There is something about summer that makes an ice cream cone, milkshake, or fresh bakery treat taste even better. Fortunately, Pittsburgh’s North Hills has plenty of places to satisfy a sweet tooth—whether you want a scoop after walking at North Park, a decadent milkshake, or pastries to take home and share.
Here are several favorite stops around the North Hills and nearby communities that are worth adding to your late-summer plans.
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream at North Park
It is hard to beat ice cream after a walk around North Park Lake. Millie’s North Park location on Tennis Court Road makes that combination especially easy.
Millie’s offers chef-inspired dairy ice creams, vegan gelatos, waffle cones, shakes, and sundaes. The flavor selection rotates, so there is usually something new to try alongside familiar favorites such as chocolate, cookie dough, and cookies and cream.
The location is close to the lake, boathouse, and other park activities, making it a natural stop after walking, biking, kayaking, or spending time at the playground.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream in McCandless
Handel’s at McCandless Crossing is a convenient choice when you want generous portions and plenty of flavors. Its ice cream is made fresh at each store, and the menu typically includes classic choices along with fruit flavors, chocolate combinations, and options filled with candy or baked-good pieces.
You can keep it simple with a cone or dish, or choose a sundae, shake, ice cream sandwich, or other specialty treat. With so many flavors available, it is a good place to visit when everyone wants something different.
Graeter’s Ice Cream in Wexford
Graeter’s on Perry Highway in Wexford is known for rich French Pot ice cream and its signature chocolate-chip flavors. The “chips” are actually irregular pieces of chocolate created by pouring melted chocolate into the ice cream and breaking it apart as it freezes.
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip is probably the best-known flavor, but there are plenty of traditional and seasonal choices as well. Graeter’s also offers sundaes, shakes, ice cream cakes, and packaged treats to take home.
MilkShake Factory in McCandless and Cranberry
When you want something more elaborate than a basic scoop, MilkShake Factory is a fun option. The company has North Hills-area shops at McCandless Crossing and Cranberry Crossroads.
Its handspun milkshakes are made with housemade ice cream and range from simple classics to specialty combinations with chocolate, cookies, caramel, or fruit. Non-dairy options are also available. The shop’s roots are in Pittsburgh chocolate making, so you can pick up gourmet chocolates, salted caramels, or chocolate bark while you are there.
Soergel Scoops and the Bakery at Soergel Orchards
Soergel Orchards in Wexford offers more than fresh produce and seasonal activities. Soergel Scoops is an easy place to stop for ice cream, especially when you are already visiting the farm market, garden center, or shops.
You can also find plenty of sweet choices in the bakery, including pies, cookies, apple treats, and other seasonal baked goods. In late summer, a cider slushie or fruit-inspired treat feels like the perfect bridge between summer and the beginning of apple season.
Scoops in Sewickley
Scoops in Sewickley is a cheerful neighborhood stop with a large selection of ice cream flavors. The shop also offers gelato, custom cakes, cupcakes, ice cream pies, and other rotating treats.
Its Beaver Street location makes it easy to include an ice cream stop while shopping, dining, or walking through Sewickley Village. It is exactly the kind of place that can turn a simple afternoon outing into something special.
A Sweet Morsel Co. in Allison Park
For cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and traditional Pittsburgh favorites, A Sweet Morsel Co. on William Flynn Highway is worth a visit. The bakery offers signature cupcakes, gourmet cookies, custom cakes, and gobs, along with seasonal creations.
This is a good choice when you need a dessert for a celebration but do not want to order an entire custom cake. A box of cupcakes or cookies also makes an easy hostess gift—or a treat to enjoy at home.
Oakmont Bakery
Oakmont Bakery is slightly east of the traditional North Hills area, but its enormous selection makes it worth including. The bakery offers cakes, cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, pies, pastries, cheesecakes, and beautifully decorated seasonal desserts.
Popular choices include almond tortes, cream puffs, ladylocks, gobs, cannoli, fruit pies, and an impressive variety of individual pastries. The biggest challenge may be deciding what to order once you see the display cases.
Make It Part of a Late-Summer Outing
One of the best things about these sweet-treat stops is that they can easily be combined with other North Hills activities. Walk around North Park before visiting Millie’s, browse Soergel Orchards before getting a scoop, explore Sewickley Village and stop at Scoops, or pick up pastries for a picnic or weekend gathering.
Late summer goes quickly. An ice cream run or bakery stop is a simple way to slow down, support a local business, and enjoy one more warm evening before fall arrives.
Hours, menus, and seasonal flavors can change, so check with each business before making a special trip.
