Mike's Ice Cream

Such a fun little ice cream parlor right in the heart of downtown Nashville! 🍦 The vibe is super nostalgic — bright, cheerful, and exactly the kind of spot you want to duck into after walking Broadway. I tried the Blackberry & Cornbread ice cream (yes, cornbread!) and it was absolutely amazing — sweet, creamy, and a little Southern twist that totally works. I also got the Rocky Road, which was rich and chocolatey with the perfect crunch. My boyfriend had a double espresso shot and said it was fantastic — strong and smooth. No wait at all when we went in, and everyone inside was super friendly. Our ice cream server, Chris, was so nice and made the whole experience even better. If you’re exploring Nashville, this is definitely a must-try dessert stop! Grab a cone, snap some pics, and enjoy — it’s one of those local spots that totally deserves more love! 📸🍨✨

Friendly service 👍 I got a blackberry cornbread it was pretty good with the crunchy parts of cornbread. My cousin got an Elvis sundae and the cup broke, he wasn’t gripping it too hard according to him but be careful 👀

I’m a regular on Broadway, so I’ve come to Mike’s often for sweet treats. The coffee, though, is less than stellar, the atmosphere is dingy at best, and the employees are hit-or-miss — some are amazing, others straight-up rude. Last night was my final straw when an employee gossiped to her coworker about my order (black coffee with white chocolate flavor). MA’AM — it’s not my fault your cream and sugar are self-serve! You want me to pay $5 for a ‘medium good’ coffee and basically make it myself? If you want a hit-or-miss experience on 2nd Ave near Broadway, Mike’s is it. (They also misspelled “Snickers” on the menu multiple times.)

The ice cream is good, but not the "best ever" nonsense people write, lol. We ordered the blueberry cheesecake and Tennessee Fudge. The latter was very good with caramel-like ribbons of fudge well-mixed into the vanilla ice cream. This tasted like elevated cookies and cream. I wanted to love the blueberry cheesecake, but we only had one cheesecake piece in our entire scoop. Bummer! Furthermore, this flavor had ice crystals forming in it, so I'm not sure how long it had been sitting, but it wasn't fresh. Our time here was a welcome, cool, and tasty stop to get out of this crushing heat wave, and I'd come again, but claims of best ice cream ever are overblown.

I've visited many dessert spots in Music City, but Mike's Ice Cream Shop on 2nd Avenue isn't just a must-try for the exceptional scoops; it’s the non-stop dedication of their staff that truly sets them apart. This team has mastered the art of service, making them, without a doubt, the best servers in Nashville. While the homemade ice cream flavors—like the famous Sea Salt Caramel or the unique Blackberry Cornbread—are rich, creamy, and worth every single calorie, the true secret ingredient here is the people. Every single member of the team is genuinely warm, attentive, and incredibly patient, whether you're a tourist overwhelmed by the sheer number of delicious options or a local stopping in for a quick fix. On a recent visit, the line was long, but the servers handled the rush with grace and enthusiasm. They offered samples with a smile, joked with the kids, and seamlessly managed a complex order for a family in front of me. They create a welcoming, almost nostalgic atmosphere in the charming, exposed-brick shop that makes you feel like an old friend, not just another transaction. The speed and accuracy of the service, paired with a team that clearly takes pride in what they do, transforms a simple ice cream run into a genuine pleasure. If you're craving a sweet escape in Nashville, go to Mike's. You'll leave with a perfect cone and an even better mood, thanks to the kindest, most professional servers around. This is a five-star experience from the first greeting to the last bite!

Service was incredible!! Devinney and Gabriel were phenomenal and super helpful. Best service I’ve had at an ice cream place. Try the Grasshopper if you like Mint Chip!! It’s to die for. 20/10. I’ll definitely be back.

Absolutely amazing! Mike’s Ice Cream has quickly become my favorite spot in town. The ice cream is incredibly creamy, the flavors are unique and delicious, and you can really taste the quality in every scoop. The staff is super friendly and always happy to offer samples or recommendations. The shop is clean, welcoming, and has a fun, local vibe that makes every visit enjoyable. If you’re looking for a place that consistently delivers great service and unforgettable ice cream, Mike’s is the place to go. Highly recommended!

5-Star Review: Mike’s Ice Cream 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you’re craving the best ice cream in Nashville or a family-friendly dessert spot downtown, Mike’s Ice Cream is the ultimate destination. From the KIMS team at Sunlight International Music, we’re excited to share our transformed experience at this iconic Nashville gem—a story unforgettable flavors! 🍫 Handcrafted Perfection: A Symphony of Flavors The dark chocolate-covered espresso beans are a revelation—bold, velvety, and meticulously crafted. Each bite underscores the dedication to premium, locally sourced ingredients. Don’t miss their signature small-batch ice creams, artisanal teas, and specialty coffee blends—each a masterpiece of flavor and quality. 👏 A Team That Elevates Every Experience The staff radiates warmth and professionalism. Their attention to detail and passion for creating a safe, inclusive environment make this a top-rated dessert destination in Music City. Perfect for families, tourists, or solo treat-seekers! 🌟 Why Mike’s Ice Cream Stands Out - Owner-Driven Integrity: The hands-on approach ensures every guest feels like family. Locally Loved Recipes: Indulge in flavors crafted with Nashville pride—think homemade vanilla bean and seasonal specialties. Vibrant Atmosphere: A must-visit downtown Nashville spot for sweet escapes and positive vibes. Pro Tip: Pair their espresso beans with a scoop of creamy salted caramel ice cream—a Nashville dessert pairing you’ll crave daily! From KIMS at Sunlight International Music, we applaud the team for turning feedback into excellence. Mike’s Ice Cream isn’t just a business it’s a Nashville institution where every scoop tells a story! #MikesIceCreamNashville #BestIceCreamNashville #DowntownNashvilleDesserts #FamilyFriendlyNashville #CustomerServiceGoals #ArtisanalTreats #NashvilleFoodie #MusicCityEats SEO Endorcement: This review targets high-value keywords like “best ice cream Nashville,” “family-friendly dessert spot downtown,” and “Nashville dessert pairing” to dominate local searches. Ideal for travelers and locals seeking top-tier sweets with soul! 🍦✨ Visit Mike’s Ice Cream for a taste of Nashville’s sweetest redemption arc—you’ll leave with a smile (and a craving to return)! 🌟

The ice cream was very good and the service was great . We will be back . Nice ambiance.

Tried pistachio ice cream, mint chocolate, and coffee. The pistachio wasn't that good. The coffee was pretty good, and the mint was 1/2 melted (but good flavor). The staff behind the counter was nice! I think it just goes to show how old I am, but the location was definitely not where I remembered. I probably won't go back again. It's downtown and just not my vibe (kinda dirty. Bathroom smells) but overall it's just standard ice cream.

People are so nice Samples of ice cream - ice cream is good Ambiance is decent Go here instead of next door

A small store on 2nd street in downtown Nashville serving up house made ice cream. The birthday cake & chocolate chips were really good while the coffee needed a bit more coffee flavor to it. The waffle cones are made in house and had great flavor.

While walking back to my car I was craving a scoop of ice cream and let me tell you, I didn't know what Tennessee fudge was but it might be one of my new favorites. So delicious!

This is one of the best ice cream shops. They make unique ice cream sandwiches for you. You can pick the top which can be a chocolate chip cookie or brownie. You can choose your flavor of ice cream and the toppings you want with it. It's a very innovative type of shop. The service here is very quick. The ambience is very local where it feels like you can come here and read a book while you're having your ice cream.

Great choice on a hot day! (Or cold for that matter)... friendly staff too. If you're near make a stop and eat delicious "homemade" ice cream!

We stopped at mikes looking for some ice cream to finish up our day. Mikes is just off Broadway and currently there is construction going on down this street. Don't let that discourage you. Mikes makes their own ice cream and it's delicious. You can try any flavor before making your decision. We went with chocolate and mint chocolate chip tonight. Both were good but I'd give the edge to the mint. Highly recommended if looking for ice cream when downtown!

Mike's is one of the better ice cream places downtown. Located on 2nd street is this homemade ice cream shop that has plenty of flavors. Their flavors changes from time to time but they have their staple ones. One of their most popular flavors is the White Chocolate Banana Pudding and Tennessee Fudge. I love that they had some interesting Nashville theme flavors when I went, such as their Blackberry Cornbread. Besides just ice cream they also had pastries, bagels, coffees, shakes and sundaes. When I came in, I got a triple scoop with a waffle cone of the pistachio, coffee and white chocolate banana pudding. All of which were delicious, full of flavor, the perfect sweetness and consistency. My husband said the coffee ice cream was the best he had ever had. I really liked their white chocolate banana pudding best. But they were all good. Even the waffle cone was good. It was thin and was crispy and sweet. We paid about $10 for our 3 scoops with a waffle cone which I thought was fair. The staff here were really nice and allowed us to sample as much as we liked. The inside of the ice cream shop is a good size. They have some tables and chairs for you to enjoy your treat.

Delicious ice cream and the coffee shake was scrumptious, too! Great staff. Cute interior. Nice seating.

I was looking for some ice cream in downtown Nashville. I wanted to find a place that had homemade ice cream and was not a chain. I wandered down 2nd Avenue because I have not been down that street yet and found Mike's Ice Cream and Coffee Bar. Not only did they let you sample any flavors, but they gave you a huge spoonful to sample. The service was great. Everything I tried was delicious. I wound up getting a single scoop and they let me mix 2 flavors. I had the white chocolate banana pudding and lemon blueberry cheesecake. It was a huge serving and delicious. Additionally, the shop was cute and clean. The price was great too. If you are looking for an amazing treat just off of Broadway you must stop here.

The ice cream was delicious, slightly too soft however so by the time it's placed on your cone, it is already dripping. So my recommendation to the location would be to lower the temperature of their freezers. The white chocolate mint Oreo was delicious like a shamrock shake, I also definitely recommend the pralines and cream flavor. However, the cake batter was ill flavorful and very plain. The homemade sodas were delicious they have dairy substitutes for your milkshakes. Cookies and cream milkshake was good. They have a vegan vanilla as well. Waffle cone was delicious, however, not made when ordered but possibly that morning? They were out or just somehow didn't have the chocolate dipped waffle cone when I was there. Their one and only bathroom was slightly nasty. When we were there, there was this odd group of 3 30-year-olds, 2 would leave and come back in three times. They seemed to be doing something odd on their computer. They were there for 20 minutes at least- the whole time we were there that is for sure. However, other than them, it seem to be a safe and family friendly location. The seating was clean, wooden and beautiful.

Super yummy ice cream. I got a chocolate espresso malt and it was wonderful! The ice cream was so smooth and creamy. Wasn't busy when I went in, and the employees were very nice.

Really good cold creamy ice cream just a bit off the strip. Very quiet area to enjoy ice cream and get away from the loudness of Broadway for a few minutes. The ice cream flavors were really good, I liked them a lot more than Jeni's on Broadway. The honey pistachio and banana padding tasted like the real thing. Variety of flavor offerings and depth of flavors were really spot on! Service was also super friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend grabbing a scoop after burning your mouth off with some hot chicken.

Homemade Ice-cream, lots of flavors! Wanted something sweet, decided on ice cream walked to the area, there was another ice cream place a few doors down and I couldn't remember which one I intended to go to but I decided on Mike's because of the fun looking exterior. I know I know, it could have been a tourist trap lol, but it wasn't. I couldn't decide what to get so I went with the three scoop cup once I was told I could get three different flavors. Bottom was Honey Roasted Pistachio. I love Pistachio ice cream, it's classic and one of my faves. Figured I'd end on a high if I didn't 100% enjoy the other flavors. Plus they put a honey Roasted spin on it! Middle was Blackberry Cornbread. It was unique and delicious! I had a sample, them I needed a whole scoop. Top was White Chocolate Banana Pudding! I mean one of my favorite desserts with my favorite type of chocolate, how could I say no? I didnt even think to look at the coffee selections or see if they offered any other goodie.. The ice cream was all so yummy! I just wish my stomach would have had room for another scoop or two!

We had to wait over an hour for dinner and we had been wanting to try an ice cream shop in Nashville so we stumbled on Mike's. Next door is an ice cream shop with a flashy sign but walk right past it and come to Mike's! First all, there are places to sit which was the best. Second, we got served immediately and we got samples and the staff was amazing!!! We got chocolate peanut butter ice cream and oh my gosh it was so creamy!! This place was so reasonably priced and the staff was great! Skip the flashing lights and come to Mike's for some good ice cream! No complaints to be had here from our party of 5! Not to mention it was a Saturday night and we got in so easy! Exactly what we needed before a night out on Broadway.

We came here for a quick dessert after our lunch and we saw this place. The place is very clean and is a great vibe in general. The staff were very friendly and gave us our ice cream quick. I had cake batter flavor in a cup and it was very good.

Great ice cream. Great service...but one of the most disgusting public bathrooms I've ever been into. Tampons on the floor, trash bin overflowing, and the lock barely functioned. The Taco Bell's bathroom next door is much nicer. Get your ice cream and go!

Best ice cream I've had in a long time! So many incredible flavors and there's definitely something here for everyone! They're all homemade flavors and each one was so delicious. The service was quick and great! The servers were all so kind, and we went two separate times on our stay in Nashville. The shop looks honestly a little sketchy, and there are a lot of homeless people that congregate there... BUT don't let looks deceive you! It has awesome ice cream!

Great place and options. Good location and and let us try many flavors. Best one IMHO is the blackberry with cornbread which sounds weird but was amazing. Would recommend over many other options on Broadway.

Great ice cream place near Broadway! Kind of out of the way of the hustle and bustle so you can actually street park as well. Stopped in for some ice cream and they had a great selection. The ladies working there were so sweet and let you try as many flavors as you want. They have an assortment of baked goods and cone options but by 11ish pm they were almost totally out of everything so I opted for a double scoop. I tried the Oreo mint and Tennessee overload I think it was called. Both were so creamy and delicious. Great prices as well. Lots of seating inside- but they didn't have any outside.

Amazing ice cream with a huge selection of unique flavors. Got the fudge covered chocolate cookies, nutter butter, mint white choc chip, banana pudding Everything was homemade and they add a lot of textures in every flavor. The fudge covered cookie was the biggest highlight with huge chunks of cookie/fudgey cake? Pro tip 1; grab a single scoop with two flavors. Scoops are huge Pro tip 2: take it outside and walk 2 minutes to eat it by the river More on @midwestmunching on Instagram

SUCH SLAY ICE CREAM!!!!! very high quality. very delish. wowza yowza! this ranks supa high on my extremely competitive favorite ice cream list. go mikes!!!!!!

Nothing less than 5/5 stars for this shop. The homemade ice cream is on full indulgent mode. You can tell that the ice cream maker did not refrain from making the ice cream as flavorful and as fun as possible. The first thing that blew me away was how big their sampling sizes were. We were each given a spoonful of each sample and having eaten dinner right before, we almost felt like the samples themselves were big enough for desserts! But I'm glad that we still proceeded to order. We asked for two scoops and our jaw dropped when the first scoop almost already filled up the entire cup. The ice cream itself is super rich and was not icy at all. I forgot the exact flavor that we ordered but it was the staff's favorite and I could see why. Needless to say, it was a very pleasant experience. Will definitely come back every time I visit Nashville!!

Authentic ice cream and cold / hot brew spot!! Gooo. Parking isn't the best as it's on a busy street. Fast service. Areas to sit. Quiet. Friendly staff and plenty of novelty options.

I am so sad I am from California and don't know when and if I will be back. The cookie butter ice cream was so good, never had anything like that. Never seen that flavor before, and I am a big ice cream lover. The staff was super friendly and recommended other yummy flavors.

The people are great; good tasting ice cream with a generous portion. I can understand that keeping it old-school is a concept, but the place can use a little love.

The ice cream du jour downtown was busy but a tad understaffed, with only two people working. The one who served me got my ice cream, left me to wait at the register a bit to serve someone else, and then asked me how it was despite the fact that it was visibly untouched; she was a tad busy. I used to think understaffed businesses just had owners who were being cheap, but in the COVID era who knows. I might have thought that my flavor choices of chocolate raspberry truffle and mint white chocolate oreo were unique, but I was bemused to read someone else's review where they ordered the same combination. These must be winning flavors. I actually liked the truffle even better than my mint chip but both were abundant in complexity. It was a mild winter day, but I did consider their large selection of specialty hot chocolates as well. They didn't seem to have much in the way of non-dairy frozen desserts, but their beverage selection offered multiple alternative milks so at least there's something if you need. I guess because they're open late downtown they see themselves as a bit of a convenience store as they had Tylenol and a few other random things for sale at the register. It wasn't quite so good that I would rule out ever trying another dessert in Nashville, but their flavor selection is more than the basics and it is good.

With summer just getting started, I had to try one of Nashville's ice cream staples. Mike's Ice cream surely did not disappoint. It's located right in the heart of downtown which I thought was perfect for an after-treat stroll. With dozens of flavors to choose from, it was hard to narrow down which ones I simply wanted to try. The staff was friendly and patient as I sorted through all of the unique options. I opted for a single split scoop of blueberry cornbread and cheesecake. It was the best treat after a long day. Parking here can be tricky given its downtown, but depending on the time of day you might luck up with a park right outside.

I tried the medium Chocolate Raspberry Truffle + Salted Caramel milkshake. It was great. Not too costly

Creative flavors and unexpectedly low prices for a late-night downtown dessert option. My plans to grab a cheesecake at Cafe Intermezzo were derailed with their newly shortened hours, so it was time to try somewhere new for my dessert cravings. I stopped into Mike's and was pleasantly surprised. Ice cream here was very reasonably priced, with a cup at $4.50 for a single and a milkshake for only $6.50. There were 30 flavors to choose from, including some creative selections like blackberry cornbread. I went for the loaded butterscotch, which had a butterscotch ripple and peanut butter. It was salty, sweet and satisfying. I also liked that this place had less of a corporate feel than a lot of the options in the area! My only complaint was that it could be a little bit cleaner, but perhaps that's an unreasonable expectation for a downtown weekend night.

I went here with my family on vacation and it was an amazing experience. Everything is so nice and beautifully decorated and the people are so welcoming and the ice cream is DELICIOUS!!! The service and ice cream was so good that we went here twice. Definitely recommend coming here without a doubt!

Really great ice cream flavors the honey roasted pistachio was my favorite. They have ample seating

If you're looking for a delicious ice cream flavor, I highly recommend trying Mike's white mint chip Oreo - it's fantastic! The mint flavor is refreshing, and the Oreo chunks add a nice crunch.

I was scoping out some ice cream places cause Nashville dealt us some hot and scorching weather! They have a decent assortment of flavours and I got the Tennessee Fudge and Coffee. Huge portion sizes! They were a little understaffed that night and was flooded with orders so we had to wait for awhile. The tables weren't exactly the cleanest given how understaffed they were but I had no issues wiping it down myself. This location is located downtown and was pretty busy when I visited. The streets outside can get a little busy at night (road closures and such) so walking to this location is the best way to get there. They also serve milkshakes and coffee/tea if you're in the mood for something else.

Delicious local ice cream! I tried the vanilla with fudge chunks as part of the food tour (a little local flavor). I can't wait until he opens the speakeasy on the 2nd floor!!

Got a great iced coffee! Friendly staff and the ambiance was wonderful. Ice cream looked amazing! Definitely will go back to try one.

Ice cream is pretty good, but I was horribly embarrassed. I brought 30 middle school kids and chaperones to Mikes from Los Angeles on a school trip. Simple one scoop. Such a large group gave us 10%. Normal. Large profit for them. They were cold, not personable to the kids: "What do you want....here". Counter service. I pay with credit card, and don't leave tip. I never have in situations like that. As she gives me the receipt she says, " Thank you for the generous tip". Embarrassing. Then she told this to one of her "regulars" a big menacing guy with beard who starts berating me in front of my students, using the F word, telling I need to go give her a tip!!!! No student group from the tour company we use will ever use this place again!

Out of everything when we got there. Employees were nice but hard to be an ice cream shop with nothing and they close early

The service is great .the ice cream was delicious .the atmosphere of the icecream shop was chill.

I'm so confused about all the ratings! It makes me doubt what I just tasted but the reality is that this ice cream isn't great. I tried 2 different flavors and both were grainy and the only flavor was kind of sweet. Maybe this goes as great ice cream in Nashville, but grocery store ice cream is better.

Mike's Ice Cream and Coffee Bar serves delicious fresh made ice cream. I ordered the strawberry with a shot of espresso. The espresso was delicious and exactly what I wanted...hot and really strong. The strawberry ice cream was very thick and creamy. It had a delicate strawberry taste with little pieces of strawberries throughout. I also the Tennessee Chocolate flavor. It is their most popular flavor and best selling. It was vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate fudge running through it. The taste was exceptional. The restaurant was messy and it appeared as though little attention is given to wiping down the tables after each guest....or any customer during my visit. The staff was very friendly.

Vacationing in Tennessee and it was a very hot day and as we were walking we stumbled upon Mike's Ice Cream & Coffee Bar. We got a 2 scoop cup with Cake Batter and Blueberry Cheesecake, London Fog Tea Latte, and a Frozen Matcha. The ice cream was rich and creamy and it's all homemade. It was so good that by the time I realized that I forgot to take it picture I had finished it all up. The London Fog Tea Latte was warm and had a nice layer of foam on top. I had asked the young man not to make the drink too sweet and he gave a warm smile and put just the right amount of sweetener. The Frozen Matcha wasn't very flavorful, the matcha taste was very subtle. I had explained that to the young man and he gave us more of the flavor concentrate to add to the drink. Even after we added the concentrate the drink still wasn't to our liking, and despite us going back multiple times to the register explaining that we didn't like the Frozen Matcha drink he always gave a warm smile and apologized. We said that there was no need to apologize since it's not his fault, and he let us replace the drink completely and we got a Strawberry Milkshake instead. The young man had great customer service and was very patient. The ice cream and tea was amazing and the customer service the young man gave us was extraordinary and made the experience even greater.

Ok this place is a little tough to get to since it's in the heart of downtown Nashville- we went on a Friday night- needless to say there was no place to park- so we circled and one ran in! Well worth it!! This was the best ice cream I've had for quite some time- the staff was friendly and helpful- grabbed our treats and was out in 10 min! Creamy and had a great flavor! Definitely would go back next time I'm in Nashville!

While their ice cream is great, what happened to us after the Friday night CMA fest show let out is shamefful. The show ended at 1245am and we got to Mike's door at 1:07. The woman let 3 people in of her same color and then told us 2 white people we couldn't come in since they were closed. We have been going to Mike's after the concerts since 2012 and they always stayed open later on Friday/Saturday night for concert goers to get ice cream. What the worker did to us was shameful by letting the people in front of us go in and then blocking our entry. Thanks Mike's Ice Cream

So many flavours and super cheap and delicious. One scoop was around $4 and the one scoop was really the equivalent of a half pint. It was HUGE. We got the following: -Strawberry sorbet - light, refreshing, not too sweet and perfect for the Nashville heat - Black cherry - there were cherries in every bite, they do not skimp on the ingredients and it was creamy and so rich - Blackberry cornbread - chunks of corn bread and blackberry jam made this so delectable. It was an original flavour and the combo was perfect. Think peach cobbler but even better! We tried Jeni's in the same trip and all three of us preferred Mikes over Jeni's.

Super friendly staff and fantastic ice cream. Atmosphere was good. LONG line, but that's always a good sign you've found a good place. We were originally going to Legendary Milkshakes just up the road, but the lines were so long and the prices were so expensive, that we changed to Mike's ice cream, and it was a GREAT decision. The prices were 50% less, and better reviews.

After dinner last night, my friends and I needed something sweet before heading home for the night. Our server recommending we go to Mike's. We were at the Hampton Social so we walked from there to get ice cream. They have over 30 flavors of homemade ice cream and trust me, none of them disappoint. The staff was friendly and very patient when it came to 7 girls trying to decide what flavors we wanted. I ended up going with a two scoops in a waffle cone, one scoop of pistachio and one chocolate overload. First of all the portions are huge!! I should have stuck with one scoop but I couldn't pick just one flavor of course. The pistachio was delicious, prefect flavor and super creamy with little bits of pistachios. The chocolate overload was good, I will probably do the cake batter next time in place of the chocolate, but I'm for sure sticking the pistachio. Their waffle cones were also delicious and fresh.

food was ok. The service wasn't the best employee didn't listen to my order and got it wrong. Very empty and lonely ambiance.

It was delicious! So glad we decided to step in. Service was phenomenal! Ambiance was awesome too.