The heat has arrived, and it’s time to cool off with some tasty treats! Elevate your game a bit and try one of these amazing floats or sundaes—we promise you won’t be disappointed! Read on for a dozen of the best spots to float on this summer.
Photo: cloud city via yelp
Cloud City Ice Cream
It sounds like a wondrous place, and you’re not far off. Cloud City on Woodstock serves up fluffy scoops of delicious flavors like Sparkle Magic, Totes Ma’Goats, Circus Friends, and Unicorn.
Their magical storefront with unicorn murals and coloring pages is sure to please the under 9 crowd (or, let’s be honest, under 99), and the options of floats, milkshakes and freshly pressed waffle cones are divine.
4525 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Daily, Noon-10 p.m.
Online: cloudcityicecream.com
Cool Moon Ice Cream
If it’s a hot day in the Pearl, you’re probably already cooling off at Jamison Square. That means your a stone’s throw away from delicious treats! They make everything right there in their storefront kitchen, so it’s as fresh as it can get when it hits your mouth. A hot fudge sundae or a root beer float are perfect choices at this classic ice cream parlor.
1105 NW Johnson St.
Sun.–Thurs., Noon- 10 p.m.
Fri. & Sat., Noon- 11 p.m.
Online: coolmoonicecream.com
Tillamook Cheese Factory
If you love something, go to the source. And now with the newly remodeled visitor’s center, just opened this year, there’s a whole new reason to visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory! Get the background scoop on how all your favorite dairy products are made, then relax with a sundae, malt, float, or more of your choice!
4165 Highway 101 N
Tillamook, OR
Daily 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Online: tillamook.com/creamery/index.html
photo: linh v via yelp
Wiz Bang Bar
The makers of Salt and Straw knocked it out of the park with their soft serve bar in the downton food hall, Pine Street Market. Their magic cone sundaes include pastry right in the cone, like homemade brownie bites in the Rocky Road Sundae. For a smaller treat their mini sundaes, and top them all off with hot fudge, party nuts, sprinkles and homemade candies.
126 SW 2nd Ave.
Daily, Noon- 11p.m.
Online: saltandstraw.com/wizbangbar
Rimsky-Korsakoffee House
This cafe could almost be called a relic of Old Portland, but don’t think of skipping it. With almost 40 years of being in business, they know how to please. Cultivating an almost-spooky vibe (ask for the “special” tables), they deliver on the handmade desserts. The Hot Fudge Sundae is a classic winner, or mix it up with the Ship Goes to Pieces Against a Rock (mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream). It’s small place that fills up quick, so get there early!
707 SE 12th Ave.
Sun. – Thurs., 7 p.m. – midnight
Fri. & Sat., 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Online: facebook.com/Rimsky-Korsakoffee-House
Ruby Jewel
The popular ice cream sandwich joint has gone from ranging food cart to 3 whole storefronts in the last years! No one’s complaining, though, as their cookies are big and chewy and their ice cream is delicious– you can’t beat Honey Lavendar or Caramel + Salted Chocolate! Mix your favorite up in a sundae with your choice of topping (like sprinkles, marshmallow fluff, chocolate sauce, and more). You just made summer even better.
West: 428 SW 12th Ave.
Mississippi: 3713 N. Mississippi Ave.
Hawthorne: 4703 SE Hawthorne Ave.
Daily, Noon-11 p.m.
Online: rubyjewel.com
What’s the Scoop?
This magnificent sundae promises 4 whole scoops of ice cream topped with something wonderful called magic dust. If that’s not enough to convince you, you can also make your own ice cream sandwich– it comes on a tray for a build-it-yourself experience!
3540 N. Williams Ave.
Sun.- Thurs., Noon- 10 p.m.
Fri. & Sat., Noon-11 p.m.
0664 SW Gaines St.
Mon. – Thurs., 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fri., 3 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sat., Noon- 11 p.m.
Sun., Noon- 10 p.m.
Online: whatsthescooppdx.com
photo: dan p via yelp
Angel’s Donuts and Creme
This old-school neighborhood shop is mostly popular for donuts, but they also have an almost-secret menu item: the handwritten “doughnut sundae.” You can choose whatever donut you want then add any number of ice cream scoops (pick from over 16 flavors!), and of course all the fixin’s: sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles, fudge, finished off by the perfect cherry on top.
2805 NE Alberta St
Portland, OR
Online: travelportland.com/directory/tonallis-donuts-cream/
Fifty Licks
Scoops, shakes and floats dominate at this ice cream shop, but you won’t miss a sundae one bit. Flavors like Blood Orange Creamsicle, Caramelized Honey, and the adventurous Thai Rice and Cornbread with Honey Butter await! Pick your favorite to mix in a root beer float, or in a creamy milkshake.
2021 SE Clinton St.
2742 E. Burnside St.
Sun. – Thurs., Noon- 11p.m.
Fri. & Sat., Noon- midnight
Online: fifty-licks.com
Back to Eden
You’ll have a choice of nine sundaes from the menu, or build your very own! A favorite is the Columbia River Highway: soft serve, dark chocolate chips, chocolate cream cookies, and Holy Kakow chocolate sauce. Adults might like the kombucha float, or there’s a whole menu of shakes to choose from. Oh, and did we mention? It’s all vegan! And delicious.
2217 NE Alberta St.
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
2880 SE Division St.
Daily, 10 a.m.- 10 p.m.
Online: backtoedenbakery.com
photo: sharyce via yelp
Churros Locos
What could possible make a sundae any better? Adding churros to it! This loco food cart whips up amazing soft yet crispy churros and adds them to their popular sundaes. Topped with sprinkles, whipped cream and your choice of sauce, it’s a winning treat. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook to see where to catch the roving cart next.
Online: churroslocos.com
Cheese and Crack
For the sophisticated kid. Because when you have a sundae in front of you with chocolate ganache, cinnamon butter cracker crumble, vanilla soft serve, and torched housemade marshmallow, you know you’re a special kid. They also have vanilla soft serve with strawberry dust, making one very pretty pink cone. Or try matcha, beet, or espresso! Watch their instagram for specials, like the recent glitter cone or strawberry shortbread sundae.
22 SE 28th Ave.
Daily 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Online: cheeseandcrack.com
photo: tiva via yelp
Dairy Hill Ice Cream
Your neighborhood ice cream joint in Hillsdale, this shop scoops all the local treats, like fresh ice cream from Alpenrose Dairy. Design your own stunning sundae with a range of topping options like gummy bears, waffle cone pieces, crushed oreos or the classic hot fudge. Get your scoop or sundae served in a little baseball hat for extra fun!
6352 SW Capitol
Daily 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Online: dairyhillicecream.com
—Katrina Emery
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