5 Top Places for Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt in Bradenton and Sarasota

When the mercury starts climbing, it's always nice to cool off with a chilly treat. Luckily, the Bradenton and Sarasota areas are home to a number of top-notch ice cream and frozen yogurt shops. Here are five places definitely worth visiting:

Sarasota

Abel's Ice Cream
1886 Stickney Point Rd
6.5 miles from Springs at Bee Ridge

Abel's serves The Ice Cream Club® brand ice cream, which was voted Best Ice Cream in Palm Beach Life and South Florida Magazine. They offer 36 unique flavors in cones, cups, pints and quarts to go, but their malted milk shakes and ice cream smoothies are two fan favorites. The ice cream shop receives excellent remarks on its customer service, and Mr. Abel, the store owner, is frequently in the shop to greet customers.

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
2809 University Pkwy
6.5 miles from Springs at Bee Ridge

At Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, customers get to fill their own cup with their choice chosen frozen yogurt flavor or flavors. Choose one, or try five different flavors; it's all up to you. The flavors rotate, so there's always something new to try, and there's a huge selection of toppings, too. Customers always comment how smooth and creamy the frozen yogurt is, and the clean, modern atmosphere makes Menchie's a relaxing place to take a break from your busy day.

Big Olaf Creamery
5208 Ocean Blvd
9 miles from Springs at Bee Ridge

Big Olaf Creamery opened in 1982 and has been offering homemade ice cream to vacationers and locals ever since. Their ice cream is made locally by the Amish, and they use the freshest, best-quality ingredients available. Along with all the classic flavors, they offer unique selections like Kahuna Krunch, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Royal Banana Crunch. Their Florida Sea Sundae, which is topped with hot caramel, hot fudge, and pecans, has earned a loyal following, along with their floats and sodas.

Bradenton

SweetBerries
4500 Manatee Ave West
7 miles from Springs at Braden River

A family-owned store, SweetBerries offers frozen custard ice cream made fresh twice each day. Their slow churning process results in a very dense, thick treat. SweetBerries always offers chocolate, vanilla, and a flavor-of-the-day, so it's worth stopping in often to try their rotating flavors. They also offer a creation that they call a "Concrete," which is their super-thick custard blended with the toppings of your choice.

The Shake Pit
3810 Manatee Ave West
4 miles from Springs at Palma Sola

If you're a fan of milkshakes, you absolutely need to visit The Shake Pit for one of their thick, creamy creations you have to eat with a spoon. With an old-school atmosphere, this ice cream and burger joint will make you feel like you're back in the 1950s. Customers love the mocha and peanut butter shakes, and strawberry has earned quite the following as well.

Do you have a local favorite we forgot to include? Let us know in the comments below!