The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor

November 2025: While visiting La Crosse, my husband and I stopped at the Pearl to grab a coffee and some locally made chocolates for dessert. The chocolates were amazing! I especially loved the toasted coconut truffle. The locally brewed coffee was great and we enjoyed sipping it inside while we smelled the fresh waffle cones being made next-door. Highly recommend stopping here!

Three stores in one: cafe, ice cream shoppe and confectionery. The flow does feel like walking through three different spaces Affogato is pictured and it was truly delicious! Also tried drip coffee and mint chocolate chip / cookies & cream waffle cone. Did not get any candies but they have fudge, truffles, turtles and lots more. You’ll definitely find something for a sweet tooth

When we come in town we always make a trip here. Some really good ice cream. love their plain chocolate ice cream. We always get candy from the shop. There is a coffee side too. Love the layout and history to this place. The staff is always so nice.

Great freshly made ice cream! Waffle cones also freshly made, sundaes & banana splits! Nice atmosphere! Lots of choices for other sweets!

This place is a local treasure. Visited on 6.28.2025 and 6.29.2025 and enjoyed arguably the most delicious ice cream I have ever had. Their Turtle and Salted Caramel along with Vanilla and Mint Chocolate Chip flavors are AMAZING! The staff here is friendly and AWESOME! Highly Recommend to anyone traveling through La Crosse.

Nestled in a charming town by the serene banks of the Mississippi River, there’s a true gem that’s been a local treasure for almost a century—The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor. If you find yourself in the area, this is an absolute must-visit spot, not just for the stunning views and welcoming town, but for an ice cream and candy experience that transports you back to a sweeter time. Its quaint and well-decorated interior invites you into a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere where you can feel the warmth of tradition in every corner. The charm is not just in the decor, though—it's in the taste of every delicious treat they serve. What truly sets this place apart is their amazing variety of ice cream. From classic favorites to adventurous seasonal options, there’s something for every taste. However, there’s one flavor you absolutely cannot miss: lavender honey. It’s a delicate, floral delight that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tried—creamy with a hint of lavender that’s both soothing and refreshing. It’s the perfect balance of unique and comforting, and it’s worth the trip on its own. If you're not a fan of ice cream, the candy selection is just as delightful. So whether you’re passing through or planning a leisurely day in the town, make sure to stop by this timeless ice cream shop.You won’t regret it! It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a living postcard—a small-town gem that’s as sweet as the treats they serve.

Wonderfully delicious ice cream and huge selection of other palate pleasing treats served and managed by attentive and very fine friendly staff. The venue is a wonderful treat in itself! You haven't been to La Crosse until you've visited "The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor"!

We love this place. It’s a must stop for anyone who loves ice cream, particularly those with kids. We most recently had two waffle cone ice cream flights for about $16. We also love the attached sweets shop and coffee house.

Wow! Excellent experience. They make their waffle cones in front of you. The flavors are mostly standard, but they have a few that are kinda proprietary. The product itself is freshly made, and not overly sweet. Also, it's not frozen rock hard. Worth having to stand in line for a few minutes. I suggest the short walk to the riverfront afterwards.

Clearly a well loved spot, the line was out the door on a summer Friday evening. It was well worth the wait though!! The waffle cones are made in house and smell amazing, definitely opt for a couple scoops in one!

What a cute spot!!! I love the vibe of this shop. The smells, and all the sweet options are amazing. The workers were all friendly and the waffle cone was yummy. I got the blue moon which was a Wisconsin special but I'm not sure what was so special about it. It was good... and then I got the seasonal rotation of banana with golden Oreos and I really liked that more than I thought I would!

Fantastic flavors including seasonal flavors. The Carmel apple cheesecake ice cream in October was incredible. Great place to get off your feet and relax a bit after walking. Worth a stop.

Had a craving for ice cream, and found this old time parlor. Great building and interior antique decoration. Waffle cones made on site, plain chocolate dipped and with sprinkles. Had a chocolate dipped waffle cone with snapping turtle, excellent! My wife has a plain cone with cherry chip and Irish cream, also excellent. Server was very pleasant. Can't go wrong with. Take your cone and walk around the riverfront.

This is a solid ice cream parlor located in downtown La Crosse. High quality ice cream and very good service. They have a great candy store there too. I would definitely recommend this ice cream shop!

The smell alone deserves 5 stars!!! Their ice cream however is also very delicious and deserving of a high rating. I got their cookie dough, which was smooth and sweet. I should have tried their waffle cones since they smelt sooooo good but I cheaped out and went with the cake (which was still really good). The inside is very cute and feels very authentic.

Great place to pick up your sweets and close to the convention center. Greeted by a friendly young lady who eventually upsaled me to the 3 piece fudge deal!! Looked great but they are a gift for my wife as I'm not a fudge fan! I did order the triple dipped malted milk balls. They were very tasty, in fact I could not tell the difference between theirs and my favorite candy store in Milwaukee, Kehrs. I must stop

On a hot day, make sure you're wearing a hat or have a way to cool down while waiting in line at Pearls ice cream parlor, classic design and delicious creations. I had the coconut caramel that is very creamy and well made. The classic strawberry milkshake was made to order old fashion way and it was delicious. They're are making ice cream the right way and carrying on the old fashion parlor customer service and great ice cream desserts.

Wonderful.....presidential! I have many haunts when it comes to find confectionery in the outer lying regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, all inclusive, and this tops them all in my humble opinion.

One of those places that locals and tourists frequent in mass populations! It was very good, but I have to say that, for me, it was more about the reputation, than the product itself. It is the thing to do and was good.

Delicious ice cream! Wonderful service and great attentiveness to the crafting of cones. Ambiance is historic and nice. A true staple to downtown La Crosse!

Excellent ice cream, creamy, artisan, and not overwhelmingly sweet. They make their waffle cones right in front of you and the aroma is heavenly. Very charming place with lots of goodies.

Ice cream was delicious. I had cappuccino Oreo. I've never had that flavor before and it was a much lighter coffee than an espresso version. I would come back for just this flavor. Also the inside is very cute just like a old time shop. The staff took our order and gave us ice cream very quickly.

I love this place. it is like a throwback soda fountain in many respects where one can order of ice cream, and other sundries. One of my favorites is a chocolate soda which, you can't get at very many ice cream parlors. Certainly worth the stop to get some ice cream of some chocolates.

Cute historic building, efficient ordering, many flavors of delicious homemade ice cream (they also have rainbow sherbet.) Dish, waffle cones, cake cones, malts, banana splits, etc. Be prepared for a long line but it moved fast.

Amazing home made ice cream.... Really good flavors... service is fast and people are very friendly....

We fill our kids Easter baskets with their fun handmade candy. Friendly service, nice variety of old fashioned candy and a wonderful variety of fudge.

Very busy place with a great candy store adjacent. Ice cream was just what we needed after exploring La Crosse in the hot summer sun. The ice cream and candy shop had an old fashion vibe which worked. Seating is tight inside and there was a wait. But overall good ice cream and candy at downtown prices.

When we got here the place was busy, and they were short staffed. My family got a coconut caramel, sea salt caramel, and chocolate peanut butter cup with snapping turtle. The guy doing the register had no personality, but I think he was just mad because he was overwhelmed with hardly any help. The girl scooping ice cream even looked overwhelmed and lacked a smile as well. However, when I thanked her, she just stared at me, which is why there was a loss of a star. The tables were clean, so that is a plus. The flavor of the ice cream was good, and if I lived in La Crosse, I would probably come back. Glad we had the experience of trying this place.

I don't know how anyone could not give this place a 5-star review. It's an absolute gem of a place from a bygone era of old-fashioned ice cream shops. The store itself is three stores in one: a candy shop, connected to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, connected to a coffee shop, all in a vintage location. The flavor, consistency and mouthfeel of the ice cream was head and shoulders above any store-bought stuff, but you would expect that. Lots of stuff to look at and purchase. Do yourself a favor and stop on in if you are looking for a sweet treat while in La Crosse.

The ice cream overall is pretty good. I like Ranasins in south side better because it is all homemade. The people working there are okay but they always ask you for a huge tip but if you don't tip then they won't give you a lot of ice cream. It is always crowded inside and there is limited seating outside and good luck trying to find parking. It is also important to note that their menu is always changing. Overall I would go there to get ice cream plus the president Biden loves it.

Great ice cream , a just visit if you are in the area. Very interesting decor of vintage items from the area. Great staff.

A classic old fashioned ice shop and candy shop right next door. I have been here twice now and I can say with confidence they have the best waffle cone I have ever had. The ice cream is on point and the line moves pretty fast so that's a plus. If you find yourself in town make sure to stop on in and grab some candy next door as well!

We booked the pearl catering cart for our wedding. The pearl was very communicative and easy to work with. We received so many compliments on the ice cream! Great alternative to cake!

I LOVE the Pearl. Unfortunately the idea that Biden stopped by and had an ice cream on his way thru La Crosse almost ruined it for me, but I didn't let it. The ice cream is perfect and not as sickeningly sweet as other ice creams. The triple dipped malted milk balls are insane! And the prices are right! They even have a "baby cone" for $1.50 which is the size of a golf ball. Perfect for the babies! The only issue I had during my visit was the floor was nasty. There was a line out the door and once inside, the floor was sticky and visibly dirty. I'll be back though!

I got a vanilla cone and it was good! Loved the old-timey charm of the establishment.

This place was delicious! We made it a point to stop here on our road trip (first time but it was recommended to us). It was absolutely worth it! The place is in the downtown area, so lots of other places to eat/drink/etc. We grabbed dinner and then went to The Pearl. I had a turtle sundae...I'm not exaggerating when I say it was the best I've had in my life! It was rich, delicious, and perfection. My kids each had a scoop with some toppings, though neither was able to finish it. I also loved the candy shop next door where I purchased some salt caramel chocolates. It reminded me of the candy store in the original Willy Wonka movie. Highly recommend this place!!

I got the cappuccino Oreo and it was so good! You can taste the cappuccino and the Oreo bits added some nice texture. I like the fact that you pay first and get your ice cream - that way you don't have to hold your ice cream while scrambling in your purse trying to get your wallet to pay. I say this because some places have you pay at the end, after you get your ice cream.

Yummmm......I am so sad that I will not be going here again since my son graduated last week . We made it a point to go every time we visited him. Great little hometown icecream parlor, and if you are lucky you will visit while they are making their famous waffle cones. The aroma is almost too good to be true. Icecream is awesome and worth the price, which is kinda high but oh well....

My whole family votes - 5 starts!! A good variety of flavors with cups or cones. There are different cone options including gluten free! It took about 15 minutes to get our order, but there was a long line so it made sense. We ordered a hot fudge sundae, caramel coconut, strawberry and cookie dough! Personally, cookie dough was my favorite! Cookie dough flavored ice cream with choco chunks and cookie dough pieces! Very cheap price for delicious ice cream!

COVID visit- stopped by this weekend. Have never been and heard rave reviews of the old school vibe. They are not allowing patrons in and have to order at a the window where they have a protector and slide your money ( preferably card) under a little slot for payment. You wait outside and they come out of a side door and yell the name of who ordered the ice cream. Staff wear masks and gloves. Scoops are extremely generous and on a hot day I would suggest a cup over a sugar cone as the ice cream melted fast. Can't wait to come back again post pandemic to check out the inside

" Very Unique Place For A Snack & Dessert " We went to the Pearl Ice Cream Parlor & Confectionery on a friends recommendation. Pearl Ice Cream Parlor has many different varieties of Ice Creams for your pleasure. The inside of the store is so pretty as it is decorated like an old Antique Shop. They also serves many different kinds of candy, some of which I had not seen since I was a kid. They also have coffee and different types of Phosphates. We had to wait a while to get served so be prepared to wait a while.

Awesome little place that looks just like it might have almost a century ago. Smell of waffle cones being made freshly as you walk in, fresh creamy ice cream and pleasant servers behind the counter. Only criticism is very dirty tables outside and a stinky garbage can in the middle of the outdoor eating area but great overall!

Excellent, premium hard ice cream in an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. They make their own waffle cones and the scent wafts throughout the place.

It's a fabulous family atmosphere and a great place for a treat!!! The ambiance is worth it. It reminds me of an old fashion ice cream parlor.

So much ice cream, chocolates, vintage candies! Ahhhhh takes you back to the good old days of life! A true pearl of Lacrosse!

A must stop for every trip to LaCrosse. Don't forget to try the Blue moon ice cream. A childhood favorite that I still get as a middle-aged woman.

A LA CROSSE GEM Anyone who asks where to go in La Crosse is usually told to make at least one trip to The Pearl. The Peterslie family is lovely, the place is charming and the ice cream is delicious. Bonus that the employees are all sweethearts. You may have to wait in line but it gives you the opportunity to meet some nice La Crosse people while you visit. The dark salted caramels and caramel ice cream are my favorites.

Amazing ice cream. You can sit and eat inside, there is a table for 4 and a table for 2. Friendly staff. Wait times can get long on busy days downtown though. If you catch yourself by here on a slower day definitely stop by.

My favorite ice cream spot! My husband, daughter and I have fond memories here and always love to pick our favorite flavor out when we go and it's always amazing. We like the different cones to choose from and dining options, not to mention it's right downtown to enjoy the atmosphere. Oh lots of sweets and chocolates to buy too!

Pearl street confectionary, Pearl Street Ice Cream Shop, and Pearl Street Coffee Shop are all connected as well as a Wisconsin gift shop. All worth a trip downtown La Crosse. They have different ice cream flavors, but my fav is vanilla. The pearl vanilla was creamy, and oh so good. I was briefly discouraged with the limited seating inside the ice cream parlor until I learned there was plenty of seating in the connecting candy and coffee stores. $5 minimum purchase required if payment is made with a debit/credit card. Enjoy!

one of the best ice cream around, period. I always love coming back to the pearl. beings back college memories

I came here during the pandemic so... they have a Nice outside window where you can order up anything I got a milk shake and boy was it thick! My only complaint is the to go cup they give you is pretty flimsy and at a $6.25 starting price and more if you pick a speciality ice cream give me a sturdy cup! This parlor is so cute and they have good quality of product, check it out and support our small businesses

This place is amazing!!! I can't wait to go back when I'm in Lacrosses again. The salted caramel ice cream is so good.

Adorable and delicious! Great stop in downtown La Crosse for a sweet treat, coffee or the famous ice cream. Friendly staff make the experience all the better in this 1930's ice cream shop.

We had just eaten dinner at a restaurant up the street and were walking back to our hotel. We noticed a line out the door of this place and knew we had to stop. In the interest of full disclosure I had planned on stopping for some ice cream as I knew Pearl was just down the street. There is something about standing in line at the ice cream parlor that makes you feel like a kid. Its also kind of a good thing that there was a line so we could check out their menu of flavors. We were kind of full after dinner but as we say in our family, we can always find a crack to fill with some ice cream! So as we are getting closer to the front of the line I can see their menu and prices. One scoop of ice cream is only $2.75. If you would like a second scoop, its only .75 cents more! Ok check that, we'll find some more cracks! I love options and I love a deal. Two scoops it was going to be. I selected my favorite flavor which is salted caramel and then thought I would try the white chocolate raspberry. My wife ordered the chocolate peanut butter and mississippi mud. They scooped up some generous scoops and we went outside to enjoy our treat. Less than $7.00 for 4 scoops of ice cream. I really love Izzy's in Minnesota however $7.00 at Izzy's is like a scoop and a couple of Izzy scoops. The ice cream was very good. I would agree that Izzy's ice cream is a bit creamier. The salted caramel had lots of caramel but could have used a little more salt. I really like the white chocolate raspberry. The chocolate peanut butter had big chunks of peanut butter which is always nice and the mississippi mud was also full of chocolate goodness. We easily found the room needed to finish our ice cream. Pearl makes some really good ice cream and when you can get 4 scoops for less than $7.00, how can you pass up that deal!

Don't be fooled by the random reviews by tourists and teenagers. There isn't much competition in our small town so while the workers are overall nice, the person in front of me in line was told by the cashier that the scooper didn't want to scoop a certain flavor as it took more effort so she steered the customer to another flavor the customer didn't want. The flavor selection is good but honestly, it's very basic WalMart quality ice cream but the "aura" around this place is what keeps new people (tourists) coming. Went to the confectionery and had a similar experience with fairly low quality chocolates at premium prices. The best thing? Multiple people (including me) tipped at both places and no one ever got a thank you from anyone. Definitely not worth the premium prices but if you have no other options, it's worth a try.

Pearl is a near hundred year old quintessential ice cream parlor. It is complete with drug store candy you can not find anywhere else, and the original fixtures. It is located in downtown La Crosse, only a block away from the arena. They serve ice cream, phosphates, candy, and coffee. Parking is street or public garage only. Pros: Nostalgia. This place has been maintained very well. Even the booths are the original wood. The ice cream flavors are a good variety and the quality is excellent. The variety of candies in the drug store section was expansive. Cons: The wait. While the line we were in moved quickly, no one should stand in line for 20 minutes for ice cream in November. It was apparent that the ample staff were confused and not well trained. When we asked questions to the cashier, he had no idea of the answer. Additionally, while it was great to see a large variety of 40s and 50s era candy, we were not happy to see an ad and selection of candy cigarettes, considering how many children were browsing the section. Overall, this is a wonderful little ice cream parlor and a great stop on a day trip in La Crosse.