New Braunfels offers a well rounded scoop scene, from elegant gelato and craft custards to nostalgic soda fountains and vibrant paleterias. Whether you want a shaded patio, a stroll friendly cup, dairy free options, or a pint for the freezer, you will find a sweet fit for every outing and budget.
Let’s get to it.
Fire and Ice
This gelato arrives on a cart, not behind a counter, which suits New Braunfels just fine. Fire and Ice partners with Zarlengo’s out of Chicago, so what you get is that dense, silky gelato texture Hill Country folks rarely find without a plane ticket.
The lineup runs deep. Roughly 20 gelato flavors rotate through, with stalwarts like Vanilla Bean, Pistachio, Mint Chocolate Chip, Lemon Ricotta, Salted Caramel, and a very cozy Bananas Foster. Italian ice brings a fruit-forward, plant-based refresh, seven or more flavors at a time. They also keep diabetic-friendly selections in the mix.
Portions are straightforward in 6 ounce cups. Expect mix-ins embedded in the gelato rather than a big topping bar, and a few pre-packaged novelties for easy grab and go. No fixed seating since it is a mobile setup, which makes it perfect for a market stroll.
Planning a party or office treat day? Their cart rentals and flavor consultations are where they really shine, serving the I-35 corridor from San Antonio to Austin. If you value authentic texture, plenty of variety, and a family-friendly vibe, keep Fire and Ice on your shortlist. Check their site or text ahead to confirm location and current flavors.
Tipsy Cow Ice Cream
Boozy scoops without the snooty attitude set Tipsy Cow apart.
This small-batch shop makes its ice cream in New Braunfels, then rotates through playful flavors. Classics for kids sit right next to adults-only picks like Vanilla Bourbon, Baileys Salted Caramel, Southern Pecan Pie, Kahlua Fudge, and the occasional Raging Bull sorbet. IDs are checked, and the alcohol is a whisper, not a wallop.
Dairy-free and vegan guests have options. Coconut-based flavors and bright fruit sorbets keep everyone in the party. Shakes and floats can be customized with Ghirardelli fudge, cookie pieces, nuts, and candy mix-ins.
Portions hit that just-right mark. Expect small, regular, or large around four to six dollars, with pints to go near ten. Prices can vary. Solid value for handcrafted ice cream.
The vibe leans casual and social, with a compact counter inside and a covered patio outside. Quick counter service, lively crowd, and plenty of Instagram appeal. Consider it the sweet spot for craft ice cream with a grown-up twist at family-friendly prices.
Gruene General Store
The 5¢ coffee sign sets the tone. This is an old-time soda fountain inside a creaky-floored general store, right in the Gruene Historic District.
Scoops are Blue Bell, straightforward and familiar. Flavors rotate with regional supply, and the counter turns those scoops into floats, sundaes, and old-school fountain sodas with classic toppings. You can fold candy-by-the-pound into your order, or ask for a ribbon of warm fudge or syrup.
Value is part of the appeal. Portions feel generous without getting silly, and prices lean friendly by tourist standards. Free tastes of Uncle Otto’s house-made fudge sweeten the decision, while counter stools inside and a front porch outside make easy spots for people-watching between sets at Gruene Hall.
This is not a chef-y gelato bar or a dairy-free destination. It is simple, nostalgic, and very family oriented, with coffee, floats, scoops, and a wall of take-home Texas treats. If a classic cone, a little fudge, and a dose of small-town charm sound right, Gruene General Store fits the bill.
Scoop Street
Creative flavors and a fair price rarely share the same cone, yet Scoop Street pulls it off. Small, local, and proudly downtown, this little shop churns from scratch and keeps the experience easy.
Expect high milk-fat custards with gelato-level silk, plus fruit sorbets and dairy-free nut-milk options. Staples are covered, then it gets fun: Pistachio, Lavender Earl Grey, Vietnamese Coffee, Whiskey Caramel Cheesecake. Seasonal bakery collaborations keep the board fresh.
The menu doubles as a café and a bar light. Espresso drinks and cold brew pair beautifully with a scoop, and the Scoopachino hits the sweet spot. Beer and wine show up as floats for a grown-up treat.
Portions run generous without tipping into wasteful, and pricing stays friendly. Extra scoops are discounted, specialty waffle cones add a little, and take-home pints are the best value if a crowd is waiting.
The space is compact, mostly grab-and-go, with a few stools and an outside perch. Staff encourage tastes, which helps kids and selective palates, and downtown parking is straightforward in nearby lots.
For an affordable spin through creative flavors, Scoop Street feels like the right stop before a stroll or after dinner. It is culinary playfulness with neighborhood manners.
Rheas Ice Cream- NBTX
Out front, the yard sells it before the first lick. A front lawn with picnic tables, yard games, and a wooden pirate ship keeps kids busy while you actually finish a cone. The vibe is nostalgic, not fussy.
This is house recipe ice cream built on inherited family formulas, with waffle cones baked in-house. Flavors swing from straightforward to local wink: Hill Country vanilla, banana pudding, pecan praline, Big Red as a float, plus cookies and cream espresso. Seasonal rotations keep it lively.
Milkshakes steal the show, thick and rich, and glass-bottle sodas make floats feel classic. Dairy-free and vegan options rotate in, so mixed groups can order without fuss.
Portions are boutique-sized and prices track with that. Seating spills indoors with Tin Top Burgers, and the yard welcomes leashed dogs. With New Braunfels and Gruene spots, it slides easily into a Hill Country day.
Choose this for a relaxed, family-forward stop that respects ingredients. If you want experimental gelato or bargain pricing, look elsewhere. If a well-made scoop, a memorable shake, and a pint for the freezer sound right, Rheas Ice Cream delivers.
The Birdhouse
Warm desserts steal the spotlight, and the scoop arrives right on cue. The Birdhouse in Gruene leans into a classic Texas move, pairing Blue Bell vanilla with pies, cobblers, and sundaes.
Think peach cobbler à la mode when the season cooperates, a warm salted caramel brownie with that cool vanilla bean, or a hot Belgian waffle sundae draped in chocolate and caramel. Portions are generous, plating is pretty, and prices land around nine to ten dollars. Toppings add a little theater, from candied walnuts and sprinkles to strawberry sauce.
It is an easy place to linger. Indoor tables feel relaxed, while the shaded, dog-friendly patio makes a sweet end to a stroll around Gruene’s boutiques. For a fun twist, the tabletop s’mores kit turns dessert into a shared activity.
Gelato hunters and dairy-free diners will not find many options here, and the ice cream lane stays mostly in vanilla territory. Everyone else gets a comforting, reliable scoop that flatters warm, Southern-leaning sweets. Order to go if needed, yet these desserts really shine fresh from the kitchen.
Paleteria La Reina
Ten dollars goes surprisingly far at Paleteria La Reina. This Mexican-style paleteria keeps things handmade and generous, from paletas to scoops, so families can mix and match without breaking the weeknight budget.
Fruit-forward is the headline. Water-based paletas in mango, piña, limón, and fresa offer a bright, dairy-free route, while milk paletas and scoops cover chocolate, vanilla, and cookie comfort. Craving a little drama? Mangonadas and chamoy-spiked treats deliver that sweet-tart, chili-kissed finish.
For something extra, look to churro-and-ice-cream pairings, banana splits, and fried ice cream. Toppings are half the fun, with fresh fruit, Tajín, and even Hot Cheetos or Takis for the adventurous. Snacks like corn in a cup or Dorinachos add a savory detour, and to-go containers keep the home freezer stocked.
Service is quick at the counter, the room colorful and family friendly, and parking easy. With a newer sister location in Spring signaling healthy local growth, La Reina reads like a community standby rather than a trend. Go for value, stay for variety, and lean spicy-sweet if that is your style.
Arlan’s Market
Arlan’s Market doubles as New Braunfels’ easy button for dessert. Not a scoop counter, a grocery aisle with options. Affordable, reliable, and ready for last-minute plans.
The frozen case is loaded with pints, family-size tubs, and novelty bars from the usual national brands, with seasonal one-offs rotating in. Need it fast? Same-day Instacart delivery covers the entire frozen aisle, so stocking a movie night or backyard cookout takes zero detours. Weekly promos keep prices sane.
The sleeper move is the deli and bakery. Grab fried chicken or breakfast tacos for the crew, then seal the deal with a pint and a box of cookies or a slice of cake. Cones, sauces, sprinkles, and brownie bits sit just an aisle away, which makes a build-your-own sundae bar simple and inexpensive.
Expect a nostalgic, small-market feel near downtown, friendly staff, easy parking. There is no seating for lingering, so it is a grab-and-go stop or a delivery play. If the goal is variety and value without the fuss, this is the practical choice in the neighborhood.
Rhea’s Ice Cream – Gruene
Goat Cheese & Raspberry Jam sets the tone at Rhea’s Ice Cream in Gruene. The lineup reads like a playful tasting room, from Coffee Oreo and Strawberry Nutella to S’mores and Pecan Praline. Small-batch in spirit, the house flavors feel curated rather than scooped from a national tub.
Pricing is refreshingly clear. One scoop $4, two $7, and a warm homemade waffle cone adds $2. Pints are $10 for the road.
Dietary needs get equal billing. Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip and Avocado Coconut rotate with the classics, so dairy-free guests aren’t stuck with sorbet. Scoops lean modest, which makes tasting a couple feel easy.
Expect a walk-up window and outdoor seating that spills toward the Gruene Grove yard. No indoor tables at this location, yet the kid-pleasing vibe and Big Red nostalgia make it an easy family stop.
Choose it for inventive yet approachable scoops, fair pricing, and a breezy Gruene pause. If you crave air-conditioned lingering, the other Rhea’s spots in San Marcos or New Braunfels may suit better.
