The Sweet Life: 15+ Memphis Dessert Spots Worth Every Bite
From gelato bars to Southern pies and Asian pastries, here’s your guide to the best local bakeries, ice cream shops, and sweet treat destinations in Memphis.
From gelato bars to Southern pies and Asian pastries, here’s your guide to the best local bakeries, ice cream shops, and sweet treat destinations in Memphis.
If you know me, you know I love a sweet treat. Memphis has a lot to offer when it comes to bakeries, ice cream shops and dessert spots. If you need to satisfy a sweet tooth, here’s a list of local businesses to support.
Zio Matto | South Main
A stylish gelato shop located within Central Station, Zio Matto brings authentic Italian flavors to Memphis. Their rotating flavors include classics like pistachio and stracciatella as well as refreshing flavors like mango sorbet. You can visit them in person or buy their products at local retailers or even in the Fedex Forum. For more information about their store hours and flavors visit, www.ziomatto.com
Sweet Musings | Cordova
This charming dessert bar and cafe offers a unique experience with beautifully plated desserts and tasty drinks. Known for their aesthetic presentation and cozy vibe, Sweet Musings is the perfect place for a girls' night or special celebration. Their spin on classic desserts and seasonal specials keep the menu fresh and exciting.
Frost Bake Shop | Locations Vary
With 3 locations in the Memphis area, you can always count on Frost to help you celebrate your next birthday, graduation or holiday. Frost specializes in custom cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. My family’s go to is the Memphis cream cake with peanut butter frosting. You can order online at www.frostbakeshop.com.
Snowa | Germantown
Snowa is a locally owned Korean style bakery and cafe located in Germantown, TN. They bring the Korean-style Bingsu (Korean Shaved Ice) trend to the Memphis area. Offering light, fluffy snow in flavors like matcha, strawberry, and mango, each bowl is topped with fruit and syrups. Snowa is a great spot for a cool, texturally unique treat.
Sweet Aroma Bakery | Broad Ave.
A one-stop-shop for desserts, Sweet Aroma offers custom cakes, pastries, and cupcakes. Known for both classic Southern flavors and custom desserts, this bakery is especially popular for birthday cakes and goodies for events. With a rotating menu, you can’t go wrong with anything Sweet Aroma offers.
Dipsticle | Cordova
A dessert spot with a twist, Dipsticle offers customizable gelato bars on a stick. When you go to Dipsticle, you choose a gelato base, dip it in chocolate, and finish it off with a mix of toppings like crushed nuts, sprinkles, or cookie crumbs. Dipsticle also offers catering and vendor services for big events and parties.
Sugar Ghost | Broad Ave. & Germantown
A Broad Avenue favorite, Sugar Ghost blends boba tea and ice cream into one fun stop. With unexpected soft serve flavors like Vietnamese coffee or ube, plus chewy boba add-ins and fun toppings, it’s a spot where you can customize your sweet treat exactly how you want it. The mud island ice cream is my favorite, especially when it's served on a cone!
DVOUR DESSERTS| South Main
Located in South Main, DVOUR specializes in the most photogenic mini cheesecakes in fun flavors like tiramisu, ube, and sometimes even Dubai chocolate. They're as tasty as they are cute! They also offer cheesecake cookies, regular cheesecake slices, pastries, and more.
Muddy’s | Broad Ave.
A Memphis staple, Muddy’s Bakery is known for its icing covered cupcakes, pies, and cakes. Their Prozac cupcake ( chocolate with chocolate icing) is a local favorite, and their pies and cookies are homemade treats that everyone loves. Located near Broad Avenue, it’s the epitome of a feel-good dessert shop.
Bloom Bakery & Cafe | Downtown Memphis
The newest Asian bakery in Memphis is located downtown on S. Second street. Bloom has a variety of unique desserts including cubed matcha toast, pistachio basque cheesecake and fruit sandwiches. They also serve coffee, fruit tea and milk tea. This is the place to satisfy your sweet tooth and caffeine fix.
Butterific Café & Bakery | South Main
Butterific Café & Bakery is a Black woman-owned business serving up homemade cookies, cakes, and pies. Founded by Tamika Heard, the bakery is known for classic flavors, rich ingredients, and consistent quality. From signature chocolate chip cookies to custom cakes, Butterific offers fresh, homemade desserts with a local touch. You can stop by her store front in the South Main area or order her sweets online at butterifficbakery.com.
Sweet Lala’s | East Memphis
Located in Regalia Shopping Center, Sweet Lala’s isn’t just a bakery, but a mission-driven business. Their cookies, brownies, and cakes are a hit, but it’s their commitment to supporting the community through The Madonna Learning Center that sets them apart. For more information about their mission visit, sweetlalas.com.
Ginger’s Bread & Co. | Midtown
Founded by Memphis native Jimmy Hoxie, an honors graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Ginger’s Bread & Co. bakery offers a variety of baked goods. He prepares breads, signature chocolate chip cookies, and pastries which make for a perfect gift or a week-day sweet treat.
Lucy J’s Bakery | Crosstown Concourse
Operating out of Crosstown Concourse, Lucy J’s is more than just baked goods, it’s a cause to help people who have experienced homelessness. Their mission is to provide job training and employment with living wages for parents who are working to transition out of homelessness. Lucy J’s Bakery works alongside the Dorothy Day House to provide employment to current or former families. The Dorothy Day House provides transitional housing and support services for homeless families. When you stop and try their buttery croissants and chocolate chip cookies, you also give to a good cause. To support visit, www.lucyjbakery.com
Lily’s Bakery | Summer Ave.
Known for its vibrant, custom birthday cakes, Lily’s Bakery brings the flavors of Venezuela and Latin America to Memphis. Owner Liliana Chaker opened the shop to share a piece of her heritage with the local community. From rich tres leches cakes to fresh-baked conchas, Lily’s has become a staple in Berclair for those craving authentic, latin desserts.
Jacques Louise | Overton Square
Set to move into the old 17 Berkshire space, Jacques Louise will bring 100% gluten-free baked goods to the 901. Expect artful pastries, cakes, and savory options made with celiac-safe ingredients. To stay updated on their storefront hours and to browse their menu, visit jacqueslouisebakery.com.
About the Author
Sherry Greene
Why would you not include La Baguette, the pioneer French bakery in Chickasaw Oaks? They were serving European style pastries and liquor soaked cakes when most Memphians though fried doughnuts were the ultimate bakery treat. Next year they will celebrate 50 years in Memphis.
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