Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream

Sparks Ice Cream is my go to treat spot in Columbia. The green tea and honey lavender are my forever favorites so creamy, refreshing, and unique. I also love that they offer pints to go. Perfect for keeping joy in the freezer. I always appreciate how the staff takes time to offer little tasting spoons. They have never been rude, not once, and I know it takes real patience sometimes. Thank you all so much for being kind and thoughtful. The vibe is cozy, the service is genuine, and every visit feels like a small celebration. Absolutely worth every scoop.

I lived in Columbia years ago, but whenever I'm in town Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream is a must! Their flavor combinations are incredible. They do have vegan and dairy-free options available daily.

I love their selection of vegan ice cream! I can enjoy one of my favorite treats again!!! So yummy!

Sparky's is a place you go for the experience as well as the ice cream. If you haven't been to Sparky's, you haven't truly seen Columbia. Several ried and true favorites (Cake Batter is my #1) as well as plenty of nowhere else taste options.

My niece and nephews work here and told me to go check it out when I was in town..It is the best little shop! So many flavors. I have been several times now. Great prices too. I love how the flavors are different than other places, more unique flavors to choose from.

I love the ice cream! I have been a regular for a while! However, the last handful of times I have been, the employees are rude specifically to me. Not sure if I did anything… At first I thought it was just in my head until it kept continuing. For example, I’ll ask for something and they say they are out of it when they very clearly still have it. Another example, I ordered the same thing as my friend last night and my cup was less than half full while his was above the rim. There have been many more bad experiences and I’m just confused by the treatment. Otherwise, great ice cream.

We were traveling and someone suggested we make a stop here and I'm so glad we did!! The menu was phenomenal and the staff was so welcoming. We had our little doggie and the outside seating made it an ideal place to visit. The vegan ice cream options were delicious!

Stopped by Sparky's on the way back to St Louis, and this place does not disappoint! Ordered two scoops chocolate & coffee topped with walnuts and whipped cream. Talk about yummy! Love the LGBTQIA+ friendly atmosphere. Sat outside on this Sunday afternoon enjoying the sights and weather. It's a perfect little ice cream shop! I'll definitely come back again when going to Columbia, MO!

Stopped by for an ice cream treat after a long hot day. We couldn't find any parking so I jumped out of the car to get us some ice cream while hubby circled around the block. I was lucky there was no line up and was served quickly. The place is small with a few tables inside and out. I got one scoop strawberry in a waffle cone and ine scoop of the The King in a cup. We both agreed that the ice cream was really tasty. Nice and creamy and full of flavor. Great spot for homemade ice cream.

I visited Sparky's with a few friends of mine, the sweet cream ice cream was delicious and I love the feel of a homemade ice cream shop it was very cute and cozy. It's also in a perfect location just a few blocks from campus. However while I waited in line, maybe 5ish mins the amount of ice cream the workers kept eating with their little spoons was off putting. I observed two out of the three people working take a bite of ice cream four or five times each. Just not something you want to see while ordering your own ice cream.

A fantastic local ice cream spot. Sparky's was bursting with pride during Pride Month, and had a great variety of ice cream as we rode our way through Columbia. We had to try their dill pickle flavor because they donate a dollar to a charity for anyone who does. It literally tastes just like pickles, so I wouldn't order it, but it's a fun novelty. They had a "Pride Cake" flavor that I opted for that was really good if not extremely heavy-handed on the sprinkles. I can handle some additional sugar, especially when I'm logging lots of miles, but damn I couldn't finish this one. The friendly server hooked us up with gigantic scoops as well. They also had outdoor seating which was a spot to take a break and gameplan what we wanted to see as first-time Columbia visitors. Highly recommend this spot, and would definitely make it a priority to get back here if I was in the area.

A fun and tasty part of the downtown Columbia food scene. We started going to Sparky's when the original pup was still around. With funky decor (where do they find all those paintings?) and helpful staff always willing to give you a taste of a new flavor, this is a fun place for a cool treat! Come in a try one of their original flavors or a classic. The cinnamon is amazing and not found many places.

Homemade ice cream flavors you'd never think were good, but they are! They also have great customer service and prices. I love Andy's and I know they have custard but I'm telling you, this is better on the palate and pocket! My only con: it's hard to make a choice between which flavors.

We found this gem (thanks to Yelp!) on a baseball weekend in Columbia. We went here 2 nights in a row. Expect a line out the door, but it's worth the wait!! Both my husband and son got the Oreo Speedwagon twice, and said it was better than a shall-not-be-named very famous ice cream shop in KC. What?!? The cinnamon flavor was to die for, and even the standard mint chip was so good, I almost got it twice. Seriously Heaven on earth. And while you're in line, check out the odd and funky art on the walls. This is now going to be a must-stop anytime we're driving from KC to ST Louis.

Ice cream was yummy. It would be helpful to update the list of flavors. The one by the front door was disappointingly outdated and thus the flavors we walked in wanting---- weren't available. The flow of the store would operate better if there was signage above to know what flavors are available. It does not. So when there is a line, such as when we were there- you had no idea what the options were until you were directly in front of the glass. Which obviously slows the line down as decisions can't be made until you are being served.

flavors were ok but all 3 people behind the counter were unfriendly and had no personality they seemed pissed off and made us feel unwelcome couldnt crack a friendly smile or show appreciation for our business place was dirty

Traveling through Columbia as we move across the US & my husband's uncle suggested this place. The ice cream is SO good & my vegan husband had choices as well! As a Texan, I highly approve of their butter pecan flavor. All the workers were wonderful but Bailey stood out as an exceptional & sweet employee. She's a gem! Highly recommend this place.

Great place! I went with friends and it was awesome, plenty of unique flavors to enjoy!

Unfortunately, the ice cream itself did not live up to the hype. The consistency of the ice cream itself was way too soft and the flavors, though interesting, had really no depth of flavor you'd expect from a local spot. We had the Oreo/Coffee ice cream and butter pecan. The Oreo/Coffee wasn't sweet/rich enough the butter pecan had too much of a buttery taste. Customer service was great, the ambiance was cool with the eclectic art and the portion sizes were generous.

I'm not truly an ice cream person but I usually make exceptions for places that make flavors that I'm comfortable with and has nice smooth texture. I feel like Sparky's definitely hit that mark. I am an out of towner visiting and stopped by with a friend (note this is my second time) and I'm a big sucker for any flavors with honey in it and the honey lavender was spot on. It has a soft creamy consistency and the lavender was so subtle and doesn't overwhelm you.

I got a hankering for some ice cream, so instead of going to a popular chain creamery or buying a pint from a grocery store I figured I'd give this hole-in-the-wall a shot. I definitely got a warm greeting from one of the young ladies working behind the counter, which was pretty nice. Now I know this isn't Disneyland, but the young lady who serving me might not have been having the best day and it showed in her flat/semi-cold demeanor. I was told that I can try any flavor, so I tried the brown sugar pop tart. It tasted like cinnamon cereal ice cream, which is very yummy, but I opted for a cup of the blueberry muffin ice cream. If I had noticed that I was buying half melted ice cream then I probably would've chosen something else. I'm not a fan of melted ice cream, but the flavor was perfect! Whoever is doing the mixing and churning in the back really got this one right. Although this wasn't the greatest experience, it wasn't too deterring to keep me from returning in the near future. If you're in Columbia, this little shop is worth visiting.

Sparky's is a small cute ice cream palor. The walls are decorated with various random pictures. They have various ice cream flavors. We were able to sample a few for free. I got the "sm'oreo", a mix of s'mores, orea and marshmallows which was delish. I also added the sweet scream. The flavors I selected were very good.

Oreo Speedwagon are the only two words you need to know to have an amazing experience at Sparky's.

Expensive! I prefer Buck's homemade ice cream on MU campus. It's made by MU students & much cheaper. But just as good!

Great Oreo Speedwagon (coffee ice cream with Oreo). Kids size was a perfect amount for me.

First time here, but have to say it was very good. The ice cream is soft enough to be like soft serve or custard, but it's old fashioned homemade ice cream. A great place!

The cinnamon ice cream was delicious! We also tried the salted caramel pretzel which was good too. Went on the 20th anniversary so the line was out the door but the service was quick! Waffle cone was delicious. Loved the artwork on the walls.

Very nice selection of standard and off-the/wall flavours. The Honey-Lavender is a special favourite, in a waffle cone no less.

This place is worth a visit! They always have a variety of different flavors that they change frequently. I am a fan of the animal cracker funfetti and the rose pistachio was pretty good as well. It is nice that they change the flavors so often. After all the saying goes, variety is the spice of life!

I LOVE SPARKYS. We stopped on a 13 hr road trip and I picked this as a place for my family to stop and refuel. At first they weren't sure because they were very busy at the time but I assured them it was probably worth it, it absolutely was. They have a ton of flavors and are often swapping a lot out which makes it amazing to try new flavors. I got the Ube ice cream which had been something I've been dying to try and it was amazing. It was so good we stopped on our way back home. There is art covering all the walls and a bunch of crocheted animals and figures in the windows, make sure to keep the door closed;).

I was impressed with Sparky's. The flavors were rich with an interesting variety to choose from. I especially enjoyed the consistency, which was smooth and slightly soft. I strongly recommend the white Russian. I also took advantage of their offer of a free children's scoop with the purchase of a regular and appreciated that.

Right downtown Columbia, best homemade ice cream in the city. We came in on a rainy January day, and there was a steady flow of customers! I got a "big" two scoop - blueberry and coffee oreo. Both were absolutely incredible. My boyfriend got a kiddie sized, and he thought it was perfect for $2. They also have adult flavors, which are fun! Music was blaring a little too loud for a ice cream shop. They also have a lot of fun pictures up, but not too appropriate as they probably have a lot of kids come through.

Delicious and super affordable ice cream! Was the perfect day to come here after dinner. The selection is great and you can ask for samples. No line which was great. Will definitely be back!

Reasonably priced ice cream for any time of the day. A place to bring your family/kids and take a stroll through downtown or if it's not a busy day/time there is limited seating inside and outside of the establishment. My favorite ice cream from there was the Red Velvet Oreo, but unfortunately has not been back for awhile so I don't go frequently. BUT, this location is still worth stopping by on a regular basis or to see what's available to try!

This is some amazing stuff! They have a good selection of homemade ice creams; some regular flavors and some a little different. Staff is great, too! Give them a try.

If you're looking for a local ice cream shop, then this is the place! I could already tell what I was getting into when I saw my favorite flavor, mint chip, wasn't green, meaning they actually make all of their ice cream in house without all the artificial colorings and flavors! To make it even better, I'm hoping to see non dairy options available soon to really enjoy the shop. Grab a cone or cup on a nice day, you won't regret it!

The Ube ice cream is amazing! I fell in love with this flavor living in San Francisco for the last decade, I came back to Columbia, immediately missing all the wonderful food choices of SF, and randomly asked one day at Sparky's (while ordering an amazing cookies and cream ice cream cone) if they ever carry Ube. To my surprise they said they did on occasion! I left a note to have them contact me next time they did and sure enough, within a week, I had a gallon of it in my freezer! Just as good or better than Mitchell's Ice Cream in SF, which is unbelievable!

They sparked my hunger for this ice cream. I dream of this cream and it makes me so mean when I seen that I am I am 5 hrs. away!!!

Great ice cream. Really nice people who work here. Good prices. Only alittle bit of space to sit inside or out, but worth a visit to downtown Columbia.

Yummiest ice cream! It's so soft and very reasonably priced. It's also soft and not gritty, very creamy.

Really great Ice cream, my favorite being the sweet potato ice cream during thanksgiving in autumn and Lavender Honey all year but I will say all year round their flavors are great and unique to them only in CoMo. The staff treat their customers very well with recommendations and assisting people in what they're looking for. I'd say 5/5 due to wanting to support the small business in continuing to give customers great ice cream.

The coffee Oreo ice cream mix is the best ever. This is a place to take visitors when you're downtown shopping.

Love it all. The ice cream, especially the green tea ice cream, and don't forget the art!

My boyfriend and I love Sparky's! He likes the more traditional flavors and my favorite is Lavender Honey. I'm lactose intolerant, but you'll still see me suffering through a kid's size cup outside because it tastes so good. Just tried the London Fog last week-- it honestly rivals the Lavender Honey for me. It reminds me of visiting my childhood friends because they'd always want to go. Columbia seemed so amazing compared to Jefferson City then. Even the ice cream was better. I do want to add one more thing. When I've been later at night and there's just one worker, they seem overwhelmed. I really think scheduling two workers would be ideal so two customers can be handled at a time. One can look at flavors while another is cashed out. Moms with their five kids usually have no idea what they want when they get there, but you can't help that. Lol. And I really do appreciate the wearing of masks inside.

We went here looking for dairy free ice cream (they did had sorbet but no dairy free ice cream.) The sorbet flavors were about 4-5 names each and very confusing.. so we kindly asked the girl behind the counter what the flavors were and she replied "idk look" and pointed to the names and was incredibly rude Never coming back

Amazing ice cream, the vegan options are greatly appreciate and delicious as well. The shop is very cute.

Extremely weird interior. To explain, the walls were covered in art that was in such bad taste I almost decided not get ice cream out of pure. But, the ice cream was actually really good in the end.

I got the cookies and cream - it was just alright. There were some other flavors that looked pretty good and they had a nice variety of toppings. They're in a convenient location to grab a scoop and walk around though.

I am vegan so I have not tried their ice cream, but I've heard great things!! I got their sorbet and wasn't too impressed.

I have stopped at Sparky's over the years when passing through Columbia. It's just a fun little ice cream spot in the heart of downtown. Fun to get a shake and walk through some of the shops. The cinnamon shake is my favorite. Very, very cinnamon-y and not like candy, like the spice that you actually bake with. The mango ice cream doesn't work (sorbet would be good) but the ice cream is flat and has a bad after taste. There is usually a line. If most are ordering cones it will go fast. Shake orders, not so fast. This visit the attitude of the employee helping me was salty. She acted as if my shake order put her out and then was not happy when she tried to ring me out when only 3/4 of those in my party had been helped. I know this is just one person on one day but, not good. And I don't know what happened in her day I just selfishly wanted my shake with a smile. The art work on the walls is definitely interesting. Be sure to check it out.

Ah this ice cream is sooo good!! I totally dig the vibe too. Support this fantastic local business - they have the best ice cream in town!

Amazing ice cream! Was extremely busy when our family went but helped us quickly. Would definitely recommend.

This ice cream is to die for. Cake batter is chocolate (kids adored it), I couldn't decide on the strawberry lemonade sorbet or the marshmallow salted caramel so I got both. Rich flavors, rich rather than diluted by ice or milk. I actually loved it so much that I'm going to take my husband back to introduce him to it tonight(we are from out of town). Don't waste your time on something corporate. Go here where they are so obviously passionate about ice cream!

I could literally rave about Sparky's all day...their ice cream is absolutely fantastic. It always has such an amazingly creamy and smooth texture that perfectly fulfills my craving for ice cream on a hot summer day (or, honestly, even during a snowstorm in the dead of winter). The staff is spectacular and the paintings really give the place a unique and spunky vibe. And they have such a great selection of flavors, ranging from your traditional chocolate and vanilla to the most outlandish combinations that will satisfy your sweet tooth and inner child. To make it even better, their options regularly rotate, allowing you to try an array of new and unique flavors every season. I almost always go to Sparky's whenever I'm visiting a friend in Columbia, and my go-to order is a regular cup with half coffee and half lavender honey. However, I also regularly have their green tea, mango, blueberry, and sweet cream, and their Cinnamon Toast Crunch -- as well as their various alcoholic varieties -- are phenomenal occasional indulgences.

Great ice cream - lots of flavor choices. If the line is out the door, don't worry, it moves fast and is worth any small wait. The staff works quick and is very friendly.

Best ice cream in town! There are even alcoholic treats for the 21+ crowd (White Russian is great!).

Always the best homemade ice cream in town. Just love the variety of flavors available and their alcoholic flavors are always my favorite. Very fun, lovable atmosphere. Love coming here for a treat at any time of year.