After relocating to the States from Buenos Aires, cousins Sebastián Koziura and Enrique Schcolnik missed the moments they shared indulging in dulce de leche gelato with their grandmother. Thus, they decided to transport the sweet treat to Evanston and Chicago with FRIO, a family-owned gelatería featuring Argentine favorites like Sambayon, Malbec Wine with Berries, Tramontana, and, of course, Dulce de Leche.

The Navy Pier location of this family-owned gelateria, feauting Argentine flavors like dulce de leche.

After meeting at a vegan ice cream shop in Austin, Dylan Sutcliff and Mariana Marinho made their way to Chicago to open this Noble Square newcomer specializing in all things vegan soft serve (plus a medley of housemade cones and locally sourced toppings).

Owners Yahya and Nataki Muhammad wanted to deliver their version of the old-fashioned scoops Yahya remembers having as a child, and one might say they’ve succeeded—mega fans arrive to their Bronzeville shop on the regular to choose from 25 rotating flavors (including vegan and sugar-free options) spanning homey creations like Banana Pudding, Black Walnut, and, their nostalgia-sparking bestseller, Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Vanilla.

Ready your Instagram for a visit to this North Avenue outpost, where ice cream becomes even more magical as it shapeshifts into an array of different animals right in front of your eyes. That’s right—the talented team here calls upon cones and precisely placed toppings to create everything from koalas and bears to monkeys and, the fan favorite, unicorns. The best part? The animal “accoutrements” are as flavorful as they are fun.

Initially started in 2002 in Columbus, Ohio, this “splendid” venture entered the Chicago market in September 2013 with its first scoop shop on Southport and hasn’t looked back since. The biggest draw? A roster of culinary-inspired flavors not normally associated with ice cream, like Sweet Cream Biscuits and Peach Jam or Goat Cheese with Red Cherries.

The Wicker Park outpost of this Ohio-born, culinary-inspired ice cream shop.

The Armitage outpost of this Ohio-born, culinary-inspired ice cream shop.

The North Wells outpost of this Ohio-born, culinary-inspired ice cream shop.

The West Loop outpost of this Ohio-born, culinary-inspired ice cream shop.

The Logan Square outpost of this Ohio-born, culinary-inspired ice cream shop.

Founded in 1921, the original Margie’s Candies comes with tales of visitors like the Beatles and Al Capone. This Bucktown staple has maintained the old-fashioned decor and vibes, as well as a knack for serving handmade confectionery candy, chocolate, and fudge. On the ice cream side, you can go for classic scoops or make room for any of the shop’s famous banana splits.

The North Center expansion of this iconic spot for old-fashioned decor and classic scoops.

Founded by pastry chef Dana Salls Cree and Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits’ Michael Ciapciak, Pretty Cool Ice Cream serves an array of frozen novelties, including ice cream bars, ice cream sandwiches, and ice pops (vegan ones, too!). Clever flavor combinations make this spot a standout, with fruit-flavored “truck pops” like passion fruit hibiscus and custard bars like peanut butter potato chip, coffee pretzel toffee, and caramel horchata crunch.

Soft serve piled high and burgers served hot top the bill at this retro Logan Square drive-in. Formerly known as Tastee Freez and dating to 1950, The Freeze is a go-to spot that often draws long lines of customers encircling it during the warmer months.

If you couldn’t tell from the name, Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets serves frozen custard, sundaes, candy, and other local treats in enchanting old-world digs. You could go “my way” with your choice of flavor and one topping, or opt for a mix of cupcakes and custard in the Crazy Cake concrete. Even better is the “OMG,” a concoction of frozen custard, brownies, hot fudge, and peanut butter that’ll have you exclaiming its moniker with every bite.

The Rogers Park location of this enchanting old-world frozen-custard shop.

Five flavors in one—that’s really all you need. A Chicago institution since 1926, the Original Rainbow Cone is known for serving a thick stack of chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (AKA vanilla with walnuts and cherries), and pistachio ice creams plus orange sherbet atop a sturdy cake cone. It's worth making your way to the OG South Side location to marvel in its timeless charm.

The Navy Pier stand for this prized South Side classic.