Shadyside, Market Square, Lawrenceville

Mercuiro's Pizza and Gelato

📷 Mercuiro’s

How about a side of pizza with your ice cream? Mercuiro’s in Shadyside and Fox Chapel creates a truly authentic Italian experience by serving traditional Neapolitan pizzas and artisan gelato!

Gelato, which means frozen in Italian, is truly an art form. While gelato and ice cream will both satisfy your sweet tooth, they are different in many ways. True gelato contains less than 8% butterfat (Mercurio’s is 7%) and has 20% air pumped into the liquid when its being frozen. This technique ultimately creates a creamy product with an intense flavor! For comparison purposes – ice cream must have a minimum 10% butterfat with 50%-100% air pumped into the liquid while freezing!

Mercuiro’s flavors rotate frequently but our favorites are the Tiramisu, Strawberry Cheesecake and Death by Chocolate! Honestly, what’s better than eating some of the best ice cream in Pittsburgh AFTER eating a pizza pie?

Mercurio’s Details
 Hours vary by location
 Shadyside and Fox Capel

Happy Day Dessert Factory

📷 Happy Day Dessert Factory

Oh happy day! I mean ice cream makes any day happy, right?! If you haven’t already gotten your hands on some of this creamy deliciousness then you MUST!

Happy Day Dessert Factory serves Premium Homemade Hard Ice Cream as its signature product. We suggest trying the Ice Shakes – a blended mix of water ice and custard!

Happy Day Details
 Mon-Sun  | 12PM–9PM
906A Western Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Joe Zeppi's Frozen Treats

This family-owned operation is a true hidden gem! Joe Zeppi’s opened in 2002 and has since developed a reputation as a “go-to” spot in the North Hills for ice cream and Italian ice! Joe Zeppi’s milkshakes have a thick, creamy texture and their soft serve delivers the same level of creaminess. While their menu changes weekly, its a guarantee that whatever you choose will be delicious!

Joe Zeppi’s Details
 Mon-Sun 5PM-9PM
 915 Mount Royal Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15223

Page Dairy Mart

Page Dairy Mart is one of the best places you can go to get a refreshing treat! The original business started as a small store that would cater to the steel mill workers. Unfortunately, the building was destroyed by the Saint Patrick’s Day flood in 1936. Afterwards, the Page family built a small gas station on the property, and added a soft serve ice cream stand in 1951. Sadly, in 1958, a gas leak destroyed the original Page Dairy Mart but Page family still remained strong through difficult times.

Fast forward to present day, and the Page family is still operating this quaint and beloved ice cream shop. The staple of the South Side creates hand-spun milkshakes, a variety of soft serve, sundaes, and ice cream sandwiches!

Page Dairy Mart Details
 Sun-Sat | 11AM–10PM
 4112 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15210

Sugar and Spice Ice Cream

📷 Sugar and Spice Ice Cream

Sugar and Spice has been a South Hills staple since 1984. This ice cream parlor transports visitors to the 1950s through its classic interior decor. Sugar and Spice is known for its classic flavors and recently placed third in Klavon’s Ice Cream 2nd Annual Small Ice Cream Shop Competition!

Sugar and Spice features a delicious Grasshopper (mint with Oreos), Penguin crunch (french vanilla with health crunch and chocolate chips), and many more! The menu changes daily but will always offer a selection of soft-serve, sherbet, yogurt, and dairy-free option.

Sugar and Spice Details
 Mon-Sat 11AM-9:00PM | Sun 12PM–9:00PM
 5200 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh PA, 15236

Betsy's Ice Cream

📷 Bety’s Ice Cream

Betsy’s Ice Cream in Mount Lebanon, offers homemade ice cream that “starts with a custom-blended, hormone-free and all-natural base of the finest milk and cream from forms in the Pittsburgh area.” Betsy’s is so delicious that VisitPA ranked them number 4 on a list ranking the best ice cream places in PA! In total, the shop has 28 flavors that rotate daily, as well as, frozen yogurt, shakes and other sweet treats!

Betsy’s Details
🗓 Mon-Thur 2PM-9PM | Fri-Sun 12PM–9:30PM
📍 664 Washington Rd., Mt. Lebanon, PA, 15228