Amy's Ice Creams

Amy's Ice Creams is Austin's most beloved homegrown ice cream brand, operating since 1984 and now an essential part of any family visit to the city. The South Congress flagship location is the quintessential Austin experience: creative ice cream, entertaining staff, a funky atmosphere, and the energy of SoCo right outside the door.

What separates Amy's from every other ice cream shop is the performance. Scoopers don't just put ice cream in a cup — they toss scoops, flip containers, and work with theatrical flair. The signature crush'n mix technique involves smashing your chosen toppings (Oreos, gummy bears, fruit, nuts) into the ice cream on a frozen marble slab, creating a custom blend that's mixed to order.

Kids are mesmerized by the process and often ask to watch even after their order is done.

The ice cream itself is legitimately excellent — dense, rich, and made in-house with high-quality ingredients. Mexican Vanilla is the flagship flavor and widely considered one of the best vanilla ice creams in Texas. It has a depth and warmth that comes from real Mexican vanilla beans.

Belgian Chocolate is the other staple. Rotating seasonal flavors get creative (lavender honey, guinness, mango habanero) and keep regulars coming back to try the board.

The South Congress location is small, with limited indoor seating and a few outdoor benches. Most families order and walk, eating their cones while exploring SoCo. The atmosphere is casual and loud — exactly what you want when you have sticky-fingered kids. Other Austin locations (6th Street, the Domain, Westlake) offer the same menu if the SoCo line is long.

Pricing is reasonable for artisan ice cream: small scoops are about $5, regular about $7. A family of four can get out for under $25 if kids share or go small. It's not the cheapest dessert in Austin, but it's the most memorable.