23 Best Ice Cream Shops in Washington

“I stopped by Pitango for dessert, and it definitely hit the spot! 😋 I tried two flavors: Stracciatella (vanilla with chocolate chips) and Fondente (dark chocolate). I don't usually eat gelato, so I was pleasantly surprised by the creaminess. The service was excellent; I wasn’t sure what to choose, but the cashier helped me by offering samples and sharing details about each flavor I tried. One of the chocolate flavors I sampled was incredibly rich and chocolatey—it's water-based and vegan-friendly, which was a first for me! The restaurant was nice, clean, and had indoor seating that could accommodate several people, but I decided to take my treat to go.“

“I love the hot cocoa from Dolci Gelati at the National Zoo for Zoo Lights. I bought 1 for me and 1 for a friend & went back again for a second night for more on the last night of Zoo Lights. Whipped cream, chocolate & caramel syrup is added to the top. It’s the best treat on a cold winter night or day at the zoo. Thank you!! I’ll keep coming back & bring friends.“

“MDI has the most delicious ice cream and you can really taste the care and quality ingredients that go into the product. Interesting array of flavors, amazing texture and mouthfeel, and I love that this place is not afraid to get adventurous with flavors. Black Sesame--yum! At the same time, their most simple, traditional flavors are among my favorites--Strawberry and Cookies and Cream are absolutely delightful. I appreciate that this place continues to keep their prices very reasonable, especially given how crazy expensive food has gotten in 2024. The staff is helpful and kind and I love supporting this anchoring neighborhood spot! A favorite weekly tradition!“

“Lulabelle’s is an absolute gem in Petworth. They hands down have the best coffee on the block, their espresso drinks are soooo delicious and you should try the cold brew on tap! The ice cream is to die for, hands down best ice cream in DC and the pastries and other foods are creative and delicious. My personal favorite are the injera crisps and the little fridge full of artisan cheeses!

Julie the owner is a hard working and good hearted person who is a pillar of the petworth community and all the others who work there are kind and welcoming.

Check it out, you won’t regret it!“

“delicious-quick-friendly!“

“Love the quality of the ice cream the candy apples are amazing The fudge is outstanding.“

“As a former pastry chef I find Jubilee to be an Exceptional tasting ice cream. I was super impressed, and Fell in love with the sweet potato and candy molasses. Crave it even! It was evident to me that they use Quality ingredients, decadent flavor profiles with lots of Creativity.“

“Genuinely super delicious and you can taste the freshness of the ingredients!! Definitely will be coming back. Such a simple menu, but it’s working in their favor! The space is on the smaller side but they have an adorable outdoor seating. I also love how kid-friendly the place was , including allowing kids to draw to decorate the space! Staff were also super friendly and it just feel a like a great local spot, that I hope is here for as long as possible.“

“We had a wonderful dinner at 1789 Restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. A lovely atmosphere, incredible staff, and FANTASTIC food and craft cocktails. The Brown Butter Old Fashioned is the best I’ve ever had. The staff went above and beyond to help us celebrate our anniversary. At the end of the meal, they presented us with a special, DELICIOUS dessert that included a thin piece of chocolate that said “Happy Anniversary” on it. I can’t wait to eat here again on our next visit to the DC area.“

“I loved this location and when we got off the boat tour I was so excited to get some gelato and have a view of the water. There was a big selection but employees weren’t super friendly and the gelato wasn’t as creamy as I like. The portions were big but I tossed half of mine“

“Wonder for family and friends to sweet treats . They have a variety of selection from vegan, nondairy and soft ice cream to name a few“

“Wonderful place all around“

“We loved the Lunar New Year Ice Cream Flight!“

“Some of the best Gelato I've ever had!!!!!!! 10 out of 10!!! Amazing. Truly a treat. I usually ride my bike and get the to-go bigger sizes for later. The flavor selection is varied and the flavor is outstanding. It's also right next to a great NYC style Pizza spot. Don't sleep on Altani Gelato & Coffee!!!!“

“love it there. So much to do and eat. Palette22 drew me there, and I found a great entertainment distinct full of fun times. I plein air painted Morse Alley. Cool spot.“

“lunch was delicious and the Gelato was even more delicious deliciouser! 😋 sitting outside across from Kennedy Center was a plus.“

“We were so excited to have Mr. Charles of Everyday Sundae be part of our wedding weekend. After we got engaged, we stopped by his ice cream shop that night for a treat, and from that moment, we knew we had to work with him for our special day. Having Everyday Sundae at our pre-wedding park day/cookout was such a fun and personal touch. Everyone was so surprised and absolutely loved the raspberry sorbet and Everyday Sundae’s signature bourbon truffle ice cream. It was a huge hit with our guests! Working with Mr. Charles was super easy—he’s professional, reliable, and was genuinely excited to be part of our wedding weekend. His warm personality and charm added so much to the event, and we couldn’t be happier to have included him in our wedding festivities. We love Mr. Charles and highly recommend Everyday Sundae for anyone looking to add a fun, personal touch to their event!“

“1st Timer! Customer Customer Service! The ice cream was really, really good!“

“Great service, clean, and delicious! Definitely a great treat!“

“I stopped by Pitango for dessert, and it definitely hit the spot! 😋 I tried two flavors: Stracciatella (vanilla with chocolate chips) and Fondente (dark chocolate). I don't usually eat gelato, so I was pleasantly surprised by the creaminess. The service was excellent; I wasn’t sure what to choose, but the cashier helped me by offering samples and sharing details about each flavor I tried. One of the chocolate flavors I sampled was incredibly rich and chocolatey—it's water-based and vegan-friendly, which was a first for me! The restaurant was nice, clean, and had indoor seating that could accommodate several people, but I decided to take my treat to go.“

“I just wanted to give a shout out to this great business! They provided ice cream (with all the fixins') to my residents during our educational/wellness event. The customer service was great and the ice cream was delicious 😋. Be sure to treat yourself to them if you're ever in the area.“

“I have been buying the buttermilk berry cornbread such a unique flavor. It’s so good. I’m so addicted to it. I’ve never tasted such a grape flavor in ice cream ever.“

“Absolutely amazing! The coffee was rich, smooth, and perfectly brewed—truly some of the best I’ve had. The service was fantastic, with friendly and attentive staff who clearly care about their customers. The whole experience was top-notch, and I can’t wait to return!“