When a Nebraska summer turns triple-digit, the fix is a cold scoop. Omaha's ice cream scene runs deep, from chef-driven artisan shops to old-school soft serve, so here are five of the best, with a little of what makes each one worth the trip.
Five scoops worth seeking out
Old Market & Benson · Ultra-premium, made from scratch
The Omaha institution, family-owned since 1984 and still churned the old-fashioned way with rock salt and ice in antique White Mountain freezers. At 20% butterfat it's about as rich as ice cream gets, and the lineup changes daily, with thousands of flavors having rotated through over the years, from vanilla bean to jalapeño raspberry. Vegan sorbets and keto options too.
Why go: The classic first stop, ideal paired with an Old Market stroll. Check the day's flavor board before you head over.
Blackstone & Millwork Commons · Farm-to-cone artisan
Chef-driven, seasonal, and named the best ice cream shop in the entire country by Yelp in 2023. The menu shifts with what's fresh, and nearly everything is made in house, down to the waffle cones and the sprinkles. Don't skip the Blackstone butterbrickle, a nod to the neighborhood's namesake hotel. Expect a line at either location, and know that it moves.
Why go: Arguably Omaha's best scoop, with a velvety base and inventive flavors. Worth the wait.
3. eCreamery
Dundee · Small-batch, ships nationwide
The Dundee parlor that ships personalized pints across the country and once charmed the sharks on Shark Tank. Around a dozen small-batch flavors rotate daily across ice cream, gelato, and dairy-free sorbet, all with a dense, velvety base. Get a scoop in a house-made waffle cone or sandwiched between fresh cookies.
Why go: Creative twists on the classics with national cred. The $2-scoop Tuesdays at the Dundee parlor are a deal.
4. Centi
Old Market · Italian gelato & crepes
Chef-driven Italian gelato that began as a pop-up inside a coffee shop. Owner Erick Landa, a former savory cook, builds globally inspired flavors you won't find elsewhere, like taro, horchata, London Fog, and Sicilian pistachio. Made-to-order crepes round out the menu, and there's a dog-friendly patio plus plenty of vegan options.
Why go: The most adventurous flavors in town, and gelato done right. The rotating menu means it's never the same visit twice.
5. Dairy Chef
Elkhorn · Classic soft serve
Old-school soft serve out west in Elkhorn, family-run and beloved since the shop's Dairy Sweet days back in the 1960s. Real soft serve piled into towering twist cones, plus "Storms," from-scratch ice cream sandwiches, and a full griddle of hand-pattied burgers and hand-cut fries. It's seasonal, running roughly mid-March through mid-October, and the long lines move fast.
Why go: Nostalgia done right and a great family stop. A short drive west, worth it for the tower cone.
Where do you go for a scoop? Tell us who we left off, we're always taking tips.