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Ice Cream and Dessert Spots Worth the Drive in South Florida

From Robert Is Here's fruit shakes in the Redland to Jaxson's old-fashioned parlor in Dania Beach, South Florida's ice cream stops are a sweet way to explore the region.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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Ice cream may be the most reliable family outing in South Florida: it works in the heat, it works after school, and it gives you a reason to explore a part of the region you have not seen. The stops below are real favorites across Miami-Dade and Broward, each with its own character, and together they make a pleasant tour of the area.

In and around the Redland and Homestead

Robert Is Here has been a Redland landmark for decades, a fruit stand famous for its tropical milkshakes and the mangoes, lychees, and other fruit grown nearby. It is the kind of stop that turns a drive into an outing, with the farmland itself as the setting. For families exploring acreage and rural living, it is also a taste of what the area is about.

Miami's classic parlors

In Little Havana, Azucar Ice Cream makes tropical and Latin flavors that draw lines of regulars. On Miami Beach, The Frieze Ice Cream Factory has been scooping homemade ice cream and sorbet since 1987, with flavors like Key lime pie that feel made for the city. Wall's Old Fashioned Ice Cream in Miami keeps the old-school parlor tradition alive for families who want the classic experience.

Newer favorites

Fireman Derek's in Wynwood puts a playful spin on the scoop shop, and Morelia Gourmet Paletas brings artisanal Mexican paletas, fruit popsicles that are lighter and refreshing in the heat. Both are the kind of places that make children ask to go back, which is the highest compliment a dessert stop can earn.

Broward stops worth the drive

Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor in Dania Beach is the region's most famous old-fashioned parlor, with a menu as big as its reputation and a dining room that feels like a step back in time. The Magic Cow in Davie offers a family-owned parlor atmosphere, and Wilton Creamery in Wilton Manors rotates small-batch flavors that give regulars a reason to return. Any of the three makes a fine destination for a weekend drive.

A sweet way to test a community

A dessert run is also a quiet way to test a community before you move: the parking lot, the line, and the conversation tell you more about a neighborhood than a map can. Nanci knows the routes and the stops across every area she serves, and she is happy to point you toward the ones worth the drive.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.