Where to find soft-serve ice cream in the Seattle area

Ready to go on a sweet soft-serve ice cream journey of discovery? Here are five places in Seattle where you can find some of the best of this scrumptious treat.

So, what is soft-serve ice cream? It’s softer and less dense than its counterpart, hard ice cream. The controlled freezing process, incorporation of air, and continuous dispensing make it this way, which also lowers the milk fat content.

Pro tips:

Soft-serve ice cream is best eaten outside and fast! Bring wet wipes and/or hand sanitizer with you, especially on a warm day when the ice cream melts and drips faster than you can eat it.

Dairy warning: If you have someone in your family who can’t eat dairy, call ahead to find out if they have dairy-free options (some places change their menu options frequently).

Ballard/Phinney Ridge:

Frankie and Jo’s Ballard Sundae Shop. Photo credit: Yulia Fiala

Frankie and Jo’s: Ballard Sundae Shop

Frankie and Jo’s is a small chain of vegan ice cream shops in the Seattle area, located in Ballard, Capitol Hill, and University Village. If you’re looking for delicious soft-serve ice cream, their Ballard Sundae Shop is the place to go (available June-September)! While they only serve one flavor, vanilla, don’t worry; many indulgent toppings are available, including smores, strawberry hot fudge, and more. Magic sundaes cost around $13.

The Ballard Sundae Shop offers a family-friendly ice cream outing experience with its tranquil outdoor garden seating area. Before you enter the outdoor garden, an interactive kids’ room offers a range of books, toys, and a play kitchen set up to bring imagination to life.

Address: 1411 NW 70th St , Seattle, WA 98117

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 1 p.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-10 p.m.

One Flavor: Vanilla and toppings
Dine-in room available: Yes, they have stools out in front of the shop and benches in the back garden; no tables
Parking: Free street parking
Fun Fact: This is the only Frankie and Jo location with soft-serve ice cream
Bathroom available: Yes
Room to park a stroller: Yes
What can you do around the area:
- Loyal Heights Playfield and Playground (4 min drive, 18 min walk).
- National Nordic Museum (7 min drive): On the First Thursday of the Month, they offer the Nordic Stories Program for preschool-aged children, which features stories from Nordic countries and crafting projects. Register here.
- Ballard Farmers Market (7 min drive): Year-round, every Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rain or shine.
- Ballard Commons Park (6 min drive): Check out the Cove, a new pirate-themed playground (built-in 2024). During the month of August, on Thursdays, enjoy a free outdoor movie.

Find more of the best Seattle area farmer’s markets for a family excursion

Photo credit: Mainstay Provisions Website

Mainstay Provisions

Mainstay Provisions is located on Phinney Ridge and is neighbored by other coffee shops and restaurants. This Ballard family-owned neighborhood café and market offers something for everyone. They offer flavorful and unique options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And, of course, soft-serve ice cream for dessert! Mainstay offers traditional chocolate and vanilla soft-serve ice cream flavors in a 6 oz cup ($4.75). If you’d like, you can swirl both flavors and add toppings like chocolate chip cookie crumble, raspberry sauce, caramel, and others (toppings cost extra).

Address: 612 NW 65th St, Seattle, WA 98117

Hours: Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Flavors: Chocolate, vanilla and lots of toppings
Room to park a stroller: Yes
Dine-in room available: Yes, they have dine-in and outdoor seating
Parking: Free street parking
Bathroom available
Fun fact: They use soft-serve ice cream in their specialty desserts, including root beer floats, cold brew floats, and affogato
What can you do in the area:
- Phinney Farmers Market (3 min drive, 17 min walk): This seasonal farmers market happens on Fridays from July 5 through September 7. Plus: pre-holiday harvest market on Friday, November 22.
- Woodland Park Zoo (4 min drive, 25 min walk): visit all kinds of animals at the zoo and see the beautiful Rose Garden.
- Green Lake Park (9 min drive): Explore its summer-season wading pool, boat rentals, and restaurants. Note: Wading pools are only operating when it is 70 degrees or hotter.

South Seattle

Soft serve ice cream in a fish-shaped cone. Photo credit: Yulia Fiala

Matcha Man Ice Cream and Taiyaki

In Georgetown, Matcha Man offers soft-served ice cream, including flavors like Matcha, Ube, Cherry Dole Whip, and more. They have new flavors that come out every month. Something unique about Matcha Man Ice Cream is that they offer fish-shaped cones (taiyaki) and add filling inside that goes in the base of the fish. The fillings include pinto bean paste (a traditional taiyaki option), custard, Nutella, or ube custard. The shop had a relaxed ambiance that took you back in time, with upbeat jazz music and a classic Pac-Man machine in the store.

I ordered the Cherry Dole Whip (gluten-free and vegan) and a taiyaki cone ($8) with strawberry drizzle on top. The flavor was the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and the texture was very soft and consistent.

Address: 6014 12th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108

Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Most popular flavors: Ube (gf) and Cherry Dole Whip (gf and v)
Room to park a stroller: Yes
Dine-in room available: Yes, couches inside and benches outside; no tables
Parking: Street parking, difficult to find spots
Bathroom available: Yes
Fun fact: Matcha Man used to be a pop-up before they opened their shop in 2021 in Georgetown
What can you do around the area:
- Georgetown Flea Market (3 min walk): This is the newest Market in Seattle and will be on the first Saturday of the month, from March through August, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and is family-friendly.
- The Museum of Flight (7 min drive): Explore this aviation museum with cool exhibits, weekend family workshops, and free admission on the first Thursday of every month, learn more here.

Peanut Butter soft serve ice cream with sprinkles. Photo credit: Yulia Fiala

Milk Drunk

Milk Drunk is a restaurant in Beacon Hill that serves soft-serve ice cream, sandwiches, and cocktails. It has an outdoor patio in front of the restaurant and indoor seating. If you have young kids, this establishment offers highchairs and a place to park strollers inside or outside the restaurant. I recommend getting there earlier because the seats outside can fill up quickly.

The soft serve ice cream is offered for $6 a cup, a cake cone, or a waffle cone ($1 extra). It comes in various flavors, including Malted Chocolate, Vanilla, Rainier Cherry (v), Matcha, Strawberry-Prickly Pear (v), and Nutty Buddy. My favorite was the Nutty Buddy, a peanut butter-flavored ice cream; it had a thicker consistency and richer flavor than the fruit flavors I have tried at other places.

Address: 2805 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

Most popular flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Nutty Buddy
Room to park a stroller: Yes
Dine in room available: Indoor + outdoor seating, high chairs are available
Parking: street parking + public parking
Bathroom available: Yes – gender-neutral bathroom
Fun fact: The name Milk Drunk was inspired by their menu (soft serve & cocktails)
What can you do around the area:
- Beacon Hill Street Fair (3 min walk): This fair is on the 2nd Saturday of May through September, with live music, a pop-up market, family activities, garden workshops, and more.
- Colman Park & Beach (10 min drive): This park and beach on Lake Washington offer picnic tables, big drooping willows, and grass that makes a good playing ground for frisbee, soccer, and more.
- Columbia Branch Seattle Public Library (2 min walk): On the same street next door, they have family story time and firefighter story time on select dates. Learn more here. It’s a great stop for kids to explore a new book after their ice cream outing.
- Beacon Hill Playground (3 min drive, 15 min walk): A small green patch featuring a baseball diamond and tennis courts. Plus they have a play structure and swings.

Ube and Pineapple soft serve on the rooftop. Photo credit: Yulia Fiala

The Flora Bake House

This modern Seattle bakery and coffee shop in Beacon Hill serves a selection of gluten-free and vegan foods, coffee, and soft-served ice cream. They offer soft-serve daily, beginning at 11:30 a.m., with seasonal flavors. They offered flavors like Ube (made from a purple yam) and pineapple dole whip. It was recommended to do the swirl option and mix the two flavors, creating the perfect combination of sweet and tart. You can get your ice cream in a cone ($6), a regular cup ($6), or a kid’s cup/cone ($4.50).

The upstairs space offers rooftop indoor and outdoor seating, including a covered area that provides shade during the summer season. While you’re up on the rooftop deck, you won’t want to miss the beautiful view of Mt. Rainier while enjoying your delicious dessert.

Address: 1511 S Lucile St, Seattle, WA 98108

Hours: Monday – Sunday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Ice cream available 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Most popular flavors: Ube and pineapple—the pineapple swirl. The pineapple has a robust, fruity flavor, and the texture was very good. They also offer a kids’ size cup and cone.
Room to park a stroller: It is tight space in the entrance/ordering area, but there is outdoor seating in the front of the building
Dine-in room available: Yes, outdoor rooftop + indoor room on the top floor + outdoor seating on street level
Parking: Free street parking
Bathroom available: Yes
What can you do around the area:
- Jefferson Park (4 min drive) Features picnic tables, a basketball court, tennis courts, a large playground, and swings. Construction will begin in Summer 2024; see updates here.
- Van Asselt Playground and Community Center (6 min drive): Features a playground, swings, and a wading pool (Summer season, June 22-September 2, if weather is 70 degrees or warmer).