The choices of cold treats you can find in Cleveland are endless, like how summer should be. Whether you prefer the classic ice cream cone or the smooth and creamy milkshake, or if you’re facing dietary restrictions and looking for a “lighter” (i.e. less fattening) version of the rich and velvety indulgence, Cleveland has an abundance of choices in a variety of locations. You’re never far from your favorite cold treat.

Photo Credit: Marissa Burke

Best Milkshake:

Mitchell’s Ice Cream
19700 Detroit Road
Rocky River, OH 44116
(440) 333-4563
www.mitchellshomemade.com

Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream is becoming a Cleveland landmark. One of the youngest companies on the list, it has the fastest growing locations. From the west side at Huntington Beach in Bay Village to the east in Beachwood and at the center of Cleveland in Ohio City, Mitchell’s Ice Cream is serving everyone. While it’s known for local ingredients, the summer brings out the best in this store using fresh ingredients and boy, does that make a difference. A strawberry milkshake or strawberry smoothie literally tastes like a strawberry, but better. It’s cold and creamy and so refreshing and satisfying; words alone can’t do it justice. Your brain will remember though and like Pavlov’s dog, you will be salivating every time you see the Mitchell’s Ice Cream sign. Being Kosher certified makes this a family-friendly joint that one and all can enjoy.

Photo Credit: Marissa Burke

Best Gelato:

Presti’s Bakery
12101 Mayfield Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 421-3060
www.prestisbakery.com

Part of eating something delicious should be paired with an overall great experience including the ambiance, the setting and the memories made. Presti’s gelato provides such an experience. Gelato is thought to be superior to ice cream in taste and flavor because gelato itself invokes images of Italy: little cobblestone streets and charming, crowded store fronts. Cleveland’s Little Italy has just that and the best gelato to boot. Presti’s gelato comes in traditional flavors like fruity lemon and seasonal berries or more savory options like cappuccino or hazelnut. Spumoni gelato eaten with a little spoon under the red umbrellas on Presti’s outdoor patio is the way summer should be spent, with friends and good food, watching people stroll through Little Italy.

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Best Ice Cream:

Malley’s Chocolates
Chocolate Shoppe & Ice Cream Parlor
23473 Lorain Road
North Olmsted, OH 44070
(440) 777-4500
www.malleys.com

How do you choose the best ice cream? How can you pick just one that’s superior from all the rest? Age and experience come into play and that’s what lands Malley’s Chocolates in the best ice cream slot. Since 1935, Malley’s has made ice cream and chocolates, and while the chocolates are well known, the ice cream is well loved by children of all ages. As a child, the classic choice is Superman, more modernly known as “super duper,” though you can’t go wrong with classic vanilla and Malley’s homemade hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry on top. Adults are tempted with chocolate quattro, toffee, coffee or any other of a number of flavors from the rich and creamy to the light and fruity. Malley’s makes all of these ice cream flavors into your favorite sundae, float or milkshake and when dining in, salty pretzels are served at every table. Malley’s for ice cream is the best of the best.

Related: Best Pizza In Cleveland

Photo Credit: East Coast Custard

Best Custard:

East Coast Custard
18900 Lorain Road
Cleveland, OH 44126
(440) 331-2609
www.eastcoastcustard.com

The difference between ice cream and custard is day and night. Extra egg yolks are added to custard giving it a richer texture and creamier flavor. While custard stands tall on the East Coast, ice cream normally rules the Midwest. That is until East Coast Custard popped up. Five stores later, and custard is alive and kicking in Cleveland. What makes East Coast Custard phenomenal is the daily change of flavors. So like a kid in a candy store, you’ll have too many to choose from. Custard is served in a cup, on a cone, mixed with seasonal ingredients like lime juice from Florida and topped with whipped cream making it into a key lime shake. Or take any of the custard flavors like butter pecan or vanilla and add your favorite crumbled bits of candy goodness like toffee and get a concrete treat. But don’t let the name fool you. While it may sound thick, it’s from the heavens above.

Photo Credit: Tremont Scoops via Facebook

Best Vegan:

Tremont Scoops
2362 Professor Ave
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 781-0352
www.facebook.com/TremontScoops

Tremont Scoops is a hand-dipped, old-fashioned ice cream shop that makes a few flavors into unlimited options. The ice cream lists more than 20 flavors and that’s not including the smoothies, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches or vegan options. It may seem interesting to add a vegan ice cream to the list of best cold treats, but the vegan flavors are light and refreshing: raspberry pomegranate or lemon. There’s also chocolate tofu ice cream sandwiches, ice cream pops, frozen bananas with nuts or vegan frozen pies. There is no reason to sacrifice flavor with vegan choices and at Tremont Scoops, no sacrifice is ever made.

Related: Best Margaritas In Cleveland

Marissa is a happily adventurous wife, mother and runner. Living in Lakewood, Ohio she searches neighboring communities for exciting food and drinks that are good and good for you on the Cleveland area. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.