Scorching summer days call for frozen treats, and we have too many top-tier shops to choose from here in the metro. Next time you’re weighing your options, consider this vibe assessment of 10 shops classified as music genres. 

Sebastian Joe’s (Easy listening)

A local institution, Sebastian Joe’s sets the mood of a Minneapolis summer. There’s no need to take big risks flavor-wise when Sebastian Joe’s knows its signature seven — handmade each day — satisfy the masses. Walking along Lake Harriet Parkway with a cup of Raspberry Chocolate Chip calls to mind the soothing crowd-pleasing music loosely defined as easy listening, which had its heyday in the 1960s. Think Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. If Salty Caramel came on the radio, not a single family member would change the dial. Sebastian Joe’s has built a reputation and large presence in Minneapolis, with countless cafes and stores selling the big seven. But if you visit either of the physical locations, you’ll also find a rotating selection of seasonal offerings, like vegan strawberry, Minneapolis vanilla, and mint chocolate chip.

sebastianjoesicecream.com, 1007 W Franklin Ave or 4321 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis

MN Nice Cream (Hyperpop)

Ice cream contained in a tie-dyed cone and coated in edible glitter can only be matched by the maximalism of hyperpop. Since opening shop in 2016, MN Nice Cream has pushed the boundaries of toppings and textures with specialty cones like the “Fun Cone” featuring fruity pebbles, sprinkles, cake pops and a party umbrella. Although hyperpop has a smaller cult following, MN Nice Cream caters to many dietary needs, with fully customizable cones and plenty of vegan options.

mnnicecream.com, 807 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis

Milkjam Creamery (Hip-hop)

The menu already leans heavy on hip-hop vocabulary at Milkjam, where you can order a freestyle sundae or a small scoop of Waka Flocka Flakes (though that flavor is limited, so you may want to move fast). The cast of flavors is consistently fresh with a mix of classics — like Thai Tea or greek yogurt-based Uma — as well as seasonal drops like a s’more-inspired swirl of black cocoa ice cream, burnt marshmallow, and graham cracker crumble. Due to one of the co-founder’s lactose intolerance, about half the flavors tend to be dairy-free. Whatever you choose, I recommend you put it in a Jam Bun, a sugary sandwich collab with neighboring Glam Doll Donuts.

milkjamcreamery.com, 2743 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis

Dairy Queen (Dad rock) 

Still standing strong after 75 years, Minnesota’s oldest Dairy Queen has the nostalgic charm of Dad Rock. The endearing structure on Lexington Avenue boasts a bold neon sign, towering slanted windows, and big get-your-kicks-on-Route-66 energy. Dad Rock can take many forms, from the jazz rock stylings of Steely Dan to albums made by late-career rock legends to more contemporary bands like Wilco. When all the experimental sorbet flavors and edible glitter becomes too much — and you’re wondering why they just don’t make it like they used to — you can always pick up an Oreo Blizzard or an ice cream cake to take to the kiddo’s birthday party. Whatever is playing at this retro DQ, it’s definitely playing on vinyl. 

dairyqueen.com, 1720 Lexington Ave N, Roseville

Pumphouse Creamery (Folk)

This south Minneapolis shop has a soft indie folk feel, thanks to its “farm-to-frozen” philosophy and pastoral decor. Owner Barb Zapzalka sources ingredients with so much intention that she could probably tell you a bit about the cow who made the cream. A detailed label lets you know that the organic strawberries come from Svihel Vegetable Farm in Foley, Minnesota, and even a shelf on the wall has writing underneath explaining the wood’s origin from a bench in the old Morgan Park in Duluth. Maybe Bob Dylan sat on it? Avoid deciding between flavors like Rhubarb, Hibiscus Ginger Cinnamon Sorbet, Sea Salt Caramel, Kulfi, and Lemon Infused Olive Oil with Sea Salt, and opt for a sampler of five mini scoops.

pumphouse-creamery.com, 4754 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis

Bebe Zito (Indie rock)

One can imagine Bebe Zito’s tattooed logo skating a block down Lyndale to headline the local indie rock show at Mortimer’s. The little figure takes its likeness from co-founder Ben Spangler, a wizard in the local ice cream scene who whipped up flavors for places like Milkjam and Rustica before finally opening his own shop with his wife in the middle of the pandemic. Pretty bold move, but the lines out the door tell you all you need to know about the scoops inside. Crowd favorites include Vanilla MSG and Peanut Butter Puppy Chow. 

bebezitomn.com, 704 W 22nd St, Minneapolis

Sonny’s Ice Cream Cafe (Opera) 

Sonny Siren’s family came from Cambria, Italy, to Minneapolis, where he started a malt shop in 1950 and remained a daily presence until his passing in 2007. Today, stepping into the cafe feels like teleporting to a little Italian piazza, where the breeze carries in arias from some far-off place. Opera — a combo of vocals, orchestral music and drama — took off in Italy in the 17th century, shortly after the equally important rise of Gelato. Using natural ingredients and no artificial dyes, Sonny’s crafts over 1,000 flavors of gelato, ice cream and dairy-free sorbet each year. Sonny’s has a dynamic range, from the soaring sweetness of Organic Raspberry Sorbet to the melodic Organic Cucumber Pinot Grigio with a hint of fresh Mint. Take your treats to a petite table on the ivy-covered patio and pretend you’re somewhere far, far away. 

sonnysicecream.com, 3403 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis

La Michoacana Purépecha (Pop) 

I dub La Michoacana Purépecha pop in part because it offers 50 flavors of popsicles, or paletas. The foundation of paletas is fresh natural ingredients, whether fruit-based like the shop’s melón con chile and papaya, or cream-based like the coffee and chocolate offerings. This neighborhood spot and the lineage behind it are also just super popular. The La Michoacana ice cream shop concept originated in Michoacán in southern Mexico, but now alludes to a huge network of shops, typically family owned, across Mexico and the United States. The folks behind La Michoacana Purépecha immigrated here from Michoacán and now have five locations around the metro (with a sixth coming to Rochester soon). The Lake Street location, accented by bright colors hinting at what lies within, is a headquarters of sorts. Inside you’ll find, of course, paletas, as well as 30+ ice cream flavors, aguas frescas, mangonadas, and more. 

lamichoacanapurepecha.com, 701 E Lake St, Minneapolis

Nelson’s (Classical) 

Typically, an orchestra consists of around 70 to 100 musicians, and a typical Nelson’s serving contains about that many scoops. A few friends can easily share the “kid’s size”. You could load up on one flavor, but may as well pick a few. After all, an effective orchestra entails all different families of instruments coming together in concert. It kind of feels like Maple Nut would be a woodwind right? With French Silk Pie holding down the string section, Butter Pecan as brass and Vegan Lemon Sorbet on percussion. Bring your cash (no card payments) and smash 'em all together.

nelsonsicecream.biz, 454 Snelling Ave S, St. Paul

Nellie’s Ice Cream (Psych rock)

Since Nellie’s took over the old Izzy’s Ice Cream location, it has been dishing out ice cream sandwiches of epic proportions. After you make some difficult choices between 16 ice cream flavors, 10 homemade cookie varieties and an array of ”roll-in” toppings, Nellie’s creates a toasty exterior by panini-pressing the whole thing. The end result is a creamy colorful journey — best soundtracked by the psychedelic sounds of the Byrds or Jimi Hendrix. Though the inside of Nellie’s is pretty nondescript, the sugar rush may take you to an altered state of consciousness. 

nelliesicecream.com, 2034 Marshall Ave, St. Paul

This feature is part of The Current’s 89 Days of Summer series, helping you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities.