Licks Unlimited

This place serves some of the best ice cream around and you have a large selection of flavors to choose from! I recommend the stop if you’re in town and want to shove ice cream into your eating hole! The downside is that there is always a line through the door, so you do have to have a bit of patience. Will I be back? I certainly will be.

Licks is the best. They have tons of options that more than satisfy anyone’s taste buds. The staff are awesome and the place is always packed. My favorite flavors include Mackinac Island Fudge, Heaps of Love, Dark Chocolate Truffle, and Cookie Dough.
You cannot go wrong with a stop to Licks!

Classic ice cream shop in a cute lakeside town. The ice cream selection was abundant and unique, and prices are more than fair. A must do when in Excelsior.

I love Licks and grew up biking there with my family. The location is fantastic despite parking being minimal. It’s a short walk from the water so you can easily walk down to the shores of Excelsior Bay and check out the park while eating ice cream. The ice cream is delicious and they have a lot of choices. I really enjoy the variety and location. I’ve gone to Licks for many years and hope to continue going for many more!

This ice cream shop is in Excelsior on Water Street — the cutest area right on Lake Minnetonka that has a small town charm feel to it. Licks Unlimited is a small shop which is why there’s usually a line for their ice cream. Their ice cream tastes high quality and super creamy. I had the coconut almond ice cream flavor on a dipped waffle cone (with sprinkles) and it was delicious! Their ice cream is super tasty and I love the area!

Alright folks. If you know me, you know that I love Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream. If a place serves Chocolate Shoppe, the ice cream is legit amazing– so this review is strictly about the location, service, ambiance, etc.
There are Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream parlors closer to me, but I go to this one instead because it’s in Excelsior– right off of the lake. There’s usually parking close by– and even if there isn’t, the town is beautiful– walk around! The staff is very friendly and will give you a sample of whatever you please. There’s indoor and outdoor seating which is great for me and my kids. No kids? Take your goodsf to go and walk around.

This little town is such a charm. I love the atmosphere. This place offers amazing ice cream! I have fallen in love.
Haagendazs can’t replace this place for me any more.

This place has all the small town charm you hope for in an ice cream shoppe! So many flavor options, so delish. Sometimes the line is long, but it moves fast and it’s worth the wait on a hot summer day.

I think the waffle cones are the best bit, the raspberry waffle cone, oh or maybe the coconut one… No it’s the ice cream… Oh it’s just all too good.

Our new favorite ice cream place! Kids loved it. Creative flavors, generous portions, reasonably priced. ALWAYS a line in the evenings, though. Very popular.

Excellent ice cream, just be prepared to wait in line 10−15min April to October. Weird décor.

Are you kidding??? Awesome flavors of ice cream, warm weather, and Lake Minnetonka! Excelsior is such a great place! Love!
Usually a line out the door… So worth the calories!

Fun place for a sweet treat! Especially over the summer months!

Licks Unlimited? You gotta love an ice cream shop with such a naughty name. But yeah, if you are even in Excelsior this place is a good choice for ice cream. Everything in Excelsior tastes better. Even ice cream.

This summer my quest has been to find and compare all the best spots for frozen treats. The Twin Cities area has been blessed by numerous new frozen yogurt spots and delicious local ice cream shops. Given the fact that we have such short (and hot) summers, people flock to places like this to get a fresh scoop of a unique flavor with local ingredients and that freshly made taste. Licks Unlimited is another shop in the same category as Sebastian Joe’s and Grand Olé Creamery. If you are a fan of either, youll probably enjoy it.
Licks Unlimited is a bit out of the way if you live in the Metro, but definitely worth a stop if you are having a relaxing Sunday or weeknight outing. It is located in the beautiful little town of Excelsior not far from highway 7 and Minnetonka Country Club. Excelsior’s main drag is Water Street, which leads right up to the port where you can walk along Lake Minnetonka or take a boat ride. It’s really quite a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon on a nice day – especially with a cone in hand. Parking isnt bad either. Although it gets busy along the Water Street, there are several spots on side roads and even metered parking at the park.
The shop is really small and the line tends to go out the door, but it moves pretty quick. The flavors are similar to what you might find at other local ice cream shops, and tastes like it is equally high quality. There is actually a little trolley-​looking shop by the lake that sells Sebastian Joe’s ice cream if you want to compare. I, personally, like the Zoreo which is a chocolate ice cream with marshmallow and Oreo pieces. For something more refreshing and light, they have a peach yogurt with raspberry and peach pieces in it. Overall, plenty of options (see photo for menu).
Overall, the local ice creams here in Minnesota are amazing. It’s hard to rank them because they are all good… But here is how I think they stack up – with Izzy’s beingmy un-​disputed champ:
1. Izzy’s
2. Grand Olé Creamery
3. Licks Unlimited
4. Sebastian Joe’s
Pros: Scenic town of Excelsior, located right by Lake Minnetonka, fresh ice cream, lots of variety/​unique flavors
Cons: Located a bit far from the city (about 15 miles from Minneapolis), not cheap by any means but that’s expected for good ice cream ($ 4.20 for a double scoop in a cup).

Licks is a natural compliment to the charming local scene in downtown Excelsior. I visited with my brother-​in-​law and family while on vacation. It’s a classic, throw-​back ice cream shoppe with 30 or so flavors. I believe these are all hand made. The flavors rang from your tried and true favorites, like cookie dough and mountain mint chip, to the more exotic and creative, like Blue Moon (which tastes like Froot Loops). They also make sundaes and fun things like root beer floats.
The staff seems to be stocked with local high school or college kids trying to earn some bucks on Summer break. This adds to the charm of a store that transports you back in time a few eras. Plus, it’s right up the street from Lake Minnetonka.
Perfect for kids, grown-​ups and adults that refuse to grow up, Licks is perfect way to cap off a day on Lake.

I’ve searched far and wide, but have never found ice cream as good as Licks. Licks has classic, as good as it gets, ice cream. Not to mention it is steps away from the beautiful lake and nestled in Excelsior.

Going to Excelsior in the summer can be like stepping back in time. Going for a walk by the lake, taking in a movie at the Excelsior Dock Theatre (real butter on the popcorn), and then grabbing ice cream across the street at Licks. The ice cream is made in Wisconsin and they have 30+ flavors.
While not quite to the level of an Izzy’s or Sebastian Joe’s (they would have to make their own ice cream and get a bit more creative with the flavors), this is one of those places where you enjoy your ice cream in the summer and build memories with your friends and family.