There you are, standing on a sidewalk, drinking in the late afternoon sunlight, feasting on a a cone piled high with impossibly rich espresso-chocolate gelato. Or maybe it's a lime-coconut paleta, or a behemoth banana split with extra cherries. Whatever your chilled desire, we've got you covered - go forth and lick.
Cool runnings
May 12, 2009
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Bobbie's Dairy Dip
5301 Charlotte Pike - Nashville615-463-8088
A Nashville institution for decades, this Charlotte Pike mainstay has been serving up classic malt shop chic for generations, with the most enviable diversity in clientele and a near-inspirational devotion to keeping Nashville's ice cream jones satisfied. Everybody loves Bobbies, whether for its superlative ice cream offerings, its perfectly-prepared burgers and diner cuisine, or just the egalitarian picnic tables (one of the finest people-watching areas in the city). Their mix-and-match shakes are the truest example of dessert democracy in action -- a wonder to behold, and even more impressive to taste.
Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles
2907 12th Ave. S. - Nashville615-386-2101
You'll not find anything like this within many miles. From hibiscus to "hot" chocolate to Mexican caramel, this 12South sweets shack prides itself on fresh, unusual flavors. Traditional favorites like strawberry, lime and coconut are also excellent, and you can buy the frozen little delights in bulk for parties or just for convenient future indulgence. Whatever flavor you pick, it'll put those old push-up pops to shame.
Elliston Place Soda Shop
2111 Elliston Place - Nashville615-327-1090
A visit to Elliston Place Soda Shop is like passing through a time warp. It's the same now as it was 50 years ago, and a neat place to visit to get a sense of the past. Slip into a booth, order a milkshake, and enjoy a time when fat and calories didn't matter. This isn't a retro diner. It's the real-deal original, right down to the juke boxes on your table; a funky place with just enough neon to beckon folks looking for a bite of nostalgia.
Pied Piper Creamery
114 S. 11th St. - Nashville615-227-4114
Everyone is a kid again at this charming spot inside an old home in East Nashville. Homemade flavors are creative and undeniably yummy, no matter how old you are. You're guaranteed to spot folks sitting on the porch, enjoying flavors like oatmeal raisin and a tart lime-margarita. The flavor names are a festival of puns (Minty Python) and pop culture references (The Movie Star is a lemon-ginger custard.) The space offers just a few tables on which to park it, but everyone congregates outside, anyway.
Mike's Ice Cream Fountain
208 Broadway - Nashville615-742-6453
An old-fashioned ice cream parlor with hand-dipped frozen treats, house-made cones and a vintage Nashville feel. It's one of the few places on Lower Broadway where you can't buy booze, and perhaps that's why it's so popular at all hours with all crowds -- someone, somewhere, is always craving ice cream. Go for a float or a hand-dipped shake, or try one of the 24 ice cream varieties on hand. Mike's also doubles as a coffee shop for any espresso needs that arise.
MaggieMoo's
2120 Green Hills Village Drive - Nashville615-297-6244
Considering all its award-winning ice cream is made on site and comes in more than forty flavors, it's easy to eat, drink and be merry at MaggieMoo's. From Jones Soda and floats to Red Bull sorbet and creamy milk shakes, Miss Moo knows how to put together a festival of frozen fun. For the ultimate celebration, slip into a slice of Chocolate Cream Truffle ice cream cake, made with Udderly Cream ice cream, luscious chocolate flakes and fudge.
Ben & Jerry's
416 21st Ave. S. - Nashville615-321-2478
There's nothing that compares to quality ice cream on a hot day. Ben and Jerry's has been in the game for so long, working with adventurous new flavors and helping raise environmental consciousness along the way, that the company has become an institution, fighting the good fight even as it reaped success. Each new flavor builds on tenets of outlandishness and deliciousness, while sticking to principles like avoiding bovine growth hormone. The result is always a fine scoop of ice cream and a pleasant environment in which to enjoy it.
Smoothie King
2422 Elliston Place - Nashville615-321-4909
The Vanderbilt-area location of this protein-pushing franchise is filled with hot yoga devotees and semi-health conscious students. Smoothies are about all that's on the menu, so don't stroll in expecting a sandwich with your drink. You can, however, get a protein bar for an on-the-go meal. The flow can be slow if more than a few newbies are in line perusing the more than 50 blends. Basically, choose your flavor, choose your health-boosting "enhancer" and head out the door.
