Fort Lauderdale’s dessert scene gets a meaningful addition with the arrival of Sweet Melody Ice Cream at The Hive in Flagler Village. Behind the colorful scoops and playful energy lies a surprisingly simple, personal story.
Sweet Melody began as a love letter. Founder Mike Romeu named the concept after his daughter, Melody, building the brand around the idea that if it carries her name, it has to be done right. Long before storefronts and steady lines, there was a $50 lime green ice cream maker that sat untouched for over a year…first in storage, then in a garage. It wasn’t until he lost his job that he dusted it off, turned it on and unknowingly changed everything.
What followed was a focus on small-batch ice cream made with intention. The flavors lean familiar at first, then take a turn. Kooki Monster loads up on cookies, Cookie Buttah goes all in on Biscoff and Abuela’s Flan draws from nostalgic, caramel-rich roots. Seasonal options like Banana Pudding and Tres Leches keep things evolving, while the Fort Lauderdale-exclusive Hive flavor layers vanilla, chocolate flakes and honeycomb candy.
The space mirrors that same balance. With its retro, music-inspired feel and vinyl spinning in the background, it invites people to slow down, look around and actually enjoy the moment.
Sweet Melody isn’t trying to reinvent ice cream. It’s simply creating it with a little more care, a little more personality and a story that shows up in every scoop.
