47 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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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“

“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.“

“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 loved the Lunar New Year Ice Cream Flight!“

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

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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. 👌🏻“

“The vegan options are great!!!“

“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!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“This chain store is great.👍🏻“

“While I can’t speak for the brick and mortar location, this ice cream blew my mind! My organization had them serving ice cream at an event and they brought the cutest ice cream cart. The staff were friendly and the flavors were unique. Definitely paying the physical location a visit soon!!! Highly recommend.“

“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!“

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

“Amazing staff with an amazing mission!“

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

“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!“

“I come to this Häagen-Dazs shop all the time, and it never disappoints! The ice cream is consistently delicious—super creamy and full of flavor. What really makes this location stand out, though, is the service. Yonathan is always so friendly and welcoming. He remembers regulars like me and always takes the time to make sure everyone leaves with a smile. It’s little things like that that keep me coming back. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a sweet treat and great vibes!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Fantastic and quick service! Lovely employees too!“

“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.😉.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“Date of Visit: Thursday Aug 24th, 2023 Good portions for their ice cream. There were many flavours available. A lot of them had chocolate base/ content. I am not a fan of chocolate and vice versa. I ended up getting pralines and Cream which is my default flavour in these situations. The service was very friendly and helpful. The shop is located right across from the waterfront park – which makes it a great place to enjoy your ice cream. The prices are a bit steep but the volume is high, so I guess it is worth it.“

“brought my own baskin robbins ice cream, all 31 flavours, I only got to the 5 flavour at which point 2 men in suits grabbed me, they took me inside the baskin robbins HQ and had a talk with me I came out with a black eye, no toenails, 5 teeth missing and ptsd however the ice cream they serve here I have been told is of excellent quality“

“We went to the Mono (Georgetown) location and our burgers were excellent. The staff was friendly and the space was clean. There was outdoor seating enjoyed by many, but we chose to sit indoors and people-watch in the charming, bustling area on a Sunday afternoon. Great experience as out-of-towners!“