Local Ice Cream in Medicine Hat
The Hat has some genuinely great places to get a cold, creamy fix, and a few of them have been part of summer here for longer than most of us can remember!
Whether you're heading out after a bike ride along the river, treating the kids after their evening baseball game, or just craving ice cream, you’ll want to hit each of these ice cold gems this summer.
Camp Handcrafted Ice Cream
Camp nails the small-batch, made from scratch, unique flavours that keep us coming back. The kind of place where you stand at the counter reading the board way longer than you planned and still second-guess yourself at the last second.
Their Base Camp is at 1870 6 Ave SW - overlooking the hill at the edge of the industrial area, next to Salta Gymnastics. Did you notice though… their NEW location which they called Camp 2 is right on Dunmore Road SE, next to Cheerleaders Barber. They've also got an ice cream truck that you’re bound to see at community events. Check their socials to see where it's headed next. It's a fully local operation and you can taste the difference.
Cream Cult
This one is a bit of a hidden gem and we genuinely love that it exists. Cream Cult is run by local chef Rebecca Ross, and she's making small-batch, handcrafted ice cream right here in Medicine Hat.
Real ingredients, creative flavours!
You can find Cream Cult ice cream at 7 Rivers Trading Co. or at RJ's Convenience. It's one of those things where once you try it, you wonder how you didn't know about it sooner.
Swirls Ice Cream
Swirls is essentially an unofficial landmark in Medicine Hat. Every local has stood in line under a 38 degree sun just waiting for their spot in line to proceed under the cool shade of the awning, and finally to that never-not-cool mesh screen you get to order from.
Soft ice cream, hard ice cream, arctic swirls (candy+softserve, blended), a laundry list of milkshake flavours, parfaits, banana splits, ice bergs (slush+soft serve)… You get the picture.
And the cherry on top… they've got a mobile truck and ice cream cart available for events. Personal, business, family gatherings, you name it. Reach out to them at management@swirlsicecream.ca if you want to bring Swirls to your next celebration. That's a pretty good party move.
RJ's Convenience
Okay, so RJ's technically isn't an ice cream shop…
But it earns a spot on this list easily. They're kind of the local Southridge ice cream spot! RJ’s has quietly become one of the most loved family owned spots in the city. Dirty soda floats, new flavours all the time, slushes with ice cream… they truly have something new every time you visit.
It's the kind of neighbourhood spot that feels like it's genuinely part of the community. Locals love it, and if you haven't stopped in yet, now you have a reason to! (PS: Their social media shenanigans are sure to make you chuckle!)
Crowsnest Cones - Seven Persons
If you've ever done the drive out on Highway 3, you already know that Seven Persons is a mandatory stop for Seven Persons Premium Sausage. Beef jerky and the last bathroom break for a bit. That's been the way for many years. But now there's a second reason to pull over, and it's a good one.
Crowsnest Cones opened up right beside Seven Persons Sausage and it's been getting a lot of buzz. Soft and hard ice cream, milkshakes, slushies, sundaes, and their own Crowsnest Twirls, it's a solid menu for a highway stop. Honestly it's almost unfair how good a reason it is to slow down and take a break. If you’re heading on a road trip beef jerky and a milkshake are a match made in heaven.
A Big Shoutout to Tino's Milkshakes!
Look, Tino's is a burger and fries place. But you can't write a list about cold treats in this city and leave Tino's off it. They've been around forever! Truly, a Medicine Hat institution and their milkshakes have a loyal following that's been going strong for decades.
Thick, classic, no-nonsense. If you grew up here, you already know. If you're newer to the city, add it to your list!
Medicine Hat has a way of quietly punching above its weight when it comes to local food, and this summer's ice cream lineup is proof of that. Every spot on this list is local, every one of them is worth your time.
Get out there and try them all. You've got all summer.