9 Arkansas Restaurants Serving The Best Summer Desserts And Cool Treats
A cold dessert can change the whole mood of a summer afternoon. One spoonful, one thick shake, or one towering slice of pie can make the heat feel a little less serious.
That is exactly why these Arkansas restaurants deserve attention right now. Each one brings something memorable to the table without making dessert feel predictable.
Some lean into old-school soda fountain charm. Others build wild milkshakes that look almost too good to touch.
A few have earned devoted followings for recipes that have stayed popular for decades. The experience is part of the appeal.
You might order at a walk-up window, settle into a retro booth, or watch a towering dessert arrive at the table. Every stop gives you a reason to linger.
These are not afterthought sweets. They are the kind of treats people plan around, photograph quickly, and remember long after the very last bite is gone.
1. Loblolly Creamery, Little Rock
Handcrafted ice cream with a serious Arkansas soul is exactly what Loblolly Creamery brings to the table every single day. Located at 1423 Main St in Little Rock, this beloved creamery has earned a devoted following for good reason.
Over 30 handcrafted flavors are made from scratch, and summer is when things really get exciting.
The seasonal selection gives visitors plenty of reasons to check the flavor case before ordering. Key Lime Pie is a crowd-pleaser, featuring tangy lime buttermilk ice cream layered with house-made lime curd and crushed graham cracker.
Feeling adventurous? Colorful fruit sorbets and rotating nondairy creations offer refreshing alternatives that taste like summer in a cup.
Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options are available too, so more visitors can join the fun. Sundaes, floats, affogato, and ice cream cakes round out the menu beautifully.
The toppings and ice cream are made in-house, which adds a special touch you just cannot find at chain spots. The shop itself has a warm, welcoming vibe that makes you want to linger over every single scoop.
Loblolly proves that Arkansas-made ingredients and creative flavor combinations can produce something truly memorable. Stop by on a hot afternoon and let the flavors do all the talking.
You will not be disappointed by a single bite.
2. The Purple Cow Restaurant, North Little Rock
Old-fashioned soda fountain magic is alive and thriving at The Purple Cow Restaurant, and summer is the perfect time to experience it. Located at 4201 Warden Rd in North Little Rock, this spot has built a loyal fan base around one thing above all else: seriously good milkshakes.
Every shake is hand-dipped using creamy Yarnell’s Ice Cream, an Arkansas institution in its own right.
Classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are always on deck. But the menu stretches well beyond the basics with options like coffee, pineapple, cherry, peanut butter, PB&J, and the dreamy dreamsicle.
Want to take things up a notch? Get your shake “loaded” with banana or candy mix-ins for an extra layer of indulgence.
Malts, soy shakes, ice cream sodas, orange freezes, and root beer floats round out the fountain menu nicely. For those who want something beyond a glass, the Big Classic Banana Split is a showstopper.
The Caramel Cashew Coffee Sundae and Fudgy Nut Brownie Sundae are equally impressive choices.
Warm apple pie served a la mode and homemade banana pudding add a comforting, Southern touch to the dessert lineup. The retro atmosphere perfectly matches the nostalgic flavors on the menu.
Everything here feels like a throwback to simpler, sweeter times. The Purple Cow is not just a restaurant.
It is a full-on summer tradition that Arkansas families return to year after year with big smiles.
3. Big Orange Midtown, Little Rock
A milkshake with an entire slice of cake inside sounds wonderfully excessive, and Big Orange Midtown in Little Rock knows exactly how to make it work.
Located at 207 N University Ave, this Midtown favorite is known for bold flavors and creative combinations that go way beyond your standard dessert menu. Summer here is basically a flavor festival.
Its hand-dipped shakes use Yarnell’s vanilla ice cream as the creamy base. Flavor options range from Plain Jane Vanilla and Chocolate Factory to Nuts About Nutella, Dulce De Leche, and Pistachio White Chocolate.
The Arkansas Cold Brew and Caramel Coffee shake is a summer afternoon lifesaver for anyone who needs a little caffeine with their cool-down.
The Strawberry Layer Cake Shake is the real showstopper. A whole slice of strawberry cake gets sunk into a creamy strawberry milkshake with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and pink sprinkles, creating a thick and ridiculously satisfying dessert.
The seasonal Pina Colada Shake features vanilla ice cream, coconut syrup, and pineapple chunks for serious tropical vibes.
Dairy-free and vegan shake options using soy ice cream and coconut whipped cream mean that more guests at the table can join the party. Floats like the Dreamy Creamscicle are refreshing and fun additions to the lineup.
Big Orange Midtown has mastered the art of the over-the-top treat while keeping quality front and center. One visit and you will immediately understand why regulars keep coming back all summer long.
4. The Original ScoopDog, North Little Rock
Frozen custard lovers, your North Little Rock headquarters has been found. The Original ScoopDog at 5508 John F Kennedy Blvd is all about freshly made frozen custard that is richer, creamier, and more satisfying than regular ice cream.
The texture alone is enough to make you want to come back every single day of summer.
The real stars here are the specialty concretes. These are thick frozen custard creations packed with flavorful mix-ins that get folded in right before your eyes.
Flavors like Fudge Brownie, Cherry Bomb, Strawberry Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie, Mint Oreo, Tropical, Rocky Road, and Birthday Cake give you plenty of reasons to return again and again.
Strawberry Shortcake is a seasonal favorite that captures everything great about summer in one delicious cup. Prefer to keep it simple?
Choose a vanilla or chocolate custard base and add single mix-ins like banana, cherries, peanuts, or hot fudge. The flexibility of the menu makes it easy to customize your perfect treat every visit.
Sundaes with creative names like the Good Ole Beagle and Ole Fashioned Banana Split add a fun, playful personality to the menu. Shakes, floats, and seasonal drinks round out the offerings perfectly.
The Original ScoopDog has a loyal local following that shows up consistently because the quality never wavers. Fresh, creamy, and endlessly customizable, this spot is a North Little Rock gem that deserves a spot on every summer bucket list.
5. Spark Cafe Soda Fountain, Bentonville
Step through the door of Spark Cafe Soda Fountain and feel the temperature drop, both literally and figuratively. Located at 105 N Main St in the heart of downtown Bentonville, this charming spot channels serious old-fashioned soda fountain energy with a modern, community-friendly twist.
It is the kind of place that instantly puts a smile on your face.
Hand-dipped ice cream is the main attraction, and the flavor selection is genuinely impressive. Butter pecan, salted caramel, mint chip, and chocolate are always popular choices.
But the signature Spark Cream, a swirl of blue and yellow that is as fun to look at as it is to eat, is a must-try for first-timers. The F150, a bold red velvet ice cream, is another local favorite worth seeking out.
Customization is encouraged and easy here. Toppings like cookie dough, rainbow sprinkles, hot fudge, and mini M&Ms let you build your dream cone or sundae from the ground up.
Tiny cones for younger guests show that this spot genuinely cares about every customer who walks through the door. Gluten-free and some dairy-free options are also available.
Floats, shakes, sundaes, and ice cream sodas round out the menu with classic soda fountain flair. Prices are affordable and portions are generous, which is a combination that never gets old.
Spark Cafe proves that simple, well-made treats served in a welcoming space are all you really need to create something truly special in the summer heat.
6. Charlotte’s Eats And Sweets, Keo
Somewhere between a slice of heaven and a Southern grandmother’s kitchen sits Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets. This legendary spot at 290 Main St in the tiny town of Keo, Arkansas, has earned a reputation that stretches far beyond its zip code.
People drive from across the state just to get a piece of pie before it sells out, and it always sells out.
The pies here are made with hand-rolled dough and fresh ingredients that you can taste in every single bite. Chocolate, Caramel, and Coconut are the everyday staples, each crowned with a jaw-dropping meringue that stands four to six inches tall.
That meringue is practically a landmark in itself. It is the kind of visual that makes you stop mid-sentence and just stare.
Summer brings even more excitement to the menu. Rotating seasonal options include Pecan, Cherry, Lemon, Key Lime, and Blueberry pies that highlight the best of the season.
When strawberry season arrives, the strawberry pie becomes the most sought-after item in the building. Arrive early or risk going home empty-handed and heartbroken.
Cakes are another highlight worth exploring. Almond Chocolate Bar, German Chocolate, Italian Cream, and Strawberry cakes are all made with the same care and attention that goes into every pie.
Charlotte’s is the kind of place that reminds you why homemade always beats everything else. It is not just dessert here.
It is a full-on experience wrapped in flaky crust and topped with clouds of meringue.
7. Dairyette, Mount Ida
Since 1958, the Dairyette in Mount Ida has been doing one thing consistently: making people extremely happy with cold, creamy, old-school treats. Found at 717 Hickory St, this classic diner is the kind of place where time slows down just enough for you to fully enjoy your milkshake.
And trust me, you will want to slow down for these shakes.
Hand-spun milkshakes here are thick in the best possible way. Traditional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cherry, and orange cream are always available.
But the extended shake and malt menu goes further with options like hot fudge, peanut butter, butterscotch, banana, pineapple, caramel, birthday cake, and cherry. There is genuinely something for everyone.
The Arctic Fridge is a blended treat that deserves its own fan club. Candies like M&Ms, Heath, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nestle Crunch, Butterfinger, and Oreo get mixed into a creamy base for a dessert that is crunchy, smooth, and completely irresistible.
It is the kind of thing you order once and immediately start planning your next visit around.
Soft-serve cones, sundaes loaded with hot fudge and whipped cream, and a classic banana split round out the dessert menu with timeless appeal. The Dairyette has survived decades because it never tries to be anything other than exactly what it is: a beloved community staple that serves honest, delicious treats.
Mount Ida is lucky to have it, and summer visitors are even luckier to discover it.
8. Kream Kastle, Blytheville
A classic American drive-in makes ordering something sweet feel especially satisfying. Kream Kastle at 112 N Division St in Blytheville has been delivering exactly that kind of experience since 1952.
This family-run spot has outlasted trends, fads, and chain restaurants because the food is just that good. Locals know it.
Visitors quickly learn it.
The ice cream menu covers all the bases with flavors like Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Cookies and Cream, Colombian Coffee, and Cookie Dough. Milkshakes mirror the ice cream flavors and come in frappe variations that are especially popular on scorching summer afternoons.
Strawberry remains a perennial favorite that keeps people coming back season after season.
Sundaes are where Kream Kastle really flexes its creative muscle. Options include Hot Fudge, Strawberry, Turtle, Mocha Fudge, Peanut Butter, Fudge Brownie, S’mores, Strawberry Cheesecake, and the wildly fun Dino Dirt Sundae.
Each one is customizable with various sauces and toppings so you can build exactly the sundae of your dreams. Root beer and cream soda floats add a bubbly, refreshing finishing touch.
A place that has been serving the same community for over seventy years carries a special kind of comfort. Kream Kastle has earned every bit of its loyal following through consistency, quality, and small-town warmth.
Blytheville residents grow up eating here, and that kind of multigenerational loyalty speaks louder than any advertisement ever could. Summer tastes sweeter when you are parked at a classic drive-in window.
9. The Hive, Bentonville
Upscale does not have to mean stuffy, and The Hive at 200 NE A St in Bentonville proves that point beautifully with every dessert it sends out of the kitchen.
Housed inside 21c Museum Hotel, this refined restaurant celebrates local and seasonal ingredients in ways that feel both elegant and deeply satisfying.
Desserts here receive the same careful attention as the rest of the menu, with thoughtful combinations that make the final course feel like an essential part of the experience rather than an afterthought.
Pecan Pie served alongside buttermilk ice cream is a standout that balances rich sweetness with a gentle tang. Every component on the plate works together like a well-rehearsed team, creating the kind of dessert that makes you pause between bites and appreciate how carefully it was put together.
Daily flavors of house-made ice cream and sorbet keep the selection changing throughout the year. That rotation gives returning visitors something new to consider, especially when seasonal ingredients begin appearing in the kitchen.
Lunch also gives visitors the chance to finish their meal with pecan pie and buttermilk ice cream. The exact dessert menu may change as ingredients and seasonal ideas rotate, which keeps each visit feeling fresh without losing the restaurant’s polished approach.
The Hive is where desserts get treated with the respect they deserve. Its artful, ingredient-driven approach elevates sweet treats into something close to art.
Every bite still feels approachable and completely memorable.