We’re less than a week into Best of Tucson® balloting and there are already a few categories that seem pretty much decided.

However, some sections are still very much up for debate. For example, Tucson’s best ice cream. You guys just cannot seem to agree. So far, 52 of you have voted in that particular category and there are 13 businesses very much in the running. This race is tight.

So, go make your opinion heard. Or maybe declare this weekend Ice Cream Weekend and cruise around town until you feel like you can make an informed opinion. 

And, of course, spread the word. The more opinions we get, the more likely we are to truly find the best ice cream. I’d argue that’s extra important in Tucson—we have ice cream weather 12 months a year.

This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2015.

Bookworm, cat lady, journalism enthusiast.

18 replies on “Where’s the Best Ice Cream in Tucson?”

  1. Gibby’s Ice Cream not only comes to you but also has a variety of candy in her Ice Cream Truck. Not to mention the hot ice cream lady!

  2. There’s no best ice cream in Tucson, I spent 3 years traveling the Country trying to find the absolute best ice cream place and the thing I learned is different days you need a different thing. Somedays you need Thrifty’s Ice cream from Arizona Pizza Company, some days you need the ultra sweet, ultra rich flavors from the Hub. Some times you just was a scoop and a smile from Santa Barbara Ice Creamery and every now and then you want the fun feeling of Dipping Dots from the Fuzzywigs Candy Factory in Park Place Mall. Where ever you stop for Ice Cream in Tucson you’re already a winner. P.S. Gelato needs it’s own catagory next year.

  8. No contest at all: The Screamery. Probably the best in the state by a mile (or anywhere for that matter)
    All hand-made in-house from the best cream and milk. Forget industrial dairy cream, the Screamery’s comes from grass-fed cows so it tastes better and it’s good for you.
    They have their own pasteurizer so they can use fresh ingredients (like fresh mint leaves).
    If you haven’t tried it you are missing out. Yes, they have bourbon bacon ice cream.
    Blows chains like Cold Stone away.

  11. Allegro Gelato!

    Owned and operated by a couple Italian men that speak broken English. That make it the old artisan way with all natural ingredients.

  14. An occasional scoop from the Hub for me. For Custard I prefer Culvers, for Gelato – I don’t like the expensive prices here in town, so I just pick up some Talenti when it is on sale – it is the best.

  15. Regarding gelato, I absolutely love Gelato Classico, but you can’t buy it in Tucson anymore. It used to be available at Safeway, but they no longer carry it. I’ve had to order it from Amazon several times over the last five years or so, costing me about $45 for a six-pack of pints, half Vanilla Bean and half Dark Chocolate, and I DO mean DARK chocolate. Every time I order it, I always leave a comment about how ridiculous it is that their products can’t be found in the desert. It just seems ludicrous. The thing is, I’m getting ready to order another six-pack, and YES, it’s that good. I’ve tried Frost, Talenti and some others. In my humble opinion, they can’t even come close to Gelato Classico. I wish I could somehow rattle these folks’ cage enough to get them to find some other outlets in Tucson.

  16. I love The Screamery. It’s completely natural and the flavors are amazing. Everything is made in-house with real ingredients and you can tell in the taste. It’s so amazing!

Comments are closed.