These 11 ice cream shops are churning out greatness

Boston Globe

2 days ago

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Crescent Ridge
Crescent Ridge
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe staff
For a taste of a roadside ice cream stand in the heart of the city, head to the Crescent Ridge stall at Boston Public Market, where the longtime Sharon dairy company serves up its famous family recipes. Don't miss the award-winning cherry ridge ripple — cherry ice cream with cherry halves and fudge. Best of all, unlike many rural roadside stands, this location is open year round.
Address:
Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street, Downtown
Phone:
Find online:
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Delini Gelato
Delini Gelato
Ice cream is a summertime staple, but one taste of the gelato from this tiny shop in West Roxbury might tempt you to make the switch forever. Made in small batches, the richly flavored offerings here are a masterclass in the Italian treat. The constantly rotating menu, which can include flavors such as tiramisu, chocolate hazelnut, and baklava, will keep you on your toes. A few seats can be found inside, or you can just eat in your car — either way, you won't want to wait.
Address:
5 Bellevue Street, West Roxbury
Phone:
Not available
Find online:
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Far Out Ice Cream
Far Out Ice Cream
Harrison Seiler
Made to order is the name of the game at Far Out Ice Cream, a Brookline-based chain that crafts New Zealand-style ice cream (it's a thing) from regional ingredients. Select a chocolate or vanilla base – vegan, frozen yogurt, or small-batch ice cream – then take your pick of flash-frozen fruit, including Maine blueberries. Blended together in a machine, the result is a fruit-forward treat with soft-serve consistency. Add toppings such as wildflower honey, dark chocolate flakes, or matcha, and have it in a fresh, house-made waffle cone. It's New Zealand meets New England. Multiple locations in the Boston area.
Address:
419 Harvard Street, Brookline, and other locations
Phone:
Find online:
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Forge Baking Co. & Ice Cream Bar
Forge Baking Co. & Ice Cream Bar
Harrison Seiler
Tucked in an unassuming strip mall between Porter and Union squares, this shop features small-batch ice cream with some deep local roots: its founders years ago honed their churning skills at Herrell's, the iconic chain. The ice cream here is dense but smooth with the sweet malted vanilla being a highlight, and while you're there you can also sample baked goods and pastries from the bakery.
Address:
626 Somerville Avenue, Somerville
Phone:
Find online:
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Honeycomb Creamery
Honeycomb Creamery
At this popular ice cream shop between Harvard and Porter squares, owners strive to source every possible ingredient — strawberries, rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, and more — from local farms, and you can taste it in exceptional, ripe flavors. Look for Taco Tuesdays (made with ice cream), vegan options, and fresh fruit sorbets — the most appealing lineup of frozen treats.
Address:
1702 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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The Ice Creamsmith
The Ice Creamsmith
Summer nights in Dorchester's Lower Mills neighborhood wouldn't be complete without the smell of The Ice Creamsmith's sweet treats wafting in the air. Featuring store-baked cookies, ice cream cakes and pies, and of course delicious scoops and sundaes, it's no wonder the lines can get long at this nearly 50-year-old neighborhood spot. Locals return for flavors such as banana, which includes banana chunks, and the classic maple walnut.
Address:
2295 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
Phone:
Find online:
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New City Microcreamery
On top of inventive, rotating dairy flavors — options can include chipotle mezcal, olive oil, horchata, and baklava — New City Microcreamery in Central Square is a surprisingly great choice for vegans. Skip the vanilla and opt for seasonal flavors like the dreamy chocolate avocado – silky, chocolaty, and just a touch earthy – or the refreshing lime avocado. The cherry on top: The sprinkles are vegan, too. (Additional locations in Hudson and Sudbury.)
Address:
403 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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The Scoop N Scootery
The Scoop N Scootery
Responsible for felling many a pandemic diet, this delivery ice cream service is a creamy Mad Libs: Make your own zany creation with dozens of toppings ranging from sugar-cookie bites, to apple pie, to a fluffy hardened armor of whipped cream — a must — or trust shop employees' expertise. Who could resist, much less dream up, German chocolate cake ice cream piped with frosted red velvet cake? It's part dessert, part mad science experiment, all available without having to pause Netflix. The original location is on Mass. Ave. in Arlington.
Address:
75 Linden Street, Allston, and other locations
Phone:
Find online:
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Taiyaki
Taiyaki
Tom Yang
Taiyaki NYC offers flavors of soft serve ranging from vanilla to yuzu, but it isn't the ice cream that's made this spot Instagram-famous. The trendy chain with locations in the Seaport and Harvard Square specializes in cones made of taiyaki, the waffle-like Japanese treat shaped like a fish; here, it comes with ice cream spiraling out of an open mouth. Choose one filled with red bean paste or custard and top it with sprinkles or a mini unicorn horn. If you're not in the mood for ice cream, you can also order a standalone taiyaki — always made fresh, with a golden crust and gooey center.
Address:
119 Seaport Boulevard, Suite B, Seaport, and another location
Phone:
Find online:
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Toscanini's
Toscanini's ice cream Green Tean and Mango Ice Cream.
Jonathan Wiggs /Globe Staff
It's no exaggeration to say that Toscanini's is a Cambridge institution. Gus and Mimi Rancatore's ice cream parlors have been serving rich, creamy scoops of burnt caramel, kulfi, and B3 (brown butter, brown sugar, and brownies) for years. With an ever-changing roster of creative flavors and a deeply Cantabrigian vibe, Toscanini's has won plentiful accolades and a loyal tribe of regulars.
Address:
899 Main Street, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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