Summer’s heating up, and so is the hunt for the best ice cream in D.C. If you’re looking to cool off, these top frozen spots have you covered.
With sweltering summer temperatures in full swing, D.C.’s annual appetite for cold scoops is at an all-time high.
Along with boutique chains (Jeni’s, Mt. Desert), locally based shops are also competitive here, with Ice Cream Jubilee, Dolcezza, Pitango, and Dolci Gelati locations sprinkled all over town. NoMa pizza place Menomale and Chevy Chase’s Italian Bar also carve out room for gelato counters.
NYC-born ice cream stores are also hot for the D.C. market of late. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream embarked on a big D.C. expansion in recent years; booze-infused Tipsy Scoop came to Chinatown; and Brooklyn’s beloved Malai landed in Logan Circle. Bethesda’s scoops scene continues to rise with the anticipated arrival of Max’s Best Ice Cream this month.
This list compiles the area’s top destinations for ice cream scoops, gelato, and soft serve. Since this latest map refresh, decades-old area fixture Moorenko’s Ice Cream Café has sadly closed; and we added Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats in Maryland to the list.
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
Partners Brian Lowit and Melissa Quinley brought the uber-creamy Maine favorite to Mount Pleasant in summer 2018. Find one of the best cookies and cream varieties in town, along with summery fan-favorites like blueberry sour cream crumble and watermelon sorbet. Open for walk-up and takeout.
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats
Founded by mother-daughter team Sarah and Annie Park, this six-year-old scoops shop with a pair of Bethesda storefronts specializes in innovative flavors made in small batches. Seasonal and rotating highlights include Luck O’ the Irish, Rose Pistachio, French Toast Crunch, Bourbon Brown Sugar Walnut Pie, and Key West Key Lime Pie, with 40 flavors at any given time. There’s plenty of options for vegans, too. There’s an additional location in Rockville, with another en route to Dupont.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
The Ohio-based ice cream chain with a cult following is known for flavors like brambleberry crisp, gooey butter cake, and a buttermilk rainbow sorbet. Stop by any of its six area scoop shops (14th Street NW, Arlington, Old Town, Bethesda, Barracks Row, and Tysons) for takeout, or go the delivery route for pints at your door.
Happy Ice Cream
Happy Ice Cream serves a solid selection of frozen pints inside the shop, plus scoops outside from their ice cream cart when weather permits. Offerings include freshly spun olive oil gelato with cocoa crumble, strawberry-buttermilk ice cream with polenta crumble, or popcorn with corn cake and caramel with handmade sourdough cones. The pint shop is open Tuesday-Saturday 12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — with scoops from the cart 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (and starting at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday).
Thomas Sweet
Thomas Sweet is a regional chain with four locations in New Jersey, but its Georgetown shop is considered a local mainstay. Part of allure is the commitment to classic flavors — there’s no funky stuff here — as well as the option to fold in candy and additional sweeteners.
Dolci Gelati (Multiple locations)
With a steady stream of seasonal flavors created by pastry chef and owner Gianluigi Dellaccio, Dolci Gelati always has something new to try. Its dedicated storefront in Shaw sends out vegan flavors and cakes from a takeout window. There’s also Dolci digs in Old Town and inside the Smithsonian Zoo.
The Creamery at Union Market
Daniel Burdge, the longtime retail manager for Trickling Springs’s now-defunct area shops, made a comeback with the opening of a dairy-driven stand inside Union Market.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
NYC’s cult ice cream company Van Leeuwen debuted in D.C. in Union Market with over 30 dairy (and vegan) flavors like Earl Grey tea, Sicilian pistachio, and Marionberry Cheesecake made with vine-ripened berries from Oregon’s Stahlbush Island Farms. Van Leeuwen curbs daily sugar fixes until as late as midnight on weekends. Van Leeuwen has since expanded to Georgetown, Adams Morgan, National Landing, Union Station, Capitol Hill, and 14th Street NW.
Pitango Gelato (Multiple locations)
Local chain Pitango, which recently added fresh locations at the Wharf and in Old Town, prides itself on serving traditional gelato flavors, such as hazelnut and pistachio, as well as more modern interpretations such as dark chocolate sorbet and green tea. Dairy now comes from its partner Prigel Family Farm in Glen Arm, Maryland. Other outposts sit in Penn Quarter, Adams Morgan, Bethesda, Reston, and Fells Point, Maryland.
Toby's Homemade Ice Cream
Get a taste of the Philippines with ube ice cream and other global-leaning flavors at Toby’s in Arlington and Vienna. Toby’s also sends out bags of house coffee beans made by Swing’s.
Southwest Soda Pop Shop
The Wharf’s family-owned, pint-size ice cream parlor is known for its soft serve, shakes, and floats. Swing by daily starting at noon.
Ice Cream Jubilee (Multiple locations)
The fast-growing D.C. chain, with locations at the Yards, Ballston Quarter food hall, and Georgetown, sends out pints or scoops of whimsical flavors like banana bourbon caramel, Thai iced tea, and caramel popcorn available for pick-up or delivery. There’s brownie and chocolate sundaes, too. Additional locations recently arrived in Reston, West Falls Church, and College Park.
Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co.
Founder Ray “Pop” Giovanni catered events at the White House and served first lady Eleanor Roosevelt her favorite ice cream. His secret recipes live on in neighboring Alexandria at this classic neighborhood scoop shop. Alexandria is also home to frozen custard favorite The Dairy Godmother.
Peterson's Ice Cream Depot
This quaint window out in Clifton, Virginia is the go-to spot for locals to grab soft-serve and scooped ice cream with toppings. There’s a dozen homemade flavors on tap each day, like tiramisu and a bourbon-infused variety with crunchy chocolate clusters.
Hovermale's Tastes Best
This classic, cash-only ice cream stand in Prince George’s County has been serving wholesome cones since 1954.
Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee (Multiple locations)
Around for 20 years, gelato chain Dolcezza is one of the first shops in the area to specialize in unique flavors and artisanal ingredients. Options range from the traditional straciatella to black sesame to Swiss tarragon. Order ahead to pick up pints at Fairfax, City Center DC, Dupont, Bethesda, and Hirshhorn locations, and its newest sits on H Street NE. Local delivery via third-party apps is also available.