The Best Ice Cream Shops in Omaha

There's a certain kind of Omaha summer evening that just calls for ice cream. Warm out, kids already a little sticky, nobody ready to go home yet. Good news is this town has some real gems for exactly that. Here's where to go.

If you're anywhere near downtown, Ted and Wally's is the move. They've been scooping in a converted old service station in the Old Market since 1984, and they make ultra-premium, small-batch ice cream from scratch. They've churned out something like 3,000 different flavors over the years, so there's always something new on the board next to the classics. Grab a cone and walk the cobblestones. The kids love it, and honestly so do you.

Over in the Blackstone District, Coneflower Creamery does what they call farm to cone. They use fresh local ingredients, so the flavors change with the seasons depending on what's good right then. It's earned a big local following and some national awards, and one bite tells you why. Real, creamy, the good stuff.

Then there's eCreamery in Dundee, which you might recognize from Shark Tank. They're known for dense, low-air ice cream and fun flavors like sea salt caramel brownie and snickerdoodle. You can even build custom pints, which the kids get a kick out of. Dundee's a great little neighborhood to walk around after, too.

And you can't talk Omaha ice cream without Zesto. It's been a local tradition for more than 70 years, family-owned, and it's that old-fashioned soft-serve-cone kind of joy that never goes out of style. They've got a full food menu too, so you can knock out dinner and dessert in one stop.

Here's a little tip. Ice cream tastes even better when you earn it first. Walk a lap around Zorinsky Lake, run the kids ragged at a playground, then swing by for cones on the way home. Cheap, simple, and the kind of ordinary night your kids will remember longer than you'd think.

Flavors and hours change, especially at the seasonal spots, so peek before you go. Then go get everybody a scoop.

Check out all their menus:

Ted and Wally's Menu→ Coneflower Creamery Menu→ eCreamery Menu→ Zesto Menu→