Families and Kids
Where To Find Tempe’s Top Frozen Treats
No summer day is complete without these sweet and frosty flavors.
This summer, we recommend beating the heat with a cool treat (or two or three). Icy, frosty or frozen, these summer treats pair perfectly with adventuring or relaxing on a sunny Arizona day this season. Tempe’s favorite frozen delights range from flavorful frosty bites and cool smoothies to icy blends and decadent frozen treats — all of which are sure to cool you from the inside out. Whether you enjoy innovative flavors or the classics, Tempe has the perfect frozen treat for you.
1. Frozen Yogurt
A little lighter than ice cream but just as satisfying. Tempe has countless places to get your FroYo fix.
Aloha Yogurt
219 E. Baseline Road, Tempe, AZ 85283 | 480-289-5238
Aloha Yogurt features 12 flavors each day, including tart, dairy-free and no-sugar-added options. Pair your choice of yogurt with as many or as few toppings as your tastebuds prefer — they have 45 to choose from, after all. Additionally, froyo sammies pair homemade cookie dough bookending froyo and toppings (cereal flavors, cookies and cream, Reese’s, etc.) or seasonal froyo tacos feature such flavors as Thin Mints, red velvet cake. Have your four-legged friend in tow? Try the “dog-urt” from the dog-friendly menu.
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
1128 E. Baseline Road, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85283 | 480-307-6037
There is always something new to try at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt. Their innovative research and development team works diligently to roll out new flavors and unique items, including Menchie’s custom frozen yogurt cakes. Menchie’s offers something for everyone, including nonfat, no sugar added, gluten-free frozen dessert options to satisfy everyone’s taste.
Mojo Yogurt
Tempe Marketplace | 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-968-6493
With more than 28 fresh and tempting flavors, Mojo Yogurt at Tempe Marketplace triggers something inside you that makes you want to smile. Mojo is about producing positive energy that creates a healthy state of body and mind. This self-serve concept offers regular and rotating flavors, as well as smoothies, gelato, Italian Ice and non-dairy offerings.
2. Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ice cream and homemade cookies together?! Yes, please! In Tempe, you have several options that combine the best of both these worlds:
Slickables
699 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-409-4591
Head to Slickables to create your very own customized cookie + ice cream combo. Just choose your favorite cookies and which flavor of ice cream you’d like stuffed in the middle … the possible combinations are endless. No matter which you choose, your taste buds will be happy with these frozen desserts — and so will your wallet with their affordable prices. Fudgy brownies, caramel blondies and homestyle milkshakes are also available.
Sparky’s Old Town Creamery
510 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-921-6228
Ice cream sandwiches are just one of the many offerings at this iconic ice cream shop. Sparky’s Old Town Creamery has over 20 flavors of ice cream and sorbet, including a free mix-in. They even make their ice cream in small batches on-site, so everything is always fresh. If you’re in the mood for something icy, Sparky’s also has delicious Hawaiian shaved ice and smoothies, too.
Insomnia Cookies
116 E. University Drive, Suite 104, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-795-3693
Need a quick cookie and ice cream fix? Insomnia offers ice cream pairings for their delicious, warm cookies. Order from their “Wiches” menu for ice cream sandwich heaven. Choose between an icing filling or scoops of ice cream between their classic, deluxe or gluten-free cookie options. For a lighter treat, enjoy a scoop of ice cream over one cookie or all by itself. And for a “sharable” snack, try the dippers!
Sweet Republic Artisan Ice Cream
410 N. Scottsdale Road., Suite 105, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-292-8557
Sweet Republic is known for its exceptional artisan ice cream. They start with their milk and cream from independent Arizona dairy farms and add all handmade ingredients; they even make their own cookies! All of these components make for the ultimate ice cream sandwich. Each of which includes two chocolate chip cookies sandwiched around ice cream of your choice: Salted Caramel Swirl, Chocolate, Brownie Fudge Swirl or Vanilla Bean.
The Paleta Bar Tempe
521 S. College Ave., Unit 107, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 265-8948
420 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 590-3031
Home to gourmet Mexican pops, The Paleta Bar makes handmade paletas daily using delicious ingredients, including fresh fruits, sweet cream and milk. Here, they’re raising the bar on quintessential paletas: Once you choose your fruit pop, you can have it dipped or drizzled with mouthwatering toppings. These come in both refreshing and healthy selections — they are made with fresh fruit, after all.
Mango Rabbit
1250 E. Apache Blvd., #112, Tempe, AZ | 480-912-6283
Have you checked out Mango Rabbit? This hidden gem is located along the Apache Boulevard “Spice Trail,” and serves up a delicious selection of bubble waffles, authentic milk teas and a robust menu of Asian and Asian-inspired drinks, desserts and snacks. Their milk tea is a stand-out that can be customized with toppings, including boba, coconut jelly and cheese foam (a delicate sweet-salty froth). The must-have, however, is the bubble waffle, which includes two scoops of ice cream, chocolate cookies, two Pocky sticks, a crown of berries, whipped cream and edible gold flakes. No matter your flavor preference, your order is guaranteed to be a beautiful masterpiece (absolutely photogenic).
Bahama Buck’s
1006 E. Warner Road, Tempe, AZ 85284 | 480-777-9482
Take your tastebuds on a tropical vacation. Bahama Buck’s offers island-inspired shaved ice (Sno) that you can smother with one of their endless possibilities of flavors. They also serve smoothies, lemonade, flavored sodas and “Frostalattes,” an iced and blended drink made with their Kona Coffee blend. Trying everything on this menu will definitely take all summer!
Joe’s Italian Ice
2019 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-907-7077
Joe’s Italian Ice brings Philly-style frozen treats to Tempe. Each specialty treat is crafted to perfection with real fruit from California farms and ice cream straight from a dairy in Philadelphia. They offer nearly 100 unique Italian ice flavors, from Strawberries ‘n Cream to Peanut Butter Cup. You can even combine your choice of soft-serve ice cream with it.
5. Frozen Libations
Tempe, without a doubt, is home to the best frozen adult beverages that will transport you from the heat and into a blissful retreat. Explore more at one of these locations:
Fat Tuesday
680 S. Mill Ave., #106, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-967-3917
Fat Tuesday is home to over 20 frozen beverage offerings straight from Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Where to start? The world-famous frozen Daiquiri, of course. There are tons of flavors to choose from, but my go-to daiquiris have to be the Creamsicle and the Screaming Coyote; both are a slice of summertime heaven. You can even order 25 ounces of your favorite frosty daiquiri — that’s 14 inches of flavor!.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
414 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ | 480-968-8226
At Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, we toast to summer with beeritas and frozen margaritas. Choose between the House, The Shocker or the Morning Glow frozen margarita, a frozen mango and strawberry margarita served with a champagne bottle. These recipes are so popular, the menu has expanded to include a Marjarritas Marg, Fireball Peach Mule ‘Rita and White Claw Claws ‘Ritas. Bonus: Special holiday offerings — think: Bomb Pop Margs for 4th of July and Leprechaun Margs for St. Patrick’s Day — are always a good bet.
Ghost Ranch
1006 E. Warner Road, #102-103, Tempe, AZ 85284 | 480-474-4328
Hands down, the best summer drink goes to the Prickly Pear Frozé’ Rita from Ghost Ranch. The staff would describe it as “a frozen margarita that fell in love with a glass of cold rosé and had the most perfect, well-balanced, cocktail baby.” I mean, after that description, how could you not try it?!
