Top 5 Ice Cream Shops in Boston

Mike Jones
By Mike Jones

With Massachusetts being one of the top ice cream consuming states in the country, it's no surprise that Boston is home to a plethora of ice cream shops.

However, as any ice cream lover knows, not all frozen treats are created equal. New England is known for the ultra-dense consistency of its ice cream. Thick and almost chewy in texture, New England style ice cream tends to veer in the direction of adding in lots of extra cookie crumbles, sauces, and other sweet bits.

1. Toscanini's

Named "the world's best ice cream" by the New York Times, Toscanini's was first opened in 1981 by co-founder Gus Rancatore. Known for their expansive selection of over 40 unique flavors, customer favorites include the Burnt Caramel, the B3 (brown sugar, brown butter, and brownies) and the Kenyan Khulfee, a unique flavor that includes cardamom, almonds and pistachios. Toscanini's also has an entire line of ice creams devoted to chocolate lovers, including flavors such as Belgian Chocolate, Cocoa Pudding, Black Bottom and Rather Dark Chocolate. If you're having trouble deciding on a flavor, staff are happy to offer up to two free samples. Additionally, Toscanini's menu also includes a variety of homemade toppings, including their fresh whipped cream, made daily. For those with smaller appetites, Toscanini's has their micro sundae, a small scoop of ice cream with any toppings, packed in a special espresso sized cup. Toscanini's also sells pints of their ice cream for those looking to enjoy this premium ice cream at home. If you're not quite in the mood for ice cream, Toscanini's also serves a variety of other cool treats including ice cream sandwiches. If you're looking to indulge in a less chilling sweet treat, consider some of Boston's top dessert places. From cloud-like pastries to decadent chocolate cakes, these top dessert spots will satisfy any sweet tooth.

$$$

899 Main St., Cambridge,

(617) 491-5877

https://www.tosci.com/

2. Cabot's

Cabot's Ice Cream & Restaurant has been serving up scoops of decadent ice cream for over 35 years. This family owned ice cream parlor is known for its ultra-decadent sundaes. From building your own to the traditional hot fudge sundae, Cabot's is a favorite amongst Boston locals. In recent years, Cabot's has also expanded its selection to include a wide selection of non-dairy options. Cabot's hosts birthday parties with a unique selection of Party Sundaes to choose from. Cabot's also prides itself on its community involvement and fundraising events. For example, they even made pink whipping cream for their participation in the Boston Bakes Breast Cancer Fundraiser.

$$$

743 Washington St, Newton, Massachusetts

(617) 964-9200

https://www.cabots.com/

3. Honeycomb Creamery

A newer addition to the Boston ice cream scene, Honeycomb Creamery was founded in 2015 by husband and wife team, Rory Hanlon and Kristen Rummel. This humble pair prides itself on making all of their ice cream and waffle cones from scratch, using simple and natural, locally sourced ingredients. For example, their milk and cream come from Mapleline Farm in Hadley, MA. Honeycomb Creamery is serious when it comes to making their ice cream. For this artisanal ice cream shop, ice cream isn't just for a cool treat; it's an entire experience. The shop pasteurizes their own ice cream base, which means that they can create each unique flavor exactly the way they want. Their menu includes classic favorites, but with a sophisticated twist, like the double chocolate swirl and burnt vanilla bean. Some of their popular seasonal picks include the brown butter oatmeal cookie and the sweet corn with blackberry jam. For non-dairy ice cream aficionados, Honeycomb Creamery also offers several vegan options.

Honeycomb Creamery

$$$

1702 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts https://www.honeycombcreamery.com/

4. FoMu

This completely plant-based ice cream shop is 100 percent dairy, egg and animal product free. Their signature blend of ice cream is made with coconut milk and a blend of natural sweeteners. FoMu strives to use seasonal and locally sourced, organic ingredients. Recently, FoMu also paired up with a variety of top chefs in Boston, for their local chef collaboration series. This series included a variety of limited edition flavors such as sugar pumpkin sesame by chef Douglass Williams of MIDA. For those who enjoy the seasonal flavors, FoMu also has a "seasonal pint club." This annual subscription includes four seasonal pints, delivered straight to your door.

$$$

655 Tremont St, Boston, Massachusetts

(617) 982-7955

https://www.fomuicecream.com/

5. Amorino Boston

Founded in 2002, Amorino Boston was created by two childhood friends, Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi. These two chefs are adamant about using only the finest quality ingredients, which also means that customers won't find any artificial flavorings or coloring agents in their dessert. Amorino Boston's signature item is their gelato. This European style gelateria isn't just known for the taste of their gelato, however. The presentation is equally as important at Amorino Boston. Their signature gourmet gelatos scoops are served shaped into flowers, making both a delicious and beautiful dessert. Customers can also have multiple flavors combined into a single flower scoop. The gelato also comes served topped with a macaron adding an extra decadent touch.

Amorino Boston

$$$

249 Newbury St, Boston, Massachusetts

(617) 585-3185

http://www.amorino.com/us/

Leave a Comment