Cincinnati Soft Serve Spots
Spring has sprung! And with it marks the opening of local Mom and Pop soft serve ice cream shops. Serving up cones and smiles, these establishments are the perfect place to celebrate a baseball or soccer win (or soften the blow of a loss), celebrate a birthday or just grab something sweet with the family.There is nostalgia in the sensory experience of waiting in line, smelling sugar in the air, mulling over the menu and hearing kids play with their siblings nearby. Everyone has the opinion that their family’s favorite soft serve shop is the best, and you know what… we think you all are correct. They are all the best.
We asked and you answered…
“What is your favorite soft serve spot and let us know your order!”
“I am passionate about my love for the Silver Grove Dari Bar! A blueberry-vanilla cone with sprinkles marks the start of spring for me. My husband’s go-to order is a butterscotch sundae and my boys order is as follows: root beer float, zebra cone with a chocolate dip top and a small vanilla cone with a face. My family can’t go to the Dari Bar without a few orders of the munchers, too. Potatoes and cheese, deep fried. What’s not to love?”
-Amanda C. Associate Editor of Cincinnati Family Magazine
“I know everyone goes to Terry’s for crazy shakes, but a cone with sprinkles for $2 is my order!”
-Angie T.
“Legen-Dairy Whip in Bethel. Huge portions for less than $5. They sell the Kings Island blue soft serve, which is my daughter’s go-to. I love anything covered in peanut butter and chocolate.”
-Annie A.
“Shell at Summit Park! Dole whip for the kiddo and I get a mix of flavors with all sorts of fresh fruit on it. If it’s a sit down, I like Don’s Creamy in Reading or Mt. Washington’s Creamery as they have Dole Whip also.”
-Kari S.
“Whipty Do in Maineville, Oh. My order is their Chocolate Lover: chocolate dip top, Kit Kat, chocolate sprinkles, twist ice cream. It is to die for!!”
-Bev F.
“Mt. Healthy Dairy Bar. I get the upside down banana split with butterscotch instead of chocolate.”
-Shannon M.
“The Cone. The orange and vanilla twist is sooo good!”
-Holly D.
“The Dip in Fairfield! I almost always try their soft serve flavor(s) of the month. My favorite is when they have cake mix and either strawberry or blueberry to swirl with it. If I’m not digging the flavor of the month, then I will go for the strawberry cheesecake sundae.”
-Ann G.
“Don Vanderhaar Creamy Whip in Reading! I am a nutty chocolate kinda gal.They are one of the few places that makes yummy chocolate and nut covered frozen bananas and they will dip my zebra cone in chocolate then nuts as well.”
-Joanie F.
“Zip Dip is the best on the west side! I love a twist cone with chocolate dip top!”
-Deborah Ann S.
“Putz’s Creamy Whip- chocolate malt.”
-Amanda R.
“Chilo Dairy Bar in Chilo, Ohio. I love their peanut butter shakes! They also have yummy wings.”
-Anna T.
“Twist Ice Cream Company is our favorite!!! They have SO MANY OPTIONS now and great rotating flavors! Cute kid creations, live music and more. My kids love the milkshakes, my husband loves a simple cone and I love the arctic blasts.”
-Molly M.
“Whetsel Whip- Loaded ice cream nachos.”
-Krystal A.
“The Cone. We love the Oreo wizard, strawberry + vanilla swirl and orange + vanilla swirl soft serve.”
-Amy B.
“I’ve been going to Mt. Healthy Dairy Bar for almost 40 years. It was, is and will always be THE BEST. Their chili dogs are amazing, so I have to get one of those when I go. As far as ice cream, I always have a hard time deciding between their sherbet of the week and a peanut butter sundae. I’ve never had anything there that I didn’t love.”
-Suzanne D.
“Dees Dairy Bar in New Richmond. Chocolate/vanilla swirl cone with extra sprinkles.”
-Brandi A.
“The Twist in West Chester. My daughter likes the Cookie Monster Sundae.”
-Sarah S.
