Welcome to The Franklin Fountain
"The Franklin Fountain" in Philadelphia offers a nostalgic experience, reminiscent of a 1915 ice cream parlor. Customers praise the high-quality, clean ingredients used in their dairy and vegan options. The unique presentation of ice cream in Chinese take-out boxes adds a fun twist. Despite the small seating area, the charming decor and friendly service create a welcoming atmosphere. Prices may be on the higher side, but the generous portions and delicious flavors make it worth it for many. Overall, The Franklin Fountain is a must-visit for those seeking a taste of history and exceptional ice cream in Philadelphia.
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116 Market St Philadelphia, PA 19106116 Market St Philadelphia, PA 19106 Hotline: (215) 627-1899
Welcome to The Franklin Fountain, a charming ice cream parlor nestled in the heart of Philadelphia's Old City. Steeped in a vintage atmosphere reminiscent of a 1915 soda fountain, this delightful establishment at 116 Market St serves up an array of frozen treats that satisfy any sweet tooth. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this iconic spot promises a unique experience that combines nostalgia with culinary creativity.
One of the highlights of The Franklin Fountain is its impressive selection of ice cream, which includes both traditional flavors and vegan options. Each scoop is crafted with care, using high-quality ingredients to ensure an exceptional taste experience. For those looking to indulge, the "Have a Heart" sundae, made with their creamy vegan coconut-based ice cream, receives rave reviews. Visitors often commend the generous portions, with ice cream served in charming Chinese takeout boxes that add a whimsical touch to your dessert.
The atmosphere, though cozy and bustling, adds to the charm. As you wind through the tight aisles filled with eager customers, the warmth of friendly service can be felt. The absence of seating may be a challenge, but outdoor seating under trees provides a perfect spot to enjoy your frozen confections while soaking up the vibrant surroundings. The Franklin Fountain's unique ambiance makes it a fantastic place to gather with friends or family after a meal.
However, guests often note the prices, which can be on the higher side. With sundaes ranging around $19 and waffle cones starting at $5, it’s worth considering whether the indulgent experience fits your budget. Despite this, numerous reviews indicate that many patrons feel the quality of ice cream and the delightful service make the splurge worthwhile.
In addition to ice cream, The Franklin Fountain offers an array of beverages, including the nostalgic Dad's Root Beer and fun merchandise like Franklin-branded t-shirts and unique freezer bags, perfect for keeping your treats cool on the go. The creative approach to desserts and attention to detail in every aspect of the experience keeps customers coming back for more.
Overall, The Franklin Fountain is not just about ice cream; it's about relishing a slice of history while enjoying some of the best frozen treats in Philadelphia. A visit here is a sweet adventure, one that beckons you to return for more.
The ice cream was great, they give good quantities!! There's no glass options, just cone of take out dish! For a cone with three flavor, I paid $21... Wowzers. The service was nice, the guy was really kind to me!
So if you're looking for ice cream in the Philadelphia, this place is probably one of, if not the best. Their ice cream and ingredients are clean and very high in quality. I ordered the "Have a heart" sundae. Substituted regular vanilla ice dairy cream with their vegan coconut based ice cream. it was excellent. I will say my only complaint about this place is the prices. Even with the economy and inflation being what it is, $19 for a fairly small handheld sundae seems a bit excessive. I would still come back, but it wouldn't be often. A Waffle cone by itself it is $5.
I visited The Franklin Fountain to celebrate the completion of a work program with some colleagues. While I have heard of The Franklin Fountain before, I had actually never been before. The Franklin Fountain is located in Old City and is styled after a 1915 ice cream parlor. This ice cream parlor is on the smaller side and there is no seating inside. While you wait, the line forms in a fairly tight aisle. There is also no air conditioning. There are a wide variety of options offered here. The Franklin Fountain sells soft serve ice cream, water ice, vegan ice cream, pretzels and cookies. I got the chocolate chip ice cream. It was very good and consisted of vanilla ice cream with chocolate chunks. I liked how they included chocolate chunks rather than small chips - a nice texture. The ice cream is served in a Chinese takeout container, which was cool. While there is no seating inside, there is seating outside including under a tree. We ate our ice cream there. It was a nice conclusion to the program. Altogether, I enjoyed my time and ice cream at The Franklin Fountain. I hope to return!
Date of visit: 7/31/2024 Dessert after dinner. I'd say pretty unique. Instead of a cup, they serve the ice cream inside Chinese take out box. I got small Peach Melba (no whipped) with vegan blueberry ice cream (they use coconut cream instead of regular milk) and my son got small Honey Comb. People were lining up thru the door when we left.
On our Lyft ride to dinner our driver recommended the Franklin fountain for dessert. Unfortunately, we were full after dinner but could not let this go by without a visit. We hit this ice cream soda fountain before we headed to Airport and it did not disappoint. If I could give more than FIVE stars I would but what is not to love with ice cream. This ice cream parlor is steeped in history and is exactly what you would have expected for a turn of the century soda fountain. Looking forward to trying one of their sodas next time we go back. Ice cream portions are huge and are served in Chinese Food Takeout boxes. Prices are steep but dessert did not disappoint
Small dainty ice cream shop in Philly! I stopped by on a whim after brunch, and I got two scoops of ice cream (medium can have up to two flavors for $11): chocolate fudge brownie and caramelizad banana. It was such a good combo bc altogether it tasted like a banana split. The banana flavor was strong and I liked the chewy chunks in the chocolate flavor. The space is however very small like a narrow corridor and has no seats. It's more of a come and go. The decor is very retro and on theme though. I hope to try some more flavors like honeycomb. Staff was nice and let me sample flavors.
I scream, You scream, we all scream for Franklin Fountain ice cream!!!!! How super cute is this place?! Felt like I time traveled back to a 1920s ice cream parlor lol. I love everything about the vintage decor this place offers and the quality ice cream which I'll get to later. Staff: shoutout to Alonzo (hope this is correct) who prepared our scoops and was truly dedicated to not only offering us good service but making sure that we enjoyed our order. The person taking our order was pretty dope as well and informed me that my selected ice cream was the Pope's favorite. Looks like I made a divine pick! Price: starts at $7.75 per scoop and works its way up to $14. The packaging is a bit confusing however and not the best for an anti-drip encounter if you failed to chug your ice cream down. Ice cream: I ordered the divine pick-sea salt caramel. My party ordered the cookies and cream and butter pecan. Everyone LOVED their ice cream choices but my ice cream was described as the elite pick because hey, it was elite in creaminess and flavor. I love that this place holds true to providing what they originally sought to do and that was offering quality homemade ice cream. Overall, I think that this treat was the perfect way to end the day and I have to say that my only regret was not having more of it after I returned home to DC lol