
Whitey's Ice Cream
A longtime chain serving a vast array of unique and delicious ice cream flavors, famous for its iconic upside-down shakes and malts.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Whitey's Ice Cream
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A longtime chain serving a vast array of unique and delicious ice cream flavors, famous for its iconic upside-down shakes and malts.
Sample Before Deciding
Try multiple flavors before making your choice; Whitey's offers a diverse range of delicious, homemade options.
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
Avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience by visiting during less busy times.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Dessert, Ice Cream
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Decadent Ice Cream Flavors
Indulge in a vast selection of unique, homemade ice cream flavors, from Mississippi Mud to Red Velvet Cake. A true treat for any sweet tooth!

Upside-Down Shakes & Malts
Experience iconic upside-down shakes and malts where the spoon stands upright. A signature treat that's a must-try!

Friendly and Efficient Service
Enjoy prompt and welcoming service from numerous staff members, even during busy periods, ensuring a pleasant experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Sample Before Deciding
Try multiple flavors before making your choice; Whitey's offers a diverse range of delicious, homemade options.
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
Avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience by visiting during less busy times.
Consider Classic Treats
Beyond scoops, explore sundaes, banana splits, and malts for an extra indulgent and classic ice cream experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Sample Before Deciding
Try multiple flavors before making your choice; Whitey's offers a diverse range of delicious, homemade options.
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
Avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience by visiting during less busy times.
Consider Classic Treats
Beyond scoops, explore sundaes, banana splits, and malts for an extra indulgent and classic ice cream experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Whitey's Ice Cream is a beloved local institution praised for its phenomenal, creamy, and flavorful ice cream, with generous portions that satisfy. Reviewers frequently highlight the friendly and efficient service, even during peak times, and the wide variety of unique flavors. While most experiences are overwhelmingly positive, a few rare instances of slow or unhelpful service have been noted, but these appear to be outliers in an otherwise stellar reputation.
"When you need a cup o joe in ice cream form...
Whitey's has been on my list to visit for years and I've seen many online comments saying that if you are in the Quad Cities, you need to try it out. Well, after an incredibly long day, ice cream sounded good before I hit the interstate home.
Luckily there was one along the way and I pulled over for some sugary goodness. I walked in and was instantly greeted by stark white and the smell of cleaner. This place was clinically white and smelled like a recently cleaned hospital room. I quickly got in line and ordered a 2 dip cup of joe espresso in a waffle cone.
The guy making my cone actually dropped the entire cone into the bucket and started fresh. I told him that there was no worries. He quickly whipped up a new one and I got to snacking once I took a seat outside.
Two dips was a mistake. I didn't know how big the scoops were and let me tell you... 2 dip is an insane amount of ice cream. For $6 and change, it was a good deal but one I couldn't finish. I enjoy every lick and every bite of that ice cream as it was packed full of flavor and tasted just like an espresso but man... was it just a never ending ice cream cone. I rarely don't finish my food but this is one time I had to admit tap out as I didn't feel like going into a diabetic coma on my drive home.
I can see why all the online comments were saying you need to try Whitey's. It's the best ice cream I've ever had. Just know that one dip/scoop is fine for a snack, two is enough for a meal, and at three... I can't imagine how hungry you'd have to be for three but it would be worth it for every delicious lick and bite."
Joshua Daily
"I was visiting from UK and was recommended to try out this place, and I was not disappointed. We got the Reese’s ice cream and chocolate chip ice cream and it was scrumptious.
A small looks so big but I managed to finish it all. It’s soft and melts beautifully in your mouth.
The staff were friendly and welcoming and the place looked really clean. There is seating outside and we sat out there as the weather was decent. I will come back here again."
dnicaw
"Visiting from out of town decided to stop in after a terrible dinner at Mo steakhouse.
This place did not disappoint.
I had a malt with chocolate brownie. This was amazing as the brownie was mixed into every bite I had
Wife had a waffle bowl with chocolate and peanut butter ice cream and a scoop of Mississippi Mud which she was pleasantly surprised by with its slight coffee flavor.
Son had a waffle cone with moose tracks and chocolate chip cookie dough and it was pretty happy with his choice.
Lots of different options staff moved through quickly with people during a busy time."
Eric Wallner
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Whitey's is renowned for its incredible variety of ice cream flavors and its signature upside-down shakes and malts.
Yes, it's highly recommended to sample multiple flavors to find your perfect match among their many homemade options.
Absolutely! Reviews consistently mention that the servings are huge, so one scoop can be a substantial treat.
Most visitors praise the staff for being friendly, professional, and efficient, even when the shop is busy.
Yes, they often feature seasonal flavors that are highly recommended by customers for a unique taste experience.
Yes, many locations have outdoor seating areas with benches, perfect for enjoying your ice cream on a nice day.
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Known as the best place in town for ice cream, Whitey’s Ice Cream is an unmissable stop for frozen yoghurts and shakes too. A family business for over 80 years, Whitey’s Ice Cream was named ‘Best in Midwest’ and is a sure choice for those wishing to try a rich variety of upside-down shakes and malts. For the nostalgic, White’s Ice Cream offers the flavours ‘that started it all’ such as brownie, butter finger, black cherry, Oreo or Snickers.
How to Spend 48 Hours in the Quad Cities
Finally, make a memorable stop at Whitey’s Ice Cream, which was named “Best in the Midwest” by Midwest Living Magazine. Their quality ice cream has been making customers smile since 1933. With over 40 ice cream flavors, including seasonal additions, dips, sundaes, shakes and malts, Bostons, sodas and floats, freeze and smoothies, multiple visits are required to taste it all.
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The ice cream is second to none. All flavors are terrific. And if you want a malt or shake Whitey's can't be beat. With a malt or shake they stand the spoon upright in the cup and a straw is something you won't need.If you haven't been to a Whitey's, pack up the car and head there. You won't be disappointed.
My 10 Favorite Restaurants To Experience In Davenport
Whitey’s Ice Cream is an ice cream shop that’s been serving the Davenport community for over 75 years. The shop serves ice cream by the scoop, pint, quart, or gallon. Whitey’s offers various ice cream flavors, sundaes, milkshakes, banana splits, and floats.
Highest-rated Dessert Shops in Davenport, According to Tripadvisor
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (120 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (5.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Dessert, American- Price: $- Address: 3515 Middle Rd, Bettendorf, IA 52722-3311- Read more on Tripadvisor
Best Places for Dessert in the Quad Cities
This is a hometown favorite that is starting to branch into nearby cities. With a variety of homemade ice creams to choose from, I recommend that you sample a few until you find one that meets your taste preference for the day.
Discovering Davenport: Unmissable Experiences in the Quad Cities | Iowa, USA
On my first visit, I opted for a ‘Boston’…it’s a milkshake float (yup, ice cream, on top of ice cream), I also had pineapple chunks on mine!. It probably had a million calories in it but there was definitely no regrets!
Top 10 places in the Quad Cities
Whitey's even has a special flavor for us: Augustana Viking Pride. Augustana and Whitey's teamed up to break the Guinness world record for most people eating ice cream in a chain: all 2,694 of them!
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