The Best Ice Cream in Alexandria

The heat is on! Cooling down with some delicious ice cream is a classic way to beat the heat. We’ve rounded up the many unique spots for ice cream in Alexandria. From gelato to custard to classic ice cream sundaes, there is truly something for everyone at one of the many places for ice cream in Alexandria.

OLD TOWN

The Creamery

110 King Street

A stone’s throw to the Alexandria waterfront, The Creamery offers homemade ice cream, frozen custard, no-sugar-added ice cream, and dairy-free sorbet. If that’s not enough of a selection for you, cookies and cobblers are also baked in the store. The Creamery is also known for fast service, so don’t let its long line deter you.

Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream

109 King Street

With its old-fashioned atmosphere and fabulous customer service, Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream is a local favorite. You can find the usual standby flavors at Pop’s, but also some truly unique ones like Kahlua Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel, and Carrot Cake. Or try one of their specialty sundaes such as the “Johnny Appleseed,” with vanilla ice cream, apple pie chunks, butterscotch, caramel, and whipped cream. A lactose-free soft serve ice cream is also available at Pop’s.

Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato

111 South Payne Street

This family-owned and operated gelato shop brings this great Argentinian dessert to Alexandria. Casa Rosada uses highest quality natural ingredients to create their distinctive flavors (such as Malbec, sweet corn, kumquats, and dulce de leche to name a few). Casa Rosada offers 35 different flavors of gelato and 14 flavors of sorbet (20 flavors on any given day). They also sell dog-safe gelato for your four legged friends and gelato cakes for special occasions.

Ben & Jerry’s

103 South Union Street

You can’t go wrong with getting a scoop of one of Ben & Jerry’s creatively-named ice creams. You can’t miss Ben & Jerry’s, just off of King Street, with the bubbles blowing outside of the ice cream shop. You can catch a whiff of their decadent waffle cones from blocks away! Extra hungry? Round up some friends to share a Vermonster sundae, with its 20 scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, banana, cookies, brownies, and all of your favorite toppings.

Old Town Dolci Gelati Café

107 North Fairfax Street

Dolci Gelati Chef Gianluigi Dellaccio uses an authentic Italian recipe that has been in his family for generations, but with a modern twist. The flavor options are amazing – bacon gelato, Bellini sorbetti, and their award-winning Saffron Pistachio Candied Lemon Peel to name a few. Chef Dellaccio uses ingredients from local dairy farms and imported Ecuadorian chocolate. Dolci Gelati also makes butterbeer if you can’t make it to Hogwarts. If you can’t make it to the shop, look for Dolci Gelati products in Whole Foods Markets.

Kilwins Alexandria

212 King Street

Doubling as an ice cream and candy shop, Kilwins has something for anyone with a sweet tooth! Kilwins’ ice cream is made onsite from original recipes along with its chocolates, fudge, apples, corns, and brittles. Enjoy its wide variety of flavors including all of the classics, plus twists like Cinnamon Crumb Cake, Blueberry Waffle Cone, and Pumpkin Pie.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

102 S. Patrick Street

Jeni’s is a relative newcomer to the Old Town ice cream scene opening their Old Town location in the fall of 2019. Jeni’s is immensely popular nationwide as locals flocked to be able to check out their favorite flavors when the Old Town location opened. Jeni’s also has locations in Shirlington, McLean, Bethesda, and downtown DC. Jeni’s is known for its unique flavors including Cognac with Ginger Bread, Wildberry Lavender, and Texas Sheet. They also of course have classic flavors like Vanilla Bean and Darkest Chocolate.

DEL RAY

The Dairy Godmother

2310 Mount Vernon Avenue

Del Ray’s Dairy Godmother is a local favorite known for its Wisconsin-style custard. The custard is made with very little air the during the process, giving it its dense and creamy texture. Dairy Godmother offers a frozen custard flavor of the day, along with vanilla, chocolate, and sorbet. Be sure to bring your dog for one of its pumpkin or banana “Puppy Pops” or a “Squirrel,” its baked dog treat.

Dolce & Bean 

2003 A Mount Vernon Avenue

Also located in the heart of Del Ray, Dolce & Bean is famous for its artisanal, hand-crafted chocolates, confections, pastries, macarons, gelato, espresso and coffees. This local, family-owned business is a great place for people to gather. Whether you’re starting the day, need an afternoon break, or just really need a cup of coffee or a dessert, Dolce & Bean is for you, and of course try their ice cream!

Del Ray Boccato 

2400 Mount Vernon Avenue

This “rustic gelato lounge” in Del Ray, not only offers delicious gelato from stracciatella to chocolate peanut butter, but also Stumptown coffee, empanadas, and pasteries. Boccato also hosts live events such as live music and karaoke, and they also have a happy hour.

BELLE HAVEN

Custard Shack at The Haven

1401 Belle Haven Road

Open weekend evenings only from April to October, DRP’s Custard Shack is worth the trip to Belle Haven! Its silky custard is simply divine. Click here for its monthly menu of flavors.

Of course, you can also find national ice cream chains like Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery, and Dairy Queen, in Alexandria as well.

Did we miss your favorite spot for ice cream in Alexandria? If so, please let us know!

There is more than just great ice cream in Alexandria! For more insight into living in Alexandria, check out our other Inside Alexandria posts and sign up for one of our neighborhood orientation tours today.

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