Taste of the Summer: The Chapel Hill Cold Treats to Try Before They Melt Away
The arrival of hot and humid summer days ushers in another more welcome visitor: ice cream and iced coffee season. To get your fix of cool beverages and confections, grab some gelato, popsicles, boba and everything in between. Chapel Hill residents are abounding with options for cold treats, and we’ve narrowed down the best picks for you.
Ice Cream & Gelato
Summer isn’t complete without the warm weather classic: ice cream. And there are plenty of local restaurants here to make sure you have the summer of your dreams.
Want to pair ice cream with watching the sunset? Head out to Maple View Farm Ice Cream in Hillsborough. Surrounded by pastures, the farm promises hormone and antibiotic free products from their dairy cows. And for another sweet surprise, try one of their flavors of the month.
For a 1920s ice cream experience, Sutton’s Drug Store sells ice cream floats and shakes. Patrons can pick a classic flavor like strawberry, or go for butter pecan or coffee. To mix it up even more, add in candy or fresh fruit for an additional $0.50.
You just finished a delicious dinner in Italy and you want to satisfy your sweet tooth. Creamy gelato in hand, you enjoy the summer breeze with friends. If a trip to Europe isn’t in the cards, get a taste of Italy at La Vita Dolce. With 10 to 18 flavors available at all times, patrons can choose from the classics or get adventurous with flavors like wildberry lavender or lime + basil.
Dairy Free Treats
If you want a dairy free treat to cool you off, have no fear! Ice cream isn’t the only chilly dessert on which Chapel Hill delivers.
Do you remember what the ice cream truck sounded like as it rounded the corner of your childhood street? More importantly, do you remember what products were sold? If you are looking for a blast of nostalgia, catch Alsies Ice Cream Truck in the area and grab a red, white and blue bomb pop or a King of Pops product.
Kona Ice is the place to be for a flavor-packed, make-your-own shaved ice experience. Find a local Kona Ice truck and mix and match their top 10 syrups (and more) to your liking. For summer birthday and pool parties, Kona Ice is available for a visit to make your party pop.
Iced Coffee
Summer is a lot of fun, but it can also be exhausting. To give yourself an extra burst of energy and quench your thirst, spend some time at Chapel Hill’s best iced coffee destinations.
Amongst the woodlands of Chapel Hill, there is an espresso bar, wine bar and teahouse called Caffè Driade. Not only do they serve classic, iced espresso drinks, but they also craft unique beverages like their sparkling cold brew. Connected to the Bolin Creek Trail, Caffè Driade is the perfect spot to walk and sip some much needed cold caffeine.
Why not pay a visit to the Carrboro Farmers Market at its peak season for fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers? While you’re there, try the iced coffee at Three Waters Cafe. This coffee truck even has flavorful syrups like lavender to give your drink an extra kick.
And who could forget about Glen Lennox’s very own neighborhood coffee destination? Pop on over to Coco Bistro & Bar to enjoy one of their specialty iced lattes or some Italian soda.
Tea & Boba
For those of you who aren’t coffee fans but still like a boost of caffeine or a cold drink, Chapel Hill has tea and boba restaurants galore.
Tea Hill, formerly Cha House, was founded by a family of four who immigrated from Taiwan to open a teahouse. This beloved Chapel Hill staple offers customers both fruit and milk teas, and they pride themselves on acquiring fresh teas from farmers in Taiwan.
If you’re a bubble tea fan, there are plenty of local options for you. At Möge Tea, their fashionable drinks make boba particularly fun. Choose from their Matcha Series or another colorful menu item. At Yaya Tea, patrons can not only choose from a selection of bubble teas, but also try handmade Onigiri, or rice balls made-to-order.
Summer wouldn’t be complete without ice cream or an iced drink to keep you cool while enjoying the outdoors. With all that Chapel Hill has to offer, don’t miss out on peak season for a chilly treat!