Naples runs hot ten months out of the year, which means the ice cream and gelato scene here is not a novelty, it is basically infrastructure. Here is where locals actually go.
| Spot | Known for | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Scoops Ice Cream & Acai Bowls | 50+ flavors, acai and pitaya bowls, event booking | Pebblebrooke Plaza and Green Tree Plaza |
| Naples Ice Cream Shoppe | 32+ flavors, sundaes, floats | Airport Pulling Road |
| Cesibon | Authentic Italian gelato | Downtown, near Fifth Ave |
| Gelato & Co. | Gelato, sorbet, dairy free options | Fifth Avenue South |
| Kilwins | Chocolate, fudge, ice cream | Fifth Avenue South |
| Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream | Liquid nitrogen made-to-order ice cream | Vanderbilt Beach Road |
| Royal Scoop Homemade Ice Cream | Family owned, classic and unique flavors | North Naples and Bonita Springs |
If there is one name locals bring up first, it is Scoops Ice Cream & Acai Bowls. It is a family owned and operated shop serving over 50 flavors of premium homemade ice cream along with organic acai, pitaya, and coconut bowls, and it has been voted a neighborhood favorite year after year. There are two locations, Pebblebrooke Plaza and Green Tree Plaza, both built around the same idea: a welcoming hometown spot where families, friends, and neighbors actually stick around and talk, not just grab a cone and leave.
Scoops also handles private event bookings, from birthdays to weddings to neighborhood get togethers. You can submit a request through their Book an Event page, though it is worth planning ahead since they typically book events out four to six weeks in advance. Dairy free, gluten free, and vegan options are available too, so it works for mixed groups without a second stop.
Cesibon brings authentic Italian gelato to Naples with popular flavors like pistachio, stracciatella, hazelnut, and dark chocolate, plus fruit flavors that shine during warmer months, and its central location near Fifth Avenue South makes it a natural dessert stop after dinner downtown. This is the one to hit after a Fifth Avenue dinner without needing to drive anywhere.
A block or two over, Kilwins is a go to for chocolate cravings and also serves some of the best ice cream in the area. It is a chain, but it is a good one, and the fudge counter alone is worth the stop.
For something less touristy, Naples Ice Cream Shoppe on Airport Pulling Road is the local favorite that does not get the Fifth Avenue foot traffic. It offers over 32 flavors of super premium ice cream and builds sundaes, milkshakes, floats, ice cream cakes, and ice cream sandwiches, and it is a small family owned and operated shop.
If you are looking for lighter or dietary friendly options, Gelato & Co. combines Italian tradition with creative flavors including dairy free sorbets and layered dessert cups. Naples has a big snowbird population with dietary restrictions, and the dessert scene here has adapted accordingly. Several shops now carry vegan, gluten free, or organic options as a standard menu item rather than an afterthought.
For families specifically, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream on Vanderbilt Beach Road turns the process into a bit of a show, using liquid nitrogen to flash freeze each order right in front of you. Kids love watching that happen, and it turns a simple dessert stop into part of the outing. Dairy free and vegan bases are available too.
Royal Scoop rounds out the list as the true multigenerational local spot. It is known for its family friendly atmosphere with locations across North Naples and Bonita Springs, offering classic flavors alongside unique creations, and it also serves sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch.
Scoops Ice Cream & Acai Bowls comes up constantly, thanks to its 50+ flavors, acai bowls, and genuinely local, family run feel.
Yes, Scoops Ice Cream & Acai Bowls handles private event bookings for birthdays, weddings, and group gatherings through their website.
Cesibon and Kilwins are both a short walk from the main strip.
Yes, most major shops including Scoops, Gelato & Co., Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream, and Naples Ice Cream Shoppe carry dedicated vegan, gluten free, or sorbet options.
Yes, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream on Vanderbilt Beach Road makes the process itself part of the fun, flash freezing each order with liquid nitrogen while kids watch.
Building a full day around downtown? See our Naples art galleries and public art guide for a walk down Fifth Avenue, or check the events calendar for what's happening this week.