What's the Scoop? The Best Ice Cream in Kansas City

Betty Rae's Ice Cream

• Local Favorite
• 12 PM tp 9 PM
• Made-from-Scratch Waffle Cones
• Unique Flavors
• 2 Locations and an Ice Cream Truck

Betty Rae's Ice Cream has been around for over a decade, but it feels like a lifetime. You'll see a line out the door on hot afternoons, and they already have two KC locations and an ice cream truck to bring their famed ice cream to the people. 

The shop's specialty is its made-from-scratch waffle cones, which add to the delicious experience of the ice cream itself. Not to mention the fun flavors, including their signature "Joe's BBQ Burnt Ends," which is surprisingly tasty.

Prices are pretty awesome and they will load you up with toppings whether you get a cone or a sundae.

Hey Sugar on Strawberry Hill

• International Sweet Treats
• 12 PM - 9 PM
• Ice Cream, Candy, Soda, and More
• Playful Local VIbe
• Play Corner

Hey Sugar in the historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood is an adorable little ice cream shop that you can't miss. The pink-painted brick and big teal sprinkle-covered sign declare this a local treat shop from a mile away. They serve ice cream, candy, Italian soda, Aqua Frescas, shakes and floats, and shaved ice, and you can bet their business booms in the summer. The interior is bright and cheerful, painted with candy colors, and the walls are covered in shelves of brightly colored treats. There's also an adorable play area with toys and early reader books.

Get your ice cream in a single, double, pint, or cone with your choice of toppings. Candy, soda, and ice cream come from all over the world, with the aim of bringing nostalgia to Kansas City families who hail from everywhere.

High Hopes Ice Cream

• On the Avenue
• 2 PM to 9 PM
• Order Window or Seated
• Trendy and Tons of Toppings

High Hopes Ice Cream on Troost Ave is an extremely popular location in the dense shopping area where people walking along the broad sidewalk often stop for a treat. You can go in for a seat, but many order at the window where the menu is posted outside. You can get cones stacked three scoops high, bowls, sundaes, pints, and quarts.

The daily flavors and toppings are displayed in a fun neon chalkboard fashion, plus all the cool things you can do with your ice cream, like floats, shakes, malts, and sauces. Not to mention clear labels for vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and contains nuts.

They also serve bottled water, hot cocoa, espresso and lattes, and little bowls of toppings if you're just craving nuts or puffed pastry pieces. It's the full ice cream experience, and you can take your scoops and continue strolling down the avenue. We also love that they are open until 9 PM

French Custard

• Upscale Ice Cream Shop
• 12 PM to 9 PM
• Creamy French Custard

When you want fancy ice cream in an upscale shop, head to French Custard on Main Street and E 59th. This is not your average ice cream. The rich and creamy French Custard recipe is more decadent than normal ice cream, and the flavors stand on their own. Their most famous flavor is the Honeycomb, a gently sweet and creamy honey ice custard.

You can get a small, single, split, double, or triple scoop in a bowl or cone. You can ask for a sundae, scoop, flight, pint, or float. Extras include toppings like fresh cherries, hot fudge, sprinkles, or peanut butter sauce. You can also ask for a waffle cone, cake cone, or sugar cone. The exterior is palatial, and there is outdoor seating to enjoy your ice cream on a nice day.

Alice Scooper's Ice Cream Co

• Cool Rock Theme
• 3 PM - 9:30 PM (12 PM - 10:30 PM Friday and Saturday)
• Delicious Scoops, Shakes, Smoothies, and Boba
• Hilarious Sundaes and Flavor Names

Alice Scooper's isn't just a funny name that reminds us of the famous rocker Alice Cooper - who popularized heavy metal and comically gothic themes. This shop also totally rocks when it comes to serving ice cream, boba tea, and more.

While the outside of the shop is in disguise, bearing only the marquee "Ice Cream & Boba," you will step into a world of dessert-themed rock jokes within. There is a wall of posters advertising specials like the Banana SplitKnot, the Conway Twinkie, and the Oreo Speedwagon beneath the gothic ice cream shop sign. You'll love the wild mural and the back wall of the shop reading "Sweet Dreams are Made of This... "

But what about the ice cream? As you might guess, every flavor is named after a famous song or artist, with the ingredients helpfully listed underneath, so ordering is always an adventure. You can get scoops, cones, toppings, and sauces. Have yours made into a milkshake, malt, or float, or get sorbet blended into a smoothie. But what rocks most about Alice Scooper are the sundaes: Nutellica, Johnny Cashew,  Oreo Speedwagon, Conway Twinkie (as promised), and the occasional special.

Oh, and did we mention the boba tea? There's an entire wall dedicated to instructions on how to build your own boba or other custom drinks like shakes, cold brew, and smoothies.

Ice Cream Adventures From Your KC Apartment

Looking for an apartment in Kansas City where you can discover all the best ice cream shops? Whether you get the summer craving or love all-year ice cream when you're out on the town, we've got you covered. Start your ice cream adventures from The Ridge at Chestnut Apartments. Contact us for availability or more cool local tips.