These 7 on the map
The 7 ice cream shops on this page, pinned where they actually are. Tap a marker to see which one it is — all 20 are on the map in the Whosly app.
Before you go
Many Italian ice windows and walk-up stands close for the winter, so check the season first.
7 of the 20
Margie's Candies
BucktownIce-cream parlor$Family-owned since 1921, with chocolates still dipped in-house and sundaes big enough to share, hot fudge on the side. The Bucktown original keeps its old booths; a second shop is in Ravenswood.
The Original Rainbow Cone
BeverlyIce-cream parlor$Beverly's stand since 1926, which turned 100 in 2026: five flavors sliced onto one cone, chocolate at the base up to orange sherbet, with Palmer House (vanilla, cherries, walnuts) in the middle. A $5 weekday deal runs until 3 p.m.
Black Dog Gelato
Ukrainian VillageGelato shop$Jessica Oloroso, once Scylla's pastry chef, has made gelato on Damen since 2010; the salty-sweet goat cheese flavor with cashew caramel is the one to know. Closed Mondays. Flavors rotate monthly.
Shawn Michelle's Homemade Ice Cream
BronzevilleHomemade ice cream$Yahya and Nataki Muhammad's ice cream shop on 47th Street, churning flavors in-house; banana pudding is the classic, and warm cobbler goes under a scoop. Closed Mondays.
Paulo Gelato & Chocolate
River WestGelato & chocolate$Pawel Petrykowski, Poland's 2015 gelato champion, made gelato there for over a decade before opening at Milwaukee, Ogden and Chicago in 2022: silky gelato with no premixed bases, and his own chocolates in the case.
Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets
EdgewaterFrozen custard & candy$Fresh frozen custard at Broadway and Glenlake, blended into concretes, with a retro candy counter and espresso in the same room. Open daily noon to 10. The banana split is a staff favorite, and the candy counter stocks retro sodas.
Carm's Beef & Italian Ice
Little ItalyItalian ice & beef stand$Making Italian ice from fresh fruit on Polk Street since 1929, when it was a family grocery; the DeVivo family's third generation still mixes it by feel, and a beef and hot dog counter came later.
The other 13
The 20 are spread across 16 neighborhoods. Little Italy (3), Logan Square (2) and Wicker Park (2) have the most; Beverly, Bridgeport, Bronzeville, Bucktown, Chinatown, Edgewater, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Portage Park, Ravenswood, River West, Ukrainian Village and West Loop have one each.
+13 more in the app
A parlor with a giant inflatable bear on the roof, 46 rotating gelato flavors, a 1954 lemonade stand, a sundae on funnel cake, and more.
Add all 20 to your Whosly mapEvery one lands on your own map in a tap — save them, rate them, plan around them. City Packs are included with Planner Pro.
Or search “Whosly: Plans, Places & RSVPs” on the App Store
Common questions
What is the best ice cream in Chicago?
What is a Chicago rainbow cone?
Which Chicago neighborhood is best for ice cream shops?
What are the best ice cream shops in downtown Chicago?
Where can I see all 20?
All 20, on your own map
This page is 7 of them. The Chicago Ice Cream pack in Whosly has all 20 — add it and every one drops onto your map, ready to save, rate and turn into a plan your friends RSVP to from a text, no app needed to answer. The pack is included with Planner Pro.
Get Whosly — free on iPhoneOr search “Whosly: Plans, Places & RSVPs” on the App Store
“Whosly: Plans, Places & RSVPs”.
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