Food

Where to get the best ice cream in Massachusetts

See 100+ ice cream shops readers love — plus 7 standout picks across Greater Boston, Somerville, Cambridge, and Cape Cod.

By Jacqueline Cain

July 29, 2025

11 minutes to read

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Like that kid in your class growing up who wore shorts every day (as the dress code allowed), New England’s love for ice cream knows no season. We don’t just eat ice cream in the summer, nor only on sunny days. (Boston.com photographed part of this guide on one of the rainiest weekdays in July, yet at Gracie’s Ice Cream in Union Square, a customer entered as soon as the store opened for their Fluff cone fix. “It’s always ice cream weather,” said owner Aaron Cohen, citing a line he’s popularized on Gracie’s merch.)

The region’s reputation clearly precedes and Greater Boston has more high-quality ice cream than ever. New York City-born Van Leeuwen is expanding in the area, and the fanciful flavors (think: chocolate-chili crisp peanut butter cup) from the West Coast’s Salt & Straw just landed in New England via Salem, N.H. 

Although we’re happy to have a scoop or a few in the spring, fall, and wintertime, this so-far steamy season has been particularly full of ice cream orders, so we’re highlighting seven local favorites alongside an updated list and map of more than 100 ice cream shops recommended by Boston.com readers. 

Greater Boston 

Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar

It doesn’t get more classic than a working dairy farm with a walk-up ice cream window. For more than 50 years, Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar has served this scene in Sharon, where lusciously loaded flavors like Black Bear—black raspberry ice cream dense with chocolate chips and chocolate-raspberry truffles)—are made. The family-owned farmers know that cityfolk have a taste for their dairy (just notice all the Crescent Ridge milk-delivery vessels on stoops around Boston), so they’ve expanded to Boston Public Market. Both Crescent Ridge dairy bars are open with ice cream year-round.

407 Bay Rd., Sharon

FoMu 

A plant-based creamery (thanks, coconut!) based in Watertown, FoMu began in 2012 as an alternative offering on the Boston ice cream scene. Numerous locations have opened through the years and today, the brand has storefronts in the South End, Fenway, and Quincy Market. Visiting is a treat, no matter how you slice it: Along with cups, cones, ice cream-cookie sandwiches, and ice cream cakes to-go, FoMu serves George Howell Coffee and an array of gluten-free and vegan baked goods that appeal to any sweet tooth. Scoops swirled with picnic-perfect desserts, like Blueberry Cobbler and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, are summer’s peak flavors.

655 Tremont St., South End; 140 Brookline Ave., Fenway-Kenmore, 200 Faneuil Hall Square, Downtown Boston

Cambridge/Somerville 

Toscanini’s

Toscanini’s is a protege of bygone Camberville ice cream parlor-pioneer, Steve’s, which is credited with the idea of mix-ins. Tosci’s has made its own history in the ensuing decades (it opened in 1981!), from its ice cream earning national acclaim to the original shop surviving the gentrification of Central Square. It now has two Cambridge scoop shops with rotating selections of flavors. It’s probably possible to try something new every visit to Tosci’s, from Lemon Fluff to Kulfi (an Indian-inspired blend of cardamom, pistachio, and almond). But we often go back to B3, a signature scoop of brown butter, brown sugar, and brownie.

159 First St, Cambridge; 899 Main St., Cambridge

Honeycomb Creamery

Honeycomb Creamery continues the long Cambridge tradition of exciting small-batch ice cream. Founder Kristen Rummel and her small team devise of-the-moment flavors every season, as well as regular offerings that are anything but ordinary. Salted Caramel Crackle is an always-flavor that gets its sweet-and-salty texture from homemade honeycomb candy. There’s always a handful of vegan-friendly scoops, a soft-serve twist combination, and Greek frozen yogurt, plus homemade waffle bowls for ice cream sundaes and other novelties.

1702 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

Gracie’s Ice Cream

Gracie’s brings a quirky Somerville edge to your typical neighborhood ice cream shop, and we’re not just talking about the experimental Market Basket-sourced mix-ins. Founded by Aaron Cohen, a local dad who planned food events during the early Instagram era, Gracie’s is all about fun flavors. Homemade bases like vanilla, chocolate, and black raspberry get all manner of additions, from leftover holiday candy (the store takes seasonal donations) to Cosmic Brownie bits. To honor a Somerville invention, Fluff cones are toasted to order with a handheld blowtorch. It must be said: We also appreciate the travel-size packets of Lactaid on the menu. Gracie’s has a second location in Kendall Square, co-located with cocktail bar Earnest Drinks.

22 Union Square, Somerville; 399 Binney St., Cambridge

Cape Cod

Sundae School 

Each visit to this Dennisport creamery is an education in nostalgia. Sundae School packs a plethora of memorabilia into its renovated-barn headquarters, from the vintage soda machine on the counter and tin signs on the walls to a playable upright piano among the tables and chairs. The rich, old-fashioned ice cream will also bring you back in all the best ways. Go for a classic banana split with strawberry ice cream and a Bing cherry on top, or try a specialty scoop like Bass River Mud, which is coffee ice cream with roasted almonds, chocolate chunks, and a fudge stripe. Sundae School, which also has an outpost in Harwich Port, is a seasonal business.

381 Lower County Rd., Dennis Port; 606 MA-28, Harwich Port

Four Seas Ice Cream 

New owners took over this storied ice cream shop in Centerville this season and it hasn’t skipped a beat. The line on an ideal summer evening is as long as ever, and the rewards just as sweet: Chip Chocolate (chocolate-swirled vanilla), Fresh Cantaloupe (only when in season), and Penuche Pecan (brown-sugar ice cream with praline nuts) are some of the homemade flavors consistent for 90-plus years. Don’t miss the seasonal Fresh Peach ice cream if you’re lucky enough to visit the Cape during peach season.

360 S Main St., Centerville

Map: The best ice cream in Massachusetts, according to readers