Introduction to North Loop's Sweet Scene
Ice cream North Loop enthusiasts have several fantastic options to satisfy their sweet cravings. While the neighborhood has one standout shop directly within its borders, the surrounding areas offer even more delicious destinations just a short walk or bike ride away.
Top Ice Cream Spots Near North Loop:
- Treats - Cereal-infused ice cream, waffles, and boba tea (located in North Loop)
- Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café - Homestyle ice cream with vegan options and locally roasted coffee
- Minnesota Nice Cream - Soft serve with edible glitter and extensive dietary accommodations
- Dream Creamery - Chef-driven flavors from the team behind Travail restaurant
Minneapolis' historic Warehouse District has transformed into a vibrant neighborhood where food culture thrives. The North Loop's industrial charm provides the perfect backdrop for unique dessert experiences, from nostalgic cereal-infused creations to artisanal flavors crafted by professional chefs.
As one local business owner noted about expanding to the area: "A lot of our regulars actually live in North Loop and were just saying... you guys would do amazing in North Loop." This customer demand reflects the neighborhood's growing reputation as a food destination.
The ice cream scene here goes beyond traditional scoops. These shops offer everything from Instagram-worthy soft serve topped with edible glitter to gourmet ice cream sandwiches made with scratch-baked cookies. Many also cater to various dietary needs, including vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options.
Treats: Cereal-Infused Creations in the Heart of the Neighborhood
The best Ice cream North Loop experience might just be found at Treats, where childhood breakfast meets frozen dessert magic. This playful shop has turned a simple concept into something extraordinary: what if cereal milk became ice cream?
After building devoted followings across the metro, Treats finally listened to their North Loop customers. "A lot of our regulars actually live in North Loop and were just saying, 'Trisha and Minh, you guys would do amazing in North Loop,'" the owners shared. That customer demand proved spot-on.
This marks the third location for the growing Treats brand, with plans for a fourth at Mall of America. The North Loop shop brings their signature cereal-infused ice cream, fresh waffles, and colorful boba tea right to the heart of the historic Warehouse District.
The magic happens when familiar breakfast cereals like Lucky Charms or Froot Loops get transformed into creamy ice cream flavors. Each scoop delivers that nostalgic cereal taste with delightful bits of crunch mixed throughout. It's like enjoying Saturday morning cartoons all over again, but better.
What to Know About Treats
Treats opened its doors on North 2nd Street with a grand celebration on Saturday, March 16th at 11 am. The shop occupies street-level space in the new Intersect apartment building, tucked conveniently behind lululemon. This prime location makes it perfectly accessible for residents of Apartments Near Downtown Minneapolis.
The menu extends beyond their famous cereal ice cream. All-day waffles pair beautifully with scoops, while their boba tea selection includes traditional milk teas, refreshing fruit options, and smoothies. Tapioca pearls and other toppings let visitors customize each drink to their taste.
The shop accepts modern convenience with payment options including Square, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. They even accept CashApp and Afterpay for added flexibility.
Every flavor choice brings back those carefree breakfast moments - Cocoa Pebbles turning milk chocolatey, or Froot Loops creating that rainbow-sweet finish. The result is ice cream that tastes both wonderfully familiar and completely new at the same time.
Worth the Short Trip: Delicious Ice Cream Near North Loop
While Treats serves as the heart of the ice cream North Loop scene, some of Minneapolis' most beloved frozen dessert destinations sit just minutes away in neighboring areas. These artisanal shops in NE Minneapolis and surrounding neighborhoods offer extraordinary experiences that make the short journey from Minneapolis Lofts For Rent absolutely worthwhile.
These local artisans have transformed Minneapolis' dessert landscape with their dedication to quality and creativity. Many have earned nominations for local "Best Of" awards, reflecting their commitment to exceptional flavors and customer satisfaction. Each shop brings something special to the table, from chef-driven innovations to Instagram-worthy presentations.
Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café
Just a stone's throw from North Loop at 306 E Hennepin Ave, Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café welcomes guests into a cozy atmosphere perfect for both morning coffee runs and late-night ice cream cravings. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 6 AM to 10 PM (closed Mondays), this versatile spot serves homestyle ice cream alongside locally roasted coffee from Up Coffee Roasters.
The café shines with its commitment to inclusivity, offering both dairy and vegan ice cream options to accommodate different dietary needs. Their seasonal flavors like Ube, Matcha, Coconut Cream, and Lemon Rhubarb rotate throughout the year, keeping the menu fresh and exciting. The Matcha flavor even doubles as a "superfood" option for those looking for a superfood option.
Beyond ice cream, Fletcher's partners with local businesses to offer delicious pastries, including croissants from Vikings & Goddesses Pie Company plus cinnamon and caramel rolls. Their Belgian waffle and ice cream combinations create perfect pairings, while specialty coffee drinks like Ube-style coffee and Rose Pistachio Latte add unique twists to traditional café offerings.
The convenience factor makes Fletcher's even more appealing - online ordering through Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café allows for easy pickup or delivery, making it simple to satisfy those ice cream cravings from the comfort of home.
Minnesota Nice Cream
Located at 807 Broadway St in NE Minneapolis, Minnesota Nice Cream has mastered the art of Instagram-worthy soft serve topped with edible glitter and creative toppings. Open Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 9 PM and weekends from 1 PM to 9 PM, this shop takes dietary inclusivity to impressive heights.
What sets Minnesota Nice Cream apart is their comprehensive approach to dietary restrictions. Their Vanilla and Chocolate soft serve flavors are lactose-free, while vegan options made with oat milk satisfy plant-based preferences. Even more remarkable, all their ice cream is completely gluten-free, egg-free, and nut-free, creating a great option for people with multiple allergies.
The shop's catering services extend their reach beyond the storefront. Their cute ice cream truck can transform corporate events, weddings, or neighborhood gatherings into memorable occasions. For larger events, they offer ice cream sandwich catering featuring homemade sandwiches with scratch-baked cookies, including options like Chocolate Chip Cookie sandwiches with various fillings and specialty vegan varieties.
Their festival presence at major events like Rock the Garden and Eaux Claires Music Festival demonstrates their popularity and quality. MN NICE CREAM truly delivers on both visual appeal and taste while accommodating nearly every dietary need.
Dream Creamery
Dream Creamery brings serious culinary credentials to NE Minneapolis ice cream, created by the acclaimed chef-owners of Travail restaurant. This connection immediately signals a commitment to chef-driven flavors and premium ingredients that lift ice cream from simple dessert to culinary art.
Their handmade ice cream features both reimagined classics and unique combinations born from extensive professional kitchen experience. The 'Everlasting Strawberry' exemplifies their attention to detail - strawberry ice cream with fresh strawberry jam swirl and a hint of lemon creates layers of flavor that showcase their sophisticated approach.
Dream Creamery offers an interesting dual concept by also serving smash burgers alongside their frozen treats. Their 'Dream Burger' features a quarter-pound patty smashed into griddled onions, topped with American cheese, Dream Sauce, garlic-dill pickles, and raw onions on a milk bun. This savory option creates perfect balance for those wanting both dinner and dessert.
The shop's thoughtfully sourced ingredients reflect their fine dining background, ensuring every scoop meets restaurant-quality standards. Online ordering through Toast makes takeout convenient, while physical and digital gift cards provide easy gifting options. Dream Creamery stands as proof that professional culinary training can transform even familiar desserts into extraordinary experiences.
The Scoop on Ice Cream North Loop: What to Expect
The ice cream North Loop scene represents something special in Minneapolis' dessert landscape. These shops create more than just frozen treats - they build community connections through innovative flavors, thoughtful partnerships, and genuine care for their neighbors.
The success speaks for itself. North Loop Minneapolis Restaurants earned nine first-place finishes in recent reader polls, showcasing the neighborhood's culinary strength. This excellence extends naturally to the dessert scene, where creativity meets quality at every scoop.
Living in this historic Warehouse District means being surrounded by the perfect blend of old-world charm and modern innovation. The same spirit that transformed industrial buildings into stunning Downtown Minneapolis Lofts now drives the neighborhood's sweet revolution.
Finding the Best Ice Cream in North Loop for Every Diet
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the local ice cream scene is how seriously these shops take dietary inclusion. Gone are the days when having food restrictions meant settling for sad, flavorless alternatives.
Vegan options shine at several locations, with Minnesota Nice Cream leading the charge with their creamy oat milk flavors. Non-dairy choices extend beyond just vegan options at Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café, ensuring everyone finds something delicious.
For those dealing with lactose sensitivities, Minnesota Nice Cream's vanilla and chocolate soft serve flavors are specially crafted to be lactose-free. But they go even further - all their ice cream is gluten-free, egg-free, and nut-free, creating a welcoming choice for people with multiple dietary concerns. Their detailed allergen guide provides complete transparency about ingredients.
This comprehensive approach means families and friend groups with different dietary needs can all enjoy treats together. No one gets left out of the fun.
More Than Just a Cone
The ice cream North Loop experience goes far beyond traditional scoops. These creative establishments have reimagined what dessert can be.
Ice cream sandwiches take center stage at multiple locations. Fletcher's offers classic versions, while Minnesota Nice Cream lifts the concept with scratch-baked cookies and creative fillings. Their vegan and gluten-free sandwich options prove that dietary restrictions don't mean sacrificing indulgence.
Waffles paired with ice cream create the perfect temperature contrast at Treats, where cereal-infused flavors meet warm, crispy waffles. Fletcher's also masters this combination with their Belgian waffle offerings.
The boba and ice cream pairing at Treats brings an unexpected twist to the dessert scene. Traditional milk teas, fruit teas, and smoothies complement their unique cereal-infused creations beautifully.
Coffee and dessert combinations reach new heights at Fletcher's, where locally roasted coffee from Up Coffee Roasters pairs perfectly with seasonal flavors like Ube-style coffee or Rose Pistachio Latte alongside their ice cream.
Dream Creamery takes a bold approach by pairing gourmet ice cream with savory options like their signature smash burgers. This chef-driven concept from the Travail team creates a complete dining experience that satisfies every craving.
These innovative combinations showcase the culinary creativity flourishing in the neighborhood, making each visit an trip for the taste buds.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Loop Ice Cream
When exploring the ice cream North Loop scene, several questions naturally come up about what makes these local spots so special and what treats await.
What makes the ice cream shops near North Loop unique?
The ice cream scene around North Loop stands out for several delightful reasons that make each visit feel special. Chef-inspired flavors lead the way, with Dream Creamery bringing the culinary skill of Travail's chef-owners to every scoop. This means flavors like 'Everlasting Strawberry' with fresh jam swirls and hints of lemon that simply can't be found at typical ice cream parlors.
Cereal-infused concepts add a playful twist that brings out everyone's inner child. Treats transforms beloved breakfast cereals like Lucky Charms and Froot Loops into creamy ice cream experiences that are both nostalgic and surprisingly sophisticated. The result is treats that look as good on Instagram as they taste in real life.
The focus on local partnerships creates a true community feel. Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café works with Up Coffee Roasters for their beans and Vikings & Goddesses Pie Company for pastries, creating a network of local businesses supporting each other. This collaboration means higher quality products and a stronger neighborhood connection.
Perhaps most impressive are the highly accommodating dietary options available throughout the area. Minnesota Nice Cream ensures all their ice cream is free from gluten, eggs, and nuts while offering both lactose-free soft serve and vegan oat milk flavors. This level of inclusivity means everyone can join in the sweet fun.
The Instagram-worthy presentations featuring edible glitter, unique toppings, and creative combinations make these shops destinations in themselves. But it goes beyond just ice cream - Treats serves waffles and boba teas, Dream Creamery offers smash burgers, and Fletcher's operates as a full café experience.
Are there vegan or gluten-free ice cream options available?
The ice cream North Loop area truly shines when it comes to accommodating different dietary needs. The local shops have made inclusive menus a priority rather than an afterthought.
Minnesota Nice Cream leads the charge with their comprehensive approach to dietary restrictions. Their vanilla and chocolate soft serve flavors are naturally lactose-free, while their dedicated vegan flavors made with oat milk deliver the same creamy satisfaction as traditional dairy options. Even better, all their ice cream avoids gluten, eggs, and nuts completely. Their ice cream sandwiches come with vegan and gluten-free cookie options too.
Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café also accepts the vegan community with their non-dairy ice cream selections alongside their traditional homestyle flavors. This means groups with mixed dietary preferences can all find something delicious to enjoy together.
The commitment extends to creative options like Milkjam's Cherry Cola sorbet, which offers a refreshing vegan alternative with an innovative twist. These aren't compromise flavors - they're thoughtfully crafted treats that happen to meet specific dietary needs.
This dedication to inclusivity means that whether someone needs completely vegan desserts, gluten-free treats, or allergen-free options, the local ice cream scene has delicious solutions waiting.
Do any ice cream shops offer catering for events?
Local ice cream businesses understand that frozen treats can transform any gathering into something memorable, which is why many offer excellent catering services for events both large and small.
Minnesota Nice Cream brings the party directly to events with their adorable ice cream truck that can be booked for corporate gatherings, weddings, and neighborhood celebrations. Their full-service option includes bringing freezers and staff to serve guests, while their pickup option works perfectly for more casual gatherings. Their catering specializes in homemade ice cream sandwiches made with scratch-baked cookies and various ice cream fillings, including those vegan and gluten-free options. They maintain a 50-sandwich minimum for both pickup and full-service catering.
Fletcher's Ice Cream & Café also provides catering services, making their homestyle ice cream and café treats available for special occasions. This means events can feature the same quality and local partnerships that make their regular service special.
These catering options add a sweet, memorable touch to any event while ensuring guests enjoy the same high-quality ice cream creations that make the ice cream North Loop scene so special. The convenience of professional service combined with locally-made treats creates the perfect ending to any celebration.
Find the Best of Minneapolis Living and Dining
Exploring the ice cream North Loop scene is just the beginning of what makes this neighborhood such a special place to call home. The North Loop has transformed from a historic industrial district into one of Minneapolis' most sought-after communities, where old-world charm meets modern convenience at every turn.
The Hall Lofts Apartments perfectly captures this unique character. These thoughtfully renovated warehouse apartments blend the neighborhood's rich industrial heritage with contemporary amenities that today's residents love. Features like in-unit laundry make daily life easier, while the building's historic bones tell the story of Minneapolis' manufacturing past.
For those with furry companions, the Pet Friendly Loft Apartments welcome both residents and their pets into this vibrant community. The neighborhood's tree-lined streets and nearby riverfront trails provide perfect spots for morning walks or evening strolls.
The dining scene here consistently earns recognition from local publications, with North Loop establishments taking home multiple awards year after year. This culinary excellence extends far beyond frozen treats - though the ice cream North Loop options certainly add sweetness to the mix. From intimate bistros tucked into converted warehouses to busy cafes serving locally roasted coffee, the North Loop Minneapolis Restaurants create a food lover's paradise.
Living in this Neighborhood means having access to Minneapolis' best attractions within walking distance or a short bike ride away. The Mississippi Riverfront beckons with scenic trails, while the downtown core offers theaters, sports venues, and endless entertainment options.
The change of historic buildings like former candy factories and turn-of-the-century warehouses into modern living spaces shows how the North Loop honors its past while embracing the future. This thoughtful development approach has created a community where industrial heritage and contemporary lifestyle blend seamlessly together, making every day feel like an trip in urban living.
