A Native New Englander Shares The 18 Best Spots For Ice Cream In Boston
BY SARA KLIMEK/JULY 15, 2024 9:15 AM EST
Boston is known for many things. You have a ton of history, excellent cannoli, and some of the finest Italian pasta dishes on the East Coast. But one thing that you may not always associate Boston with is ice cream.
The fact of the matter is that big cities, especially those that tend to get warm in the summer months, offer a treasure trove of ice cream spots where eaters can pull up a stool and dive into a sundae, or grab a simple cone to go and enjoy as they walk around the city. As a New England resident and frequent Boston visitor, I've often found myself on the hunt for high-quality spots scooping flavors that I can't find anywhere else. To help make your ice cream journey a bit easier, I've curated a list of some of my favorite spots to enjoy ice cream in Boston, either based on my own personal experience or as recommendations from friends. Rest assured that you'll find numerous options for dairy- and nut-free eaters, as well as shops that are pushing the needle on frosty flavor innovation.
New City Microcreamery
If you like your desserts with a gastronomic flair, you're going to want to make a stop at New City Microcreamery in Cambridge. The chain, which has expanded to Sudbury and Hudson, utilizes liquid nitrogen to make its ice cream. The shop chills all of its bases for at least a day before mixing and aerating the frozen dessert, which reduces the size of the ice crystals and gives it a smoother consistency. Science, right?
The technology that this shop uses isn't just new age, but its flavors also fit the bill, too. You'll find creative options like baklava ice cream, which features a honey ice cream blended with honey walnut pieces and phyllo dough. Or, grab a scoop of tres leches, which has all that dense, milky flavor you're craving. If you don't live in Boston, but still live in the Southern New England region, you can find a pint of New City ice cream at your local Big Y grocery store or at some select markets.