Best of Charlottesville
The best ice cream in Charlottesville
Start with Chaps Ice Cream in Downtown Mall (223 E Main St) for homemade ice cream or a milkshake, La Flor Michoacana for paletas and Mexican ice cream and Moo Thru in Dairy Market (946 Grady Ave) for slow-churned ice cream from the farm's own herd. Here are all 4, with what to get at each.
- Chaps Ice CreamDowntown Mall (223 E Main St) · Ice cream
Get: Homemade ice cream or a milkshake
Downtown Mall scoop shop in Charlottesville, a local institution for creative ice cream flavors and long summer lines.
- La Flor MichoacanaIce cream
Get: Paletas and Mexican ice cream
Casual spot for Mexican ice pops and fruity treats, known for paletas and aguas frescas in bright flavors.
- Moo ThruDairy Market (946 Grady Ave) · Ice cream
Get: Slow-churned ice cream from the farm's own herd
Virginia dairy farm ice cream stand inside Dairy Market, known for rich, creamy scoops and rotating seasonal flavors.
- Splendora's GelatoIce cream
Get: Gelato
Longtime Charlottesville gelato shop on the Downtown Mall known for rich, creamy scoops and rotating seasonal flavors.
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Where is the best ice cream in Charlottesville?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Chaps Ice Cream (Downtown Mall (223 E Main St)), La Flor Michoacana and Moo Thru (Dairy Market (946 Grady Ave)). All 4 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Chaps Ice Cream, get homemade ice cream or a milkshake. At La Flor Michoacana, get paletas and Mexican ice cream. At Moo Thru, get slow-churned ice cream from the farm's own herd. At Splendora's Gelato, get gelato.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Charlottesville: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
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Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated November 14, 2026.