43 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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“delicious-quick-friendly!“

“It’s hard to convey what a wonderful place this is. The ice cream is superb but that’s only a small part of what makes Lulabelle’s special. The people here are warm and friendly—the staff and the customers. It’s full of laughing kids and smiling couples. It really is a place for community and comfort food.“

“Love having an affordable burger joint in the neighborhood with a gluten free option, and THANK YOU for not upcharging for dietary restrictions ♥️

The gluten free bun is decent, but a bit dry. Not amazing but I will take what I can get, and I'd rather have that than an upcharge!

Fries and ube ice cream are a nice addition as well, but those get very expensive quickly!“

“A friend recommended this restaurant and the waiter was very helpful in choosing our appetizers and meals, and also provided excellent wine pairings. We even had a little chat with the other guests“

“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“

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

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

“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“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“Very flavorful Ice cream. Service in Ft Worth, TX was great. Made for enjoyable afternoon.“

“OMG I have never had a white mocha like that. I think you have ruined all other coffees for me. It was so smooth. Perfect sweetness. Everything was just perfect. The girl that made it has skills too. Efficient movements. Great attitude. Transcendent coffees. 👌🏻“

“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.“

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

“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 traveled to DC on a roadtrip from florida and I came here and got serviced by Josh. I have never had more outstanding service in any restaurant ever than I did here. I ordered the nobadeer and Josh was so helpful in answering my questions and so kind! Thank you!“

“Great sandwich choices and excellent bread as well as contents“

“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!“

“The vegan options are great!!!“

“I went here for my birthday (the staff didn’t know it was my birthday at first) and they were some of the most genuinely sweet people I’ve ever interacted with! Then, when they found out about my birthday they went even more above and beyond to make me feel special 🥰 In house I got the cereal milk soft serve with the corn flake crumble and an iced coffee overall an 11/10 ☺️ Very happy with my experience!!“

“The best almond croissant and blueberry matcha! I got regular size blueberry matcha and an almond croissant and paid 15$ - a little overpriced. One star deducted is for that reason. Nice ambience and I usually don’t like matcha that much much this one was fire!“

“This chain store is great.👍🏻“

“Amazing staff with an amazing mission!“

“I had the olive oil ice cream!!! They drizzled some olive oil and salt on top. So so so good!
This may be the best ice cream I’ve ever had, definitely the best in DC.

There is a bit of a wait in the line, but the staff is so friendly and it’s worth the wait!“

“Very flavorful Ice cream. Service in Ft Worth, TX was great. Made for enjoyable afternoon.“

“I've been here several times right before/after a ballgame at Nats park. It's the traditional Shake Shack if you know what to expect. For those who don't, they have pretty good fast food burgers and crinkle cut fries. Their burger sauce is very good!“

“Excellent layout and great customer service make this a great ice cream store. Yes, the prices are high but a trick would be to share a larger ice cream product. I liked the fact that they were not cheap with samples. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. I estimate there were about 20 flavors available at any time! Really great store!“

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

“Ice Cream Dreams in DC's Funscape

Beneath the glow of Capitol light,
In Washington's warm summer night,
Dreams take shape in frosty swirls,
A cityscape alive with pearls.

The Tidal Basin whispers low,
As cherry blossoms start to glow,
With cones in hand, we take our flight,
Through marble halls and moonlit sights.

The Washington Monument points to the stars,
While kids chase laughter near food trucks and cars,
Scoops of vanilla, a creamy embrace,
Reflections dance on Lincoln's face.

By Eastern Market, flavors bloom,
Lavender, honey, and berry in plume,
The vibrant streets a canvas wide,
For cones that drip and hearts that glide.

From Georgetown's charm to H Street's hum,
Every corner sings, "Come, come!"
To taste the joy in a city's gleam,
And revel in sweet ice cream dreams.

In this funscape where history meets,
A summer treat makes life complete,
A scoop of wonder, a bite of delight,
Washington DC, a magical night.“

“Fantastic way for both 2- and 4-legged friends to celebrate a pup’s birthday! Shantee is the best — super friendly and helpful - thank you!“

“Best gelato we’ve ever had in the States! Truly! This is the real deal. Highly recommend. We’ll be stalking your page with hopes that you’ll be near us again.“

“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.“

“I had the pleasure of visiting ice n slice , and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. I tried vegetarian pizza.The authentic Ethiopian flavors were rich, vibrant, and satisfying in every bite
The friendly service,bold and flavorful food, and a creative twist on pizza that sets this place apart. A must try for food lovers looking for something unique and delicious!”
I truly felt taken care of throughout my visit.

I’ll definitely be returning for my go-to Ethiopian food spot, and I highly recommend ice nd slice Eatery to anyone looking for bold ethiopian flavors and top-notch hospitality. You won’t be disappointed!“

“Very flavorful Ice cream. Service in Ft Worth, TX was great. Made for enjoyable afternoon.“

“I recommend the service, fun atmosphere, & the Variety of flavors (though in truth they should have a Dr. Ro’s Fave Flava) somebody tell the mgt.😉.“

“Gooey butter cake is the best!! But the wait is always so long here 😭😭😭

I came once and waited for 20 minutes with only 2 people in front of me in line and decided to leave. Came again and waited 20 minutes to get my ice cream. Came a third time and waited 15. Unbelievable.“