07/18/2023

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Chicago, IL

Summer in Chicago means many things, of course: festival-going, picnics in the park, cruises on the river and mighty Lake Michigan. It also very much means ice cream.

There’s simply nothing better on a hot, muggy summer afternoon than a scoop (or three) of homemade ice cream, whether you’re going ye olde waffle-cone route or scooping from a dish. And with a home base here at Hotel Chicago, offering premier luxury accommodations in the attraction-studded River North neighborhood on the Near North Side, you’re spoiled for choices when it comes to amazing—even downright legendary—purveyors of frozen goodness.

Hop Your Way Between Some of Chicago’s Best Ice Cream Shops on a Hotel Chicago Getaway This Summer

Take Margie’s Candies (1960 N. Western Ave), for instance, a time-tested confectionary that’s been in business since 1921. The shop does indeed sell candies and various other sweets, but ice cream’s at the heart of the Margie’s Candies experience—not least via the place’s famous sundaes. You can’t miss the Beatles memorabilia on display, which Margie’s Candies comes by pretty darn honestly: The Fab Four famously visited this ice-cream parlor back in 1965—the height of Beatlemania—after performing at Comiskey Park.

Another Windy City ice-cream institution is The Original Rainbow Cone, which first started slinging scoops in 1926. You’ve got multiple locations to choose from, with the most convenient to Hotel Chicago being the Magnificent Mile Rainbow Cone (162 E. Superior St.). But you’ll also be glad to know of Original Rainbow Cone’s Navy Pier spot and its Lincoln Park Zoo ice-cream truck, given both those locations are stone-cold classic Chicago summer hangs.

Then there’s Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream (46 E. 47th St) in Bronzeville, the Japanese-style frozen treats of Kurimu (1159 W. Taylor Street or 1632 W. Division St.), and Scooter’s Frozen Custard (1658 W. Belmont St.). And you really ought to mix things up just slightly and try Chef Jessie Oloroso’s Chicago-style gelato over at Black Dog Gelato (859 N. Damen Ave).

We could go on and on, but there’s a nice starting list for you!

Join Us for Ice Cream & Other Summer Good Times at Hotel Chicago

Declare a summer vacation in the Windy City and make sure it’s filled with plenty of ice cream with a pampered stay here at Hotel Chicago. Book your Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection room or suite with us today!