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The 12 Best Ice Cream Shops Across the United States

James Wong James Wong |
Zach Camp/Unsplash

Here’s where to get the lick of your life from the East to the West Coast.

With the summer season in full swing, Americans have certainly got a frozen treat or two on the brain right now, and if you haven’t, then well, perhaps things haven’t yet reached boiling point up in Fairbanks. For the rest of us down south, sweltering conditions mean the perfect excuse to go heavy on the scoop.

Sure, you have quarts in the fridge, ideal for shoveling in your face without too much thought, but when out and about, ice cream’s an exciting occasion. Across the nation, parlours are sprinkling creativity on small batch concoctions, experimenting with unique flavors and presentation styles worth waiting in line for or creating a TikTok for. A scoop of potato chip caramel or Thai iced tea, anyone?

Whatever tickles your fancy, we’ve rounded up the very best ice cream shops in the US, purveying both classic and innovative flavors, but with one important element in common: incredible frozen treats. You won’t be forgetting these licks anytime soon.

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1 OF 12

Annapolis Ice Cream Company

WHERE: Annapolis, Maryland

There’s a solid reason why Annapolis Ice Cream Company has been voted the local favorite for over 20 consecutive years; the Main Street institution peddles the creamiest scoops fresh each day, using only natural and organic ingredients. The shop has over 200 different flavors on rotation, which depend on ingredient seasonality, such as the cherry pie and the strawberry ice cream, both swirled with fresh fruit. Ice cream cakes are also available.

2 OF 12

Leopold’s Ice Cream

WHERE: Savannah, Georgia

Leopold’s Ice Cream ain’t just a dessert shop, it’s a piece of Savannah history. Founded in 1919 by three Greek brothers, the store still features original menu items such as the Banana Split and the Brownie Sundae, served within a retro space filled with vintage movie props and posters, and a wooden back bar. There’s even a black marble soda fountain where you can have your ice cream scooped onto a fizzy float.

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3 OF 12

Toscanini’s

WHERE: Boston, Massachusetts

The New York Times says it’s the best ice cream in the world, and whilst the other 11 parlors on our list might dispute the claim, we’ll at least confirm that Toscanini’s is most interesting in Boston. What’s cool about the store is its willingness to push the boundaries when it comes to flavors, with bonkers-but-they-work ice creams spanning from Guinness (a crowd pleaser on St. Patrick’s Day) to Wasabi Ginger, which we assume isn’t for the faint-hearted. The Burnt Caramel has been their biggest success story, earning acclaim and following for its smoky aftertaste on a heavy cream base.

4 OF 12

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

WHERE: New York City

A family-owned and operated business since the 1970s, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is one of the most beloved dessert spots in Manhattan—fans line up even during brutal New York winters. They offer Asian-inspired scoops, such as Almond Cookie, which utilizes Chinese almond cookies from Chinatown’s famous Fung Wong Bakery, and the Don Tot, based on the Chinese egg custard tart, alongside more familiar flavors like Thai Iced Tea, Red Bean, and Black Sesame. Look out for their specials, which combine East meets West ingredients in dishes like Banana Durian or Green Tea Oreo.

5 OF 12

Sweet Republic

WHERE: Scottsdale, Arizona

If ice cream shops received Michelin stars, Sweet Republic would be a surefire recipient. Chef Helen Yung’s artful eye comes as a result of her training at Le Cordon Bleu, and she and partner, Jan Wichayanuparp, whip up sundaes so beautiful your camera roll will need to eat first. Everything’s made from scratch with natural, locally sourced ingredients, and signature sundae flavors include Caramel Almond and Campfire S’mores. Classic options are available by the scoop, and there are always monthly specials such as Dubai Chocolate and a dairy-free Mango Sticky Rice.

6 OF 12

Lick Honest Ice Creams

WHERE: Austin, Texas

In a state where cow products reign supreme, the founders of Lick Honest Ice Creams, Anthony and Chad, are dedicated to sourcing every ingredient that goes into their tubs with utmost care. The company works only with family-owned dairy farms carrying single-herd, grass-fed cows; sources fruit, herbs, and mix-ins from local organic growers, and keeps operations sustainable, including using compostable serving materials and packing each pint by hand. There’s nothing artificial at all–even cones are made from scratch, and the result is quality you can taste, from classic Milk Chocolate to funky, refreshing Goats Cheese, Thyme & Honey.

7 OF 12

Salt & Straw

WHERE: Portland, Oregon

Yes, Salt & Straw may be available nationwide, but not much has changed by way of technique and taste since the company first opened in 2011 in Portland, Oregon, by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek. You can still visit the OG store on Alberta Street, going down the bestseller route of Chocolate Gooey Brownie or Double Fold Vanilla, or on more out-there monthly specials like Gruyère and Tomato Custard Tart. That’s if you can elbow out its celeb-strong following, which includes Jeff Goldblum, Chrissy Teigen, and Dwayne Johnson. The Rock, in fact, loves it so much that he is both an investor and a creative collaborator.

8 OF 12

Loblolly Creamery

WHERE: Little Rock, Arkansas

Loblolly Creamery is a Little Rock favorite thanks to its imaginative, regionally rooted ice creams. Started by a mother-daughter team, the company focuses on from-scratch recipes and state seasonal ingredients, with over 30 handcrafted flavors to choose from. Staples include the Arkansas Mud (chocolate with marshmallow fluff and brownies), the Bourbon Pecan (Rock Town Distillery bourbon and Arkansas pecans), and the vegan Pinnacle Trail (coconut dark chocolate and Arkansas pecan pieces). Each one contains around 15% butterfat for a thicker, richer texture and profile.

9 OF 12

Bi-Rite Creamery

WHERE: San Francisco, California

If there’s only one salted caramel ice cream you have for the rest of your life, you’ll want it to be Bi-Rite Creamery’s. It was here that the trend for the French-invented flavor exploded in the early 2000s…a time when—hard to believe—Americans hadn’t yet developed a taste for it. Bi-Rite’s Salted Caramel is made with premium organic milk, gray sea salt, and sugar that is cooked longer for a smoky finish. Other equally delectable flavors on offer include Mint Chip and Tiramisu.

10 OF 12

Sugarwitch

WHERE: St. Louis, Missouri

Locals went wild when the first Sugarwitch opened as a pop-up in 2021, and within a year, Sophie Mendelson and Martha Bass opened a permanent brick-and-mortar. As you’ll maybe guess, ”witches” are their outrageously good ice cream sandwiches, each named after a famous literary witch. There’s Ursula, a vanilla, rainbow sprinkle, and salted brownie witch; Elphaba, a mint chip and salted mint brownie witch; and Cruella, a dotted cookies and cream and Oreo brownie witch. Sugarwitch also serves as a third space for LGBTQ+ folks in Missouri and donates a portion of its proceeds to local nonprofits that defend queer and women’s rights.

11 OF 12

Frankie & Jo’s

WHERE: Seattle, Washington

Vegans with a mild addiction to sweet treats should probably start looking at apartments in Seattle right now…aka the home of Frankie & Jo’s. This 100% plant-based ice creamery harnesses the powers of sprouted cashew milk, coconuts, and oats on creations you’ll demand to see the ingredients for. The Supercookies & Cream, Date Shake, and Jamocha Chaga Fudge are just some of the too-good-to-be-true vegan scoops, alongside seasonal specials and collaborations.

12 OF 12

An’s Dry Cleaning

WHERE: San Diego, California

Formerly a 1930s dry cleaning store, hence the name, An’s Dry Cleaning is now a made-from-scratch gelato shop that has been slowly garnering nationwide acclaim thanks to its inventive flavors and perfect execution of them. The flavor names are dedicated to different fabrics, such as Full Grain Leather, a brown butter mix with brownie and cookie crumbles, and Phin, a Vietnamese coffee concoction. Since they change every two weeks, returning guests are invited on tasting tours before committing to new creations.