It is warm all year round here on Anna Maria Island, so ice cream is nearly a dietary staple! Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious cone or cup of ice cream after a long day at the beach or strolling the streets and browsing the shops?
As you enjoy your time in one of our rentals on Anna Maria Island, venture out and snag yourself a delicious cone or cup!
What’s your favorite flavor? Even if your tastes are a little more exotic when it comes to ice cream, you will likely find something to sate your palate here on Anna Maria Island. If your kids are picky eaters, there is a strong chance that they will be begging you for a second serving from one of these great ice cream shops on Anna Maria Island.
Top Anna Maria Island Ice Cream Shops
Small Town Creamery
Small Town Creamery is one of Anna Maria Island’s most beloved ice cream shops. Small Town Creamery caters to a wide array of tastes. Open 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day. Small Town Creamery prides itself on being the happiest place on AMI. They have over 50 flavors of ice cream to choose from, and their ingredients are fresh and local. Whether you want cookie dough, toasted coconut, or sugar-free options, you can get something to suit your sweet tooth.
As far as taste goes, it is hard to deny that this Grand Master Award winner excels at creating delightfully creamy ice cream. You can also find a large assortment of Sarah’s Homemade Kettle Churned Fudge flavors – made the old-fashioned way in a kettle! You can also buy nuts, candy, coffee, Cool Beads, and toys for the kiddos to enjoy for years to come. Just venture down to their location at Marina Drive in Holmes Beach to get your flavorful fix.
Holy Cow Ice Cream
When you stroll into Holy Cow Ice Cream, you might find yourself exclaiming, “Holy Cow!” indeed. Located on East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach, Holy Cow Ice Cream is open late and has plenty of parking available if you choose to drive in. You can choose from 36 delicious flavors, including those that are dairy-free, sugar-free, and frozen yogurt. Order your favorite flavor in a cup, cone, or as a hand-spun milkshake. Many folks enjoy the cones, but the cups make for less of a mess, and the milkshakes are always popular with the kids who visit this ice cream shop.
Want to get caffeinated while you’re at it? If you feel a little drained from all your excursions and could use a pick-me-up, try one of Holy Cow’s coffee frappes: French Vanilla, Kappa Kappa Café, or Hazelnut Delight.
There are also fruit smoothies, banana splits, and sundae specials available to order. Ice cream flavors include strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, fat-free and dairy-free rainbow sherbet, double fudge brownie, and mocha almond fudge. Soft serve is available as chocolate, vanilla, or a twist. Any flavor you like can be made into a milkshake or malt using Working Cow Ice Cream and premium ingredients mixed into a creamy drink.
Chocolate Emporium
Another good reason to get out of your Anna Maria Island beachfront rental is to visit the Chocolate Emporium! This premium chocolate shop specializes in silky truffles, almond clusters, and salt water taffy. You can really taste the care put into each and every creation at the Chocolate Emporium. A trip here delivers on its promise of confectionaries that will delight your senses.
Dips Ice Cream
If you ask locals who has the best ice cream on Anna Maria Island, they might tell you that the honor belongs to Dips Ice Cream. When you are in Anna Maria City, be sure to stop by and see yourself. Their ice cream is locally made, and the flavor combinations you will find there speak to their ingenuity and creativity. The Exhausted Parent – bourbon mixed with espresso – is a hit with the adults. And virtually everyone who has tried it loves the Superman flavor they make.
This ice cream shop has parking available should you need it and is wheelchair accessible. Portions are enormous, so be sure to bring your appetite! Given the size of the scoops you get, the prices are affordable. While the homemade ice cream gets people talking, the service keeps them coming back for more. If you are fortunate enough to be in the shop when the owner, Vic, is there, you will get many recommendations for other restaurants on the island to try and sites that you should see while you are out and about.
Plan Your Trip!
Is your sweet tooth ready for an Anna Maria Island escape? Select your ideal vacation dates, book your favorite rental, and prepare your tastebuds for delicious ice cream!
Where to Stay
When you stay with Beach House AMI, you will be within close proximity to these Anna Maria Island ice cream shops. You will also find some other great options for dessert on Anna Maria Island. Beach House AMI specializes in gorgeous vacation rentals fit for all types of trips, including romantic getaways, family vacations, and big birthday gatherings. You can find pet-friendly homes, some great last-minute deals, and homes with over five bedrooms. There are gulf front, canal front, and water view rentals available through Beach House AMI, so you truly do get to take your pick for where you stay.
No matter which rental you end up in, you will have an easy walk to any ice cream shop on the island. You can hop on the free trolley that runs the length of the island and, from your arrival point, cut a quick walk to your chosen ice cream shop.
Now is the perfect time to come to our shores, enjoy some ice cream, and spend some quality time with your family. Contact us today to get started booking your trip!
