Pelican's Sno Ball. Photos: Symphony Webber/Axios
Few things do the trick on a hot day like a cold treat does.
Ice cream is always an option, but what if you’re looking to venture out a bit? Well, this is the guide for you.
Here are nine places in Charlotte that have frozen treats to help you cool off.
- Cold Hearted Gelato is opening in Plaza Midwood where the Ritas Italian Ice used to be.
- Seemingly Overzealous, a dairy-free homemade ice cream shop opening in Camp North End this summer.
- Urban Sweets, a mobile ice cream shop getting a brick and mortar in South End this summer.
*This guide is a roundup of ice cream-adjacent treats like snow cones, sorbet, popsicles, etc.*
Morelia Gourmet Paletas
This Miami-based gourmet ice cream shop offers 16 different flavors of fruit-based paletas (Mexican popsicles). Some are filled with condensed milk, dulce de leche or Nutella. You can customize your paleta with toppings like dark and white chocolate, marshmallow fluff and Oreos.
Try this: Make your paleta into a sandwich by adding two chocolate wafers.
Location/hours: 1425 Winnifred St., Ste. 104. Morelia is open Sunday through Thursday from 1-10pm and Friday and Saturday from 1-11pm.
Cookies and cream paleta sandwiched in between two chocolate wafers and topped with white chocolate and peanuts. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
Snow Your Roll
Snow Your Roll specializes in shaved ice and egg rolls (yes, you read that correctly). The menu includes 26 syrup flavors and five gourmet egg roll options. Check out the full menu here.
Try this: Rainbow shaved ice – it’s made with blue raspberry, pineapple and strawberry syrup.
Location/hours: Snow Your Roll is located at 2730 North Graham St. and is open Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday from 11am-3pm. You can also find the truck at Black Food Truck Fridays. Follow them on Instagram for updates.
Go deeper: New food truck called Snow Your Roll serves shaved ice and egg rolls
Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
PARA
The relatively new tapas spot, located in the former Zepplin space, serves dishes with Asain influences.
Try this: Kakigōri – it’s essentially Japanese shaved ice. It comes in three seasonal flavors.
Location/hours: Find PARA at 235 W Tremont Ave., Suite 100. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 5-11pm, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
Pictured is yuzu-flavored “Kakigōri” with orange slices and matcha topping. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
Matcha Cafe Maiko
The Arboretum matcha shop serves drinks and treats that originate from Japan. Think matcha soft serve ice cream, frappé, teas, lattes and floats.
Try this: Mixed Shaved Ice – it’s a shaved ice base with matcha syrup, homemade adzuki beans, shiratama and topped with matcha and vanilla cream.
Location/hours: 8128 Providence Rd., Ste 900. The shop is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30am to 8:30pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:30am to 9:30pm and Sunday from 11:30am to 8pm.
Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
Popbar
Popbar has more than 50 flavors of gelato and sorbetto pops to choose from, plus dozens of dippings and toppings.
Try this: Go with a classic sorbetto pop (any flavor of your choosing) or try their new frozen lemonades which come in pineapple or strawberry.
Location/hours:
- NoDa – 3123 North Davidson St, Suite B. Open Wednesday through Friday from 2-8pm, Saturday from 12-8pm and Sunday from 12-6pm.
- Camp North End – 270 Camp Road Suite 105. Open Sunday from 12-5pm, Wednesday from 4-8pm, Thursday and Friday 2-8pm and Saturday from 12-8pm.
- Concord Mills – 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, St. Suite 661. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm, and Sunday from 12-7pm.
Mango sorbetto pop topped with white chocolate and rainbow sprinkles. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
The Royal Tot (temporarily closed)
This tropical-themed bar has a wide selection of classic tiki drinks and frozen rum-based cocktails.
Try this: The Dole Whip
Location/hours: 933 Louise Ave., Suite 350. Open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5-11pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 1am (next day).
Read more: Tropical themed bar now open in Belmont neighborhood
Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
Honeysuckle Gelato
If you need to cool off at Optimist Hall, swing by Honeysuckle Gelato for a cool treat. Their selection includes gelato, sorbet and novelty items like gelato floats, slushies and milkshakes.
Try this: One of their rotating slushie flavors (regular or sparkling)
Location/hours: 1115 N. Brevard Street. Shop hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 8:30pm and Friday though Saturday from 11am to 10pm.
Strawberry sorbet and chocolate chunk. Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios
Pelican’s Sno-Balls
This popular shaved ice chain is a no-brainer on a hot day. They have more than 100 syrup flavors that you can combine to make tasty mixtures, plus you can add cream to your cone.
Try this: A “Gone Fishin” cone – it’s lemon-lime and polar punch syrup with a gummy worm on top.
Location/hours:
- NoDa – 1200 North Davidson St. Open Monday through Saturday from noon to 9pm and Sunday from 1-9pm.
- Statesville – 5639 Statesville Rd. Open daily from noon to 9pm.
- South Charlotte – 7833 South Blvd. Open daily from noon to 9pm.
Pictured is a mango, passionfruit snow cone. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
Sully’s Shaved Ice
Sully’s offers more than 40 syrup flavors and even has shaved ice stuffed with ice cream.
Try this: The strawberry mango and blue mojito flavored cones are crowd favorites
Location/hours: Check out Sully’s at 8712 Arbor Creek Drive. It’s open Monday through Friday from 3-9pm and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9[m.
