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Welcome to Philadelphia in the summer, where it may be hotter than the sizzling surface of a cheesesteak griddle, but at least we have water ice. Water and ice, you say? Let us explain.
Also known as Italian ice, water ice is a slushy blend of fruit, sugar, and ice. Italian immigrants brought the frozen confection to the City of Brotherly Love in the early 1900s, re-creating the Sicilian granita of their homeland. Smoother than a snow cone and served in flavors like lemon and cherry, water ice became a summer staple.
Beyond water ice, though, Philly has a surprisingly cool history with frozen treats. The city embraced ice cream early — the egg-free “Philadelphia-style” was developed here in the late 18th century. Philly is home to America’s oldest ice cream stand, still operated by the same family. And perhaps most notably, the Choco Taco was invented here. The legacy lives on, with artisan scoop shops remixing the classics with local ingredients and bold flavors.
So when the temps start climbing, Philadelphians know where to turn to cool down. Read on for all the places to taste the best of Philly’s frozen treats.
John’s Water Ice
Courtesy of Daniel Knoll for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
On the hottest summer days, the line at John’s Water Ice might be the most popular place in town. People gather for a taste of Philly’s original water ice, created by Italian immigrant John Cardullo in 1945. Three generations later, his grandson churns the same all-natural mix of fresh fruit, sugar, and water into the shop’s four staple flavors — lemon, cherry, chocolate, and pineapple — plus rotating flavors like banana and cantaloupe.
D’Emilio’s Old World Ice Treats
Courtesy D’Emilio’s Old World Ice Treats
Chris D’Emilio turned his 1930s Italian family recipe into one of the city’s most inventive water ice operations, D’Emilio’s. At his East Passyunk shop, you’ll find punchy cups of cherry vanilla cream, Dr. Pepper chocolate chip, and blueberry lemonade, bursting with local farm fruit. Don’t miss the pretzel pockets filled with a tower of soft serve.
Milk Jawn
Courtesy of Mike Prince
Born in founder Amy Wilson’s home kitchen in 2012, Milk Jawn now scoops from two storefronts and sells pints at shops and farmers markets citywide. Made with local Pennsylvania dairy, ultra-rich blends include tahini fudge swirl and Earl Grey with honeycomb, alongside an impressive slate of vegan flavors. Look out for the ice cream taco special, an artisanal homage to the Choco Taco.
Small Oven Pastry Shop
Courtesy of Small Oven Pastry Shop
Weekends from spring through the fall are a soft-serve carnival at Small Oven. Each year, pastry pro Chad Durkin unveils a new calendar of rotating flavors — sweet corn and blackberry swirls one week, dark chocolate and graham cracker the next, whirled into flaky croissant cones or cups, then showered with housemade crumbles and sauces.
Franklin Fountain
Courtesy of J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
Franklin Fountain’s old school soda fountain offers a sweet taste of the past, with soda jerks slinging handmade ice cream and phosphates surrounded by tin‑pressed ceilings and mosaic‑tiled floors. Stay for elaborate sundaes (the Stock Market Crunch is a favorite, with Rocky Road, peanut butter sauce, and crushed pretzels), or take a cone to go, scooped into a handmade maple waffle cone.
Bassetts Ice Cream
Courtesy of Hope Daluisio for VISIT PHILADELPHIA
America’s oldest ice cream company still operates from behind its original marble countertop at Reading Terminal Market. Founded by William Bassett in 1861 and anchoring the market since 1892, Bassetts’ fifth- and sixth-generation stall peddles ultra-rich, largely Philadelphia-style ice cream in butterscotch vanilla, rum raisin, and dozens of other classic flavors.
Pop’s Water Ice
One of Philly’s oldest water ice stands, Filippo “Pop” Italiano started selling lemon ice from a pushcart in 1932 and eventually relocated to his converted garage. Nowadays, his descendants still operate Pop’s Water Ice out of the same South Philly space, offering a rotating menu of flavors including the classic lemon, iced tea, peach, and root beer.
Friday Saturday Sunday
Courtesy of Clay Williams
Sample the city’s lauded culinary scene and its ice cream prowess in one place. At award-winning fine dining restaurant Friday Saturday Sundaypastry chef Amanda Rafalski spins nightly soft‑serve sundaes in the downstairs Lovers Bar — like passion fruit soft serve with shallot caramel and tropical fruit crunch — that balance fun and nostalgia with the same exacting craft that defines the restaurant’s celebrated tasting menu.
Malai
Courtesy of Morgan Ione Photography for Malai
A recent Brooklyn import, Malai has quickly become a Philly staple thanks to its inventive and wildly delicious South Asian-inspired flavors, from cardamom pistachio crumble to the perfectly spiced masala chai. Look out for rotating soft serve — the vegan mango and cardamom yogurt tastes like a swirl of ripe mango lassi.
Siddiq’s Real Fruit Water Ice
Chunks of whole fruit boost every spoonful at Siddiq’s Real Fruit Water Icea West Philly staple founded by former Temple University student Siddiq Moore. Try one of his creative blends like mango lemonade, hibiscus ginger, or the spiced coconut coquito.
Fiore Fine Foods
Courtesy of Fiore
Fiore may be best known for its handmade pastas and regional Italian pastries, but it’s also a love letter to gelato, thanks to pastry chef Justine MacNeil. Order silky, seasonal flavors like caramel macchiato and mint stracciatella alongside cornetti and shakeratos in the sunny East Kensington café.