5 Best Ice Cream Shops in Houston (2026)

Fat Cat Creamery is a woman-owned, Houston-based ice cream maker that started in 2011 after its founders couldn't find good craft ice cream in the city. They make everything from scratch with Texas whole milk, heavy cream, and locally sourced ingredients, running multiple locations including a spot at the Houston airport, and lean into compostable, environmentally friendly packaging.

Morelia Ice Cream Paletas in Rice Village specializes in gourmet Mexican paletas, handcrafted with natural ingredients and offering over 18 flavors plus custom dipping and topping combinations. Located minutes from Rice University and the Texas Medical Center, the shop also serves Greek yogurt options and paleta shakes alongside its core paleta menu.

milk + sugar is a Houston creamery built around the idea that classic flavors aren't the point. Everything is made in-house, including mix-ins like brownie chunks and cake pieces folded into the ice cream as it churns, and the shop is upfront that it won't serve plain vanilla. Flavors rotate seasonally and change often.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is a national ice cream brand with a scoop shop on Westheimer Road, part of a chain with over 50 locations across multiple states plus a location in Korea. The Houston shop carries both dairy and vegan lines, with flavors ranging from classic vanilla bean to more distinctive options like honeycomb and Sicilian pistachio.

Press Waffle Co. inside Lyric Market is primarily a Belgian waffle and coffee shop, known for customizable sweet and savory waffle creations, but its menu also includes ice cream, which several reviewers specifically call out alongside the waffles. It's a breakfast-and-brunch destination first, with ice cream as part of a broader dessert lineup.