When the temperatures start rising, the cravings for ice cream begin! The Denver area has tons of sweet shops to choose from, but which ones will satisfy kids of all ages? Whether your perfect ice cream shop is full of fun entertainment and crazy concoctions for the kids, or just an old-fashioned soda fountain with classic flavors, there’s something for everyone in the Mile High City.
To help you out, we pulled together a list of the 10 most family-friendly shops in the Denver Metro Area that will have everyone screaming for ice cream! So, if you’re a parent, a babysitter, or a nanny looking to take your kids out for a sweet treat, these 10 ice cream shops should be at the top of your list.
Little Man Ice Cream
Address: 2620 16th St., Denver, CO 80211
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Phone: 303-455-3811
When you think “ice cream shops in Denver,” Little Man Ice Cream is usually first to come to mind. And you can’t miss the iconic shop, which serves its homemade old-fashioned ice cream out of a 28-foot-tall cream can and usually has a long line of ice cream aficionados waiting at the walk-up windows. From “little dips” of Little Man’s dozens of ice cream flavors to the floats and sundaes or “ice cream sammies,” there’s sure to be a sweet treat for all. Nestled in the Highlands neighborhood near downtown Denver, Little Man is the perfect spot to stop and get an awesome view of the city. And if you’re out for a Friday or Saturday night on the town sans kids, Little Man is open until midnight for a late-night snack!
Sweet Cooie’s
Address: 3506 E. 12th Ave., Denver, CO 80206
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 720-550-7140
The geniuses who brought us Little Man have recently given us another reason to love them: Sweet Cooie’s! The Congress Park neighborhood shop opened in spring 2017 and has quickly become a favorite for those who long for the days of the old-fashioned soda shop and want to share it with the new generation. Sweet Cooie’s is an indoor ice cream parlor that offers flavors you can’t find elsewhere — even at Little Man — and other treats, like handmade chocolate truffles and the “Gooie Cooie,” a brioche doughnut with the ice cream of your choice sandwiched in between.
The kids will love the ambiance of the almost “magical” ice cream parlor lined with candies and sweet treats, and although there isn’t a ton of seating inside, an outdoor patio is lined with tables and chairs. Congress Park is just under a mile away if your kiddos are up for a stroll or bike ride through the quaint neighborhood.
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
Address: 799 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80209
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Phone: 303-777-0808
Families love this ice cream shop filled with tradition! It was even voted the Family Favorites winner for Best Ice Cream Shop by Colorado Parent. Bonnie Brae has been scooping up homemade ice cream, banana splits, and shakes for 30 years at its Washington Park location, with the retro sign and red and white awning lighting up University Boulevard. Nearly three dozen flavors are featured, along with cakes and pies. There are stools at the counter and tables inside, or patio tables with umbrellas on the sidewalk. Long lines are almost guaranteed, especially on hot summer days, but Bonnie Brae is the perfect pit stop during a Washington Park excursion, which is about a half mile west of the shop.
Liks Ice Cream
Address: 2039 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO 80206
Hours: Open daily, noon – 9 p.m.
Phone: 303-321-2370
Since 1976, Liks Ice Cream in Denver’s Capitol Hill district has been stealing the hearts of Denver locals. The family-owned shop lists its homemade ice cream flavors, including dairy-free varieties, on a chalkboard, and posts a daily trivia question. If you answer correctly on the first try, you can get a free single scoop. Liks is a quarter-mile walk from Cheesman Park and the Denver Botanic Gardens, making it the cherry on top of a perfect family outing! The shop also has a location in Conifer if you’re heading to the mountains and have an ice cream craving.
Inside Scoop Creamery
Locations:
- Downtown Littleton: 5654 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120
- Platte Street Denver: 1535 Platte St., Denver, CO 80202
Hours:
- Downtown Littleton: Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Saturday, noon – 10 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 9 p.m.
- Platte Street Denver: Monday – Thursday, 1:00 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday, 1:00 – 11 p.m. | Saturday, noon – 11 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 10 p.m.
Phone: 303-798-4768
Inside Scoop features 20 delicious and fun homemade flavors daily. The Platte Street Inside Scoop is located just across the Platte River from Denver and overlooks the downtown area, so you can enjoy your scoop at the shop or take your cone and walk across the bridge to explore the city. If you’re heading south, visit the shop’s original Littleton location off of Prince Street, then walk with the kids to General Store 45 in Littleton’s historic Downtown district, where they’re sure to find some fun retro toys. Lunch is also served Monday through Friday at Inside Scoop’s Littleton location.
Magill’s World of Ice Cream
Address: 8016 W. Jewell Ave., Lakewood, CO 80232
Hours: Monday & Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 303-986-9968
About 20 minutes west of Denver in Lakewood, Magill’s has been the place to curb your sweet tooth since 1981. The shop recently opened a larger inside seating area, and the retro decor with board games will keep the kids (and even the adults) happy. The scoop shop features 40 different flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt, and the kids will love their Bubble Gum and Blue Moon, which tastes like Fruit Loops, or classics like Superman. If cake is more your thing, you can take home one of their homemade ice cream cakes!
Scrumptious
Locations:
- Arvada: 7523 Grandview Ave., Arvada, CO 80002 | P: 303-431-2639
- Longmont: 508 Main St., Longmont, CO 80501 | P: 303-682-2639
Hours: Both locations open Monday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Thursday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
The store’s motto is “it’s all good,” and it’s really true. When you mix an old-time candy shop and ice cream you can’t go wrong! Scrumptious has something for everyone, with its huge candy selection of both oldies and new goodies, along with rare bottled sodas and unique ice cream flavors. The shop also has novelties and toys sure to captivate the kids! About 20 minutes northwest of Downtown Denver, Scrumptious is situated in Olde Town Arvada, so after indulging you can stroll around to all of the other quaint local shops.
Sweet Action
Address: 52 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 1 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 303-282-4645
Located in the Baker neighborhood of Denver, this ice cream shop boasts constantly changing flavors for ice cream experts wanting to try new sweet treats! The shop also hosts events, like “Storytime,” for kids. Grab a stool facing the street and watch passersby head to the many bars and shops nearby.
Sweet Cow
Locations:
- Denver Highlands: 3475 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, CO 80211 | P: 303-477-3269
- Denver Platt Park: 1882 Old S. Pearl St., Denver, CO 80210 | P: 720-479-8838
Hours:
- Denver Highlands: Monday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Denver Platt Park: Sunday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
This ice cream shop is in the heart of Denver’s Highlands Square and usually has a line out the door. Two dozen flavors of its handcrafted, small-batch ice cream are available daily. Kids will love the cute cow theme throughout the shop. Grab your cone and walk around Highlands Square shops with the family, or head to Highland Park, which is home to the Woodbury Library, a playground, and plenty of open space for the kids! You can also get your Sweet Cow fix at its multiple locations across the Denver Metro Area into Boulder, Louisville, and Aurora, or on its traveling “MooMobile.”
Nuggs Ice Cream
Address: 5135 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80220
Hours:
- Summer Hours: Sunday – Thursday, noon – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, noon – 11 p.m.
- Winter Hours: Sunday – Thursday, noon – 9 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, noon – 10 p.m.
Phone: 720-465-9473
This family-owned ice cream shop is a welcome addition to the Park Hill neighborhood. The shop boasts classic and creative flavors of homemade ice cream coupled with a nostalgic feel. Head over to Nuggs on a Tuesday for “Waffle Taco Cone Tuesdays” and a fun twist on an old favorite. Kids will love this sweet treat after a day at the Denver Zoo at City Park, or if it’s more of an indoor-activity day, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is also just minutes away.
