I’m back to prove that one of the worst things about Key West is that you’ll probably gain weight here. There are all the delicious restaurants, but there are also all the amazing sweet treats. And who doesn’t love an island beach day that ends with some ice cream?
Thankfully, Key West has got you covered. It’s a beachy, summery, islandy sort of place, Key West, and that means an ice cream shop on each corner (almost). But not all of them are created equally, and when you’re on vacation, you shouldn’t settle for a hard scoop of Bryers that they picked up at Walmart and charged you $8 for. No, for $8, you want something created on the spot with liquid nitrogen and science. Or at least some sort of exotic flavor. Or maybe alcohol.
Or hey, maybe you just need a break from all that delicious Key Lime pie. Whatever your pleasure, here are some of the best ice cream joints in Key West to try on a hot day.
Where to Go for the Best Ice Cream in Key West
To each their own, but in Key West, the choices are far more advanced than just vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate. From homemade Key Lime or Passion/Orange/Guava from Flamingo Crossing to cold-brew Cuban coffee or dairy-free coconut at Wicked Lick, here are the places to get Key West’s best ice cream.
Flamingo Crossing — Key West Ice Cream at its Finest
1105 Duval St
Flamingo Crossing claims the best ice cream in Key West because it understands two truths. Tourists melt faster than ice cream, and flamingos have impeccable taste. This is the place where flavors show up loud, unapologetic, and slightly sunburned.
You do not order ice cream here; you commit to it. One scoop becomes three, cones defy gravity, and sprinkles appear whether you asked or not. Is it the best ice cream in Key West? Obviously. Anyone who disagrees probably left before the heat hit and therefore cannot be trusted.
It’s all homemade and gelato-style here, and there are even a few flavors with churned-in alcohol (who can say no to Irish Cream Ice Cream or authentic rum raisin?). One important note: Flamingos only take cash in exchange for this ice cream — no credit cards and no interesting trades considered.
Mattheessen's — Homemade Ice Cream Key West
106 Duval St
Mattheessen has the best ice cream in Key West because it has seniority, confidence, and absolutely no need to prove anything to you. It has been here forever, which in Key West years means it survived hurricanes, hangovers, and generations of tourists who said, “We’ll just share one scoop.”
The ice cream is classic, unbothered, and somehow tastes better at midnight. Ordering here feels like joining a quiet, sugary cult. No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just ice cream that calmly whispers, “Yes, we know. Everyone comes back.”
If someone in your group fancies something other than frozen dairy, know that Mattheessen’s is a full-service bakery — giant cookies, Key Lime pie, etc. Oh, and Cuban coffee, too.
Wicked Lick — Kinky Key West Ice Cream
335 Duval St
Wicked Lick says it has the best ice cream in Key West and they actively dare you to disagree. The flavors are bold, slightly inappropriate, and clearly designed by someone who thought, “What if dessert caused mild chaos?” It’s slightly pirate themed and over-the-top with its topping offerings.
Keto, dairy-free, exotic, familiar, all of it shows up with attitude. This is ice cream for people who think vanilla is suspicious and boundaries are optional.
But it doesn’t stop with flavors. This is liquid nitrogen ice cream crafted on the spot, which is a special experience that involves clouding cauldrons and casting spells to spirits long forgotten by most mortals. Is it really the best? Depends. Did you want safe and predictable, or something that tastes like rebellion in a waffle cone?
Dairy Queen — The Last of the Soft Serve Ice Cream in Key West
1207 United St
Dairy Queen has the best ice cream in Key West because it refuses to pretend it is anything else. No artisanal backstory. No small batch mystique. Just soft serve, spinning majestically, like it has done since the dawn of road trips.
In a town overflowing with clever flavors and boutique scoops, Dairy Queen stands firm and says, “We have Blizzards.” It is nostalgic, slightly defiant, and deeply comforting.
Sometimes the best ice cream is the one that knows exactly who it is and leans into it. And sometimes nothing satisfies you like a good, old-fashioned soft-serve cone. The local DG is located right smack-dab in the middle of the island, stuck between Old and New Towns like the metaphor in a cone that it is.
Need Another Way to Cool Off? Let's Hit the Water and Take a Dip
I may consume more than my share of ice cream, but my day job is unrelated. Give me a call, and we’ll put together the perfect sandbar or sunset boat charter Key West has to offer. Nothing beats the heat like a boat ride followed by a delicious ice cream.
Your Key West Adventure Starts Here
Step aboard Still Dreamin’ and turn a great trip into an unforgettable one with a private charter designed around you. Cruise crystal-clear waters, relax in total comfort, and experience the sandbars, sunsets, and hidden spots that make Key West so special—all without the crowds or the rush.
Whether you’re celebrating something big or just soaking up island time, Still Dreamin’ is your front-row seat to the best of Key West. Book your charter today and see why everything feels different once you’re on the water.
