The furnace is on. Las Vegas has entered the hot season, and it won’t let up until sometime in October. But we have the tools we need to combat it: central air, an abundance of swimming pools and some fairly terrific places to get ice cream. Here are five of our favorites.
Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop
Even if you don’t order a thing at this San Francisco-born ice cream parlor and chocolatier, you’ll walk away with a treat: Employees hand out small samples of Ghirardelli’s famous chocolates at the door. But order you must, and though we wouldn’t presume to tell you what to get, we strongly suggest one of the Painted Ladies — three ridiculously dark and rich sundaes, each one based around an individual taste: chocolate, mint and espresso. Don’t be fooled by the moderate size — just one of these will satisfy two adults. Or reduce one adult to blissful submission. 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. South (at the Linq Promenade), 702-650-0096.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
The flavor list reads like a dream. Banana Cream Pie. Cherry Cordial. Chocolate Malt with Caramel. And if those don’t appeal to you, this Ohio-based chain serves up dozens of others, each one rich, flavorful and generally magnificent. Handel’s doesn’t have indoor seating — everything happens through walk-up windows — so consider this advice: Don’t go until after sundown unless you want to eat in your air-conditioned car, and consult the online menu before your visit. Seriously, that ice cream list is longer than the credits crawl at the end of a "Star Wars" movie. 10170 W. Tropicana Ave.; 702-749-9299.
Luv-It Frozen Custard
This Downtown favorite has been written about, talked about and generally celebrated since it opened in 1973 that it’s tempting to take it for granted. But all you need to do to remedy is walk up to their outdoor window and order a Western Special — Luv-It’s almost supernaturally smooth vanilla custard, smothered in hot fudge, caramel and pecans — and you’ll begin singing its praises all over again, like you did after your first time. 505 E. Oakey Blvd., 702-384-6452.
Rolled Ice Cream
The making of this Thai specialty is so interesting that it almost overshadows all else: Cream is poured onto a freezing “grill,” where fresh ingredients are mixed in to create a variety of sweet combinations. Then, the finished product is rolled into thin tubes, because why not? Try some of the self-descriptive combos — Rocky Road, Green Tea, Raspberry White Chocolate — and then get crazy with offbeat tastes like Potato Chip, Cereal n’ Cream and Avocado. 9500 S. Eastern Avenue #110; 9484 W. Flamingo Road #165; 7920 W. Tropical Parkway; rolledicecream.com.
Sweet Addiction
Sometimes you crave the simplicity of childhood, and that feeling is perfectly embodied in the taste of Thrifty ice cream. Sweet Addiction scoops up that summertime staple, in nearly all the flavors you remember — Pecan Praline, Chocolate Malted Krunch, Birthday Cake and more — and smooshes it between fresh-baked chocolate chip, peanut butter and oatmeal butterscotch cookies. Prepare to revert to childhood. 5165 S. Fort Apache Road #160; 2291 N Green Valley Parkway; sweetaddictionlv.com.