50 Favorite Cool Treats to Beat the Summer Heat

With outside temps steadily rising, now is the time to cool down with your favorite treat. Fortunately, I have you covered. Here are my 50 favorite cool treats in the Little Rock area.

 

Most are sweet, some are not, and a few are for adults only. In no particular order…

1. Concrete at The Original ScoopDog

Hot Take: Like all great concretes, ScoopDog’s come with many different add-ins. The mint Oreo is a wonderful option, as is the strawberry cheesecake.

 

2. Frozen Mojito at Heights Taco & Tamale Co.

Hot Take: Add a pineapple rum or dark rum floater to make things even better.

 

3. Agua de Pina at Rosalinda’s

 

4. Peachy Keet at Petit & Keet
   

   Strawberry Limeade at Burge’s

 

5. Strawberry Limeade at Burge’s

 

6. Horchata at Gorditas Paty
   

   Double Vanilla Ice Cream at Loblolly Creamery

7. Double Vanilla Ice Cream at Loblolly Creamery

Hot Take: Obviously, there are so many great flavors to choose from, but the Double Vanilla is still tops in my book.

 

8. Lemon Icebox Pie at Cinnamon Crème Bakery

Hot Take: You will be tempted by the cinnamon rolls or donuts, but if you see the lemon icebox pie in the case, get it.

 

9. Bubble Tea at Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling Co.

 

10. Coconut Cream Pie at The Whippet

 

11. Milk Shake at Big Orange
    

    Snow Cone at Cajun Sno

 

12. Snow Cone at Cajun Sno

 

13. The Perfect Margarita at The Pizzeria

Hot Take: I do not usually get caught up in braggadocio names for drinks, but The Pizzeria’s margarita is aptly named.

 

14. Pineapple Whip at Arkansas Pineapple Whip
    

    Strawberry Lemonade at Aretha’s Beverages

 

15. Strawberry Lemonade at Aretha’s Beverages

Hot Take: This drink is super sweet, but it is the heavy hand of basil that takes it to another level and adds a nice balance.

 

16. Cappuccino Jar with Yarnell’s at Kemuri

 

17. Raspberry Cream Pie at Trio’s

 

18. Key Lime Pie at Trio’s
    

    Mango Sticky Rice at kBird

 

19. Mango Sticky Rice at kBird

 

20. Affogato at Deluca’s Pizzeria

 

21. 40-oz Beer at Lassis Inn

Hot Take: I’ve only done this once, but watching an iced cold, 40-ounce bottle of beer get yanked out of the freezer is a food memory I will never forget.

 

22. Breakfast Parfait at The Root

 

23. Southern Comfortable at Capital Bar & Grill (temporarily closed)

Hot Take: Xante’s Pear Brandy, lemon juice, Yellow Chartreuse, peach syrup, and a ton of crushed ice make this one of the best drinks in town.

 

24. Gelato at ZAZA
    

    Frosty Mug of Milk at Gadwall’s Grill

 

25. Frosty Mug of Milk at Gadwall’s Grill

Hot Take: While I am lactose intolerant, I still can appreciate when a restaurant serves up a frosty mug of milk.

 

26. Concrete at Shake’s Frozen Custard

 

27. Chocolate Sack at SO

 

28. Old Fashioned at Rock Town Distillery
    

    Pecan Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream at Soul Fish Café

 

29. Pecan Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream at Soul Fish Café

 

30. My Name is Earl Grey at Fidel & Co

 

31. Strawberry Harvest Mint Iced Tea at Abbi’s Teas & Things

 

32. Cold Beer at Crazee’s Café

Hot Take: Fried catfish and a Fat Tire are a match made in heaven, especially at Crazee’s Café.

 

33. Ice Cream Ball at The Pizzeria

Hot Take: The Pizzeria has a second entry on my list, this time with a giant ball of vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate sauce and chopped pecans.

 

34. Tres Leches Cake at Mockingbird Bar and Tacos

 

35. Honey Ginger Lemonade at The Root
    

    Ice Cream at Just Ice Cream

 

36. Ice Cream at Just Ice Cream

Hot Take: This ice cream shop in Benton uses Loblolly Ice Cream, so it obviously makes the list.

 

37. Watermelon Granita at Ciao Baci

Hot Take: Honestly, this is not a dessert that is always on the menu, but if you see it, order it. The watermelon granita is about as cool and refreshing as it gets.

 

38. Blueberry Smoothie at The Humble Crumb Bakery

 

39. Iced Mocha at Mylo Coffee Co.

 

40. Coconut Cream Fried Pie at Morrison’s Fried Pies

Hot Take: The trick here is to pop this fried hand pie into the refrigerator for a few hours. The custard, coconut-laced filling becomes completely irresistible.

 

41. Mexican Coke & Rum at Baja Grill

Hot Take: Simple and brilliant, all Baja Grill does here is pour out a little Coke and add rum in its place.

 

42. Fruit Punch at Mexico Chiquito

 

43. Sticky Toffee Cake at Table 28
    

    Popsicles at Le Pops

 

44. Popsicles at Le Pops

Hot Take: Le Pops is summer, and the popsicle options are endless. My favorite is probably the Chocolate Marvel, but the Salted Caramel is exceptional, as is the strawberry.

 

45. Root Beer at Diamond Bear Brewing Co.
    

    Caipirinha at Café Bossa Nova

 

46. Caipirinha at Café Bossa Nova
    

    Mojito at La Terraza

 

47. Mojito at La Terraza

Hot Take: Without a doubt, La Terraza makes the best mojito in town. The fresh ingredients make all the difference.

 

48. Nitro Iced Coffee at Nexus Coffee and Creative

 

49. Strawberry Pudding at Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom (seasonal)
    

    Blueberry Pomegranate Kombucha at Teaberry Kombucha Co.

 

50. Blueberry Pomegranate Kombucha at Teaberry Kombucha Co.