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Summer in Metro Detroit hits different. The sun lingers well past dinner, festivals fill every weekend, and the air smells like charcoal grills and freshly cut grass. And when the temps start climbing? You beat the heat with a cone, a custard, or an over-the-top milkshake piled higher than your kid’s birthday wish list.
Whether you’re a parent looking for a weekend treat, a foodie on the hunt for something Instagram-worthy, or a nostalgic soul craving a scoop from the same stand you visited as a kid, this list delivers. We’re talking cult favorites, old-school legends, and wild creations you’ll only find here in Southeast Michigan.
Let’s dig in.
Ray's Ice Cream, Facebook
Iconic Ice Cream Stands That Built the Scene
Ray’s Ice Cream
Open: Mon-Sun (11am-11pm)
4233 Coolidge Hwy, Royal Oak, MI 48073
Phone: (248) 549-5256
Website: Ray’s Ice Cream
Since 1958, Ray’s has been doing it right in Royal Oak. This no-frills scoop shop has stood the test of time with its retro vibe and glass-dish sundaes served just like they used to be. Flavors like coconut pineapple and black raspberry cheesecake bring locals back weekly. It's the kind of place where your grandma probably had her first date.
Richard’s Real Ice Cream
Open: Mon (11am-9pm) | Tue-Fri (11am-10pm) | Sat (11am-8pm) | Sun (1:30-10pm)
22965 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, MI 48220
3120 12 Mile Rd, Berkley, MI 48072
Phone: (773) 614‑8999
Website: Richard’s Real Ice Cream
Open since 1962, Richard’s is soft-spoken about its legacy but big on flavor in Ferndale and Berkley. Hand-dipped cones, creamy classics like butter pecan and turtle sundae, and just enough retro charm to remind you what summer used to feel like. It’s a Ferndale staple for good reason.
Sherwood Dairy
381 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
(313) 884‑7155
Operating since 1928, this family-run gem is the oldest on our list. Known for its rich, simple scoops and old-fashioned dairy vibe, it’s the kind of spot where butter pecan and vanilla bean never go out of style, and that’s exactly the point.
Nothing captures Metro Detroit nostalgia quite like Jim’s Frostie Treats, read “The Legacy of Jim’s Frostie Treats” for the story behind this beloved Royal Oak parlor.
Foster Dairy Farms
Open: Daily (11am-10pm)
243 N Main St, Plymouth, MI 48170
34300 Ford Rd, Westland, MI 48185
Website: Foster Dairy Farms
With a walk-up window and throwback pricing, Foster’s is the epitome of a Michigan roadside stand in Plymouth. Expect soft-serve classics, flurries with mix-ins, and float combos that scream “small-town summer night.”
Dairy Freeze
Open: Daily (11:30AM-10PM)
208 S Main St, Clawson, MI 48017
1380 W Auburn Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Phone: (248) 916‑7700
Website: Dairy Freeze
A true mid-century drive-up stand known for towering cones, banana splits, and sundaes served with a side of nostalgia in Clawson and Rochester Hills. Lines snake around the building on hot nights, and nobody complains. This place is summer.
Washtenaw Dairy, Facebook
Small-Batch Scoops & Local Creamery Favorites
Washtenaw Dairy
Open: Mon-Wed (5am-9pm) | Thur-Fri (5am-10pm) | Sat-Sun (6am-10pm)
602 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: (734) 662-3244
Website: Washtenaw Dairy
Open since 1934, this downtown Ann Arbor institution serves up more than 50 hard-scoop flavors and a side of homemade doughnuts. Whether you're a student, a townie, or just passing through, this is the kind of place that earns its “beloved” status every single day.
Michigan Creamery
Open: Daily (1-11pm)
302 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: (734) 662-1700
Website: Michigan Creamery
With over 30 rotating flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and custard, this spot in Ann Arbor sits right in the heart of downtown and blends local pride with serious dairy cred. From espresso chip to cherry cheesecake, it’s a choose-your-own adventure in flavor.
Erma’s Frozen Custard
Open: Mon-Sun (11am-10pm)
6451 Auburn Rd, Shelby Township, MI 48317
Phone: (586) 254-3080
Website: Erma’s Frozen Custard
Hand-dipped custard, piled-high sundaes, and thick concrete mixers have made Erma’s a summer must-stop in Shelby Township. The real draw? That weekly rotating flavor board that keeps the locals coming back again and again.
For a deep dive on Metro Detroit’s best soft‑serve and custard stands, see “Cool Down with These 19 Soft Serve Ice Cream Spots in Metro Detroit.
Over-the-Top Treats & Instagram-Worthy Spots
JoJo’s ShakeBAR
Open: Mon-Thur, Sun (11am-10pm) | Fri-Sat (11am-12am)
88 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (313) 462-4315
Website: JoJo’s ShakeBAR
Located in District Detroit, JoJo’s is an explosion of color, nostalgia, and unapologetically outrageous milkshakes. Their Biggie Shakes come topped with doughnuts, cake slices, candy bars, sometimes all of the above. And for adults, there’s even a boozy shake menu. Come hungry, and bring your phone.
Bombshell Treat Bar
Open: Tue-Thur, Sun (12-9pm) | Fri-Sat (12-10pm)
2688 Coolidge Hwy, Berkley, MI 48072
Phone: (248) 629-4121
Website: Bombshell Treat Bar
In Ann Arbor, choose a vanilla or chocolate ice cream bar, dip it in Belgian chocolate, then layer it with crushed Oreos, rainbow sprinkles, cookie crumbs, and drizzle. Bombshell is like a modern dessert lab where every bar becomes a work of art.
Modern Cone
Open: Mon-Thur (9am-9:30pm) | Fri (9am-10pm) | Sat (10am-10pm) | Sun (10am-9:30pm)
28616 Harper Ave, St Clair Shores, MI 48081
Phone: (586) 879-0722
Website: Modern Cone
The originator of "ice cream nachos" in Metro Detroit, Modern Cone serves waffle chips topped with scoops, whipped cream, drizzle, and candy. Bonus: their flavor lineup rotates weekly and includes cereal milk, chocolate-covered potato chip, and other craveable combos.
Choco Mania Cafe
Open: Mon-Sun (11am-11pm)
44621 Mound Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48314
Phone: (586) 488-3678
Open: Mon-Thur, Sun (11am-10pm) | Fri (11am-11pm) | Sat (11am-12am)
280 E Merrill St, Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (248) 731-7019
Website: Choco Mania Cafe
Expect Dubai-inspired dessert drama: loaded crepes, lava cake sundaes, and Thai-style rolled ice cream topped with fruit, syrup, and sometimes literal fireworks in Sterling Heights and Birmingham. It’s not subtle, but it’s unforgettable.
Blank Slate Creamery Ann Arbor
Unexpected Ice Cream Finds
Blank Slate Creamery
Open: Mon-Thur, Sun (12-10pm) | Fri-Sat (12-11pm)
300 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 734-922-5383
Open: Daily (12-10pm)
126 E Grand River Ave #1, Brighton, MI 48116
Phone: (810) 522-6919
Website: Blank Slate Creamery
Locally sourced milk, seasonal ingredients, and fresh, house-made waffle cones make this one of Michigan’s most awarded scoop shops in Ann Arbor and Brighton. Expect elevated flavors like Earl Grey & Lemon, Fresh Basil, and Browned Butter Cookie Dough.
Zingerman’s Creamery
Open: Mon-Thur (11am-6pm) | Fri-Sun (10am-6pm)
3723 Plaza Dr #2, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 929-0500
Website: Zingerman’s Creamery
Better known for cheese, but the gelato here is a hidden gem in Ann Arbor. Their Sicilian Pistachio, Dark Chocolate Orange, and Fresh Strawberry sorbets are made with obsessive detail, and it shows in every bite.
Treat Dreams
Open: Mon-Thur, Sun (12-8:30pm) | Fri-Sat (12-9pm)
22965 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, MI 48220
Phone: (248) 544-3440
Website: Treat Dreams
This is the place where imagination goes wild. Ever tried Banana Brûlée? Lavender Honey? The flavor menu changes constantly and always leans bold, funky, and deeply creative in Ferndale.
Dessert Hybrids & Hidden Gems
Mangonadas Del Barrio
Open: Daily (10am-9pm)
1210 Lawndale St, Detroit, MI 48209
Phone: (313) 724-6074
Website: Mangonadas Del Barrio
A Southwest Detroit treasure. If you’ve never had a Mangonada—frozen mango layered with Tajín, chamoy, chile candy, and fresh lime—you’re missing one of the most unique and addicting summer treats in Michigan.
Dexter Creamery
Open: Daily (12-10pm)
8106 Main St, Dexter, MI 48130
Phone: (734) 619-7700
Website: Dexter Creamery
Mix-and-match madness: choose your base, go wild with 70+ toppings, and watch it all blend into thick, sweet perfection. Moo-ville ice cream is the base, rich, creamy, and sourced from West Michigan dairy.
Looking for the perfect picnic pairing? Check “Fun Under the Sun” to discover family‑friendly parks with ice‑cream stands just steps away.
Final Scoop: This Is Your Metro Detroit Ice Cream Map
Whether you’re chasing nostalgia, looking to try something outrageous, or just need a sweet way to beat the heat, Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor offer something for every craving. From mom-and-pop legacy shops to modern showstoppers, this region delivers some of the best frozen treats in the Midwest.
So grab the family. Plan a dessert road trip. Or sneak out solo and treat yourself. However you do it, just make sure you bring napkins, and maybe a cooler in the trunk.
For location and Directions, please see the interactive map below
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