National Ice Cream Month: 6 Places to Get Cold Sweet Treats in Downtown Pittsburgh
By Olivia Miller
July is National Ice Cream Month and there is truly no better time to celebrate it. With temperatures and the humidity only continuing to rise all month, enjoying a cold ice cream cone or milkshake inside has never sounded better. Here are 6 of the best places in The Golden Triangle and the surrounding area to get your ice cream fix:
Millie’s
With a neon sign depicting an ice cream cone jutting out of the facade and their bubblegum pink outdoor seating lining the sidewalk, Millie’s is hard to miss when walking down Forbes Avenue. Since their creation in 2014, the franchise has expanded to include over 12 locations and a food truck. They carry vegan as well as gluten and dairy free options in unique flavors like “Coffee Break”, “Strawberry Pretzel”, and classic “Mint Chip.” New this summer at their Market Square location is a sweet potato pound cake ice cream. Though Millie’s started in a home kitchen, they are opening a factory in Homestead later this fall and will be offering tours, which can be booked on their website.
Leona’s Ice Cream
Leona’s Ice Cream is a haven for anyone with digestive problems or lactose intolerance issues. It was started after owners Katie and Christa received an ice cream maker as a wedding gift. Having battled food sensitivities in the past, Katie began to make her own ice cream which later turned into a full fledged ice cream business. Leona’s is most known for their cookie sandwiches which feature unique flavor combinations like black sesame ice cream on salted tahini chunk cookies and coffee ice cream on snickerdoodle cookies. You can find Leona’s Ice Cream sandwiches at love,Pittsburgh’s Liberty Avenue location.
Papa J’s
If super creamy American ice cream isn’t your style, opt for Papa J’s light gelato that will transport you to Italy. Started in Cranberry in 1987, the restaurant found its new home in the Strip District’s Twin Plaza Building in 2022. Most known for their authentically delicious Italian dishes, like their wedding soup, owner Michael Troiani introduced the Italian dessert after taking gelato making classes. In their colorful, lengthy gelato case, they offer flavors like blood orange, tiramisu, and mango. They also offer gelato cocktails featuring your favorite fruity gelato and a splash of prosecco.
Milkshake Factory
If you’re looking for a sweet, over-the-top milkshake, look no further than Milkshake Factory’s location in 1 PNC Tower. The establishment has a rich history crafting desserts that goes all the way back to 1914. Since then, it has expanded to include 11 locations all around Pittsburgh serving an array of milkshakes and sundaes featuring locally sourced dairy as well as a line of chocolates like chocolate covered pretzels, strawberries, and bacon. Their signature milkshakes include chocolate dipped strawberry, campfire s’mores, the cookie jar, and tiramisu.
Happy Day Dessert Factory
Looking for a pick-me-up in the summer heat? Located on the North Shore, Happy Day Dessert Factory, with its cheery logo featuring a bright yellow ice cream cone donning a wide smile will surely do the trick. Started by Galen Moorer Jr, who was just 20 at the time, the establishment has been thriving since its creation amidst the pandemic in 2020. On any given day, the shop offers over 50 flavors of ice cream and 13 flavors of water ice as well as a brain-freeze-inducing selection of soft serve, frozen yogurt, and ice cream cakes. Happy Day Dessert Factory also offers unique ice cream creations like their stackers, which feature alternating layers of ice cream and water ice, and their twisters, which combine soft serve, water ice, and toppings.
Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor
Stepping into Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor is like going back in time; the shop still features its original retro fixtures like its marble countertops and stools fashioned to look like Coca-Cola bottles. Started in 1923, the shop was a successful pharmacy with an ice cream counter until 1979, when it sat dormant for years. The original owners’ family then took over the ownership of the business and opened it up once more. The shop offers an array of cold treats including unique sundaes served in vintage glass cups like the “oh fudge, we’re nuts” and the “fruitopia” as well as a selection of ice cream floats and sodas.
