It's hard to beat a frosty cup or cone of ice cream—and there's no shortage of spots around town to sample the very best scoops. Here are four of our favorite creameries around Boston, along with a best bet for vegan ice cream or sorbet, in case lactose isn't really your thing.
Christina's
Inman Square
With an ice cream shop and a spice shop under the same roof, it's no surprise that Christina's has become a legend in the Boston ice cream scene, introducing locals to flavors like adzuki bean, lavender, and créme fraîche long before they entered the ice-cream mainstream. The greatest hits at the Inman Square storefront include butter almond, coffee Oreo, and malted vanilla, but with more than two dozen flavors always on the board, you'll be spoiled for choice.
Toscanini's
Central Square
Once declared "The Greatest Ice Cream in the World" by the New York Times, Toscanini's has become a legend with local ice cream fans since its 1981 debut. There are definitely some greatest hits—burnt caramel, cake batter, khulfee (cardamom and nuts)—but it's hard to go wrong here. Try the B3, a combination of brown sugar, brown butter and brownies that might seem a little unusual, but tastes incredible.
Gracie's Ice Cream
Union Square
This little storefront in Somerville is the place to go for the Boston area's most creative flavors—all made right on site. The 12-flavor selection constantly rotates, but might include orange prosecco sorbet, honey cornbread, peanut butter Choco Taco, and "Gronk Smash" (peanut butter ice cream, potato chips, pretzels, Kit Kats, peanuts, and chocolate chips). Whatever you choose, it's best enjoyed in Gracie's signature sugar cone, dipped in caramelized marshmallow fluff.
Picco
South End
Short for "Pizza and Ice Cream Company," this South End spot does a mean thin-crust pie. But most visitors are eagerly anticipating dessert: ingredient-centric ice cream in alluring seasonal flavors like passionfruit, raspberry chip, and dark chocolate. Go for the sampler of any three ice creams or sorbets for $6.50. It's also available to-go at the front counter, if you'd rather not dine in.
Dairy-free option: FoMu
Allston/Jamaica Plain/South End
Boston is such an ice cream-loving town that vegans and the lactose-intolerant might feel left out—were it not for FoMu, which now boasts three locations serving 100% dairy-free "alternative ice cream." Made from coconut milk and organic ingredients, FoMu's gelato-like scoops come in flavors like fresh mint chunk, avocado, salted caramel, and chocolate pudding. They even do cookie sandwiches and ice cream cakes—all vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free, of course.
