As high temperatures knock on the door of 100 degrees, two things can combat the heat: air conditioning and ice cream.
We asked readers about favorites for both a few years ago but today we’re going to focus on ice cream. Specifically: listing every ice cream shop in Arlington.
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream
5849 A Washington Blvd, Westover & 510 14th Street S., Pentagon City
A local staple since the 1990s, Toby’s offers “sinfully delicious” sundaes and the “thickest hand-dipped” milkshakes. Unique flavors on the menu include ube, Philippine mango and cherry blossom sorbet.
Nicecream
2831 Clarendon Blvd, Clarendon
Nicecream features a weekly menu of rotating flavors — including the likes of strawberry fields, blueberry lemon, salted caramel and peanut butter cup — made fresh and instantly frozen with liquid nitrogen. In the freezer, customers can find pints of some of the shop’s best sellers: vanilla chocolate chunk, purely pistachio and more.
Carvel Express
3322 Wilson Blvd, Virginia Square
Carvel is perhaps best known for its ice cream cakes — like Fudgie the Whale — but also offers a variety of traditional soft-serve flavors, ice cream sandwiches and more take-home treats. Looking for a deal? This location offers buy one get one free sundaes every Wednesday.
Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream
1201 S. Joyce Street, Pentagon City
Mimi’s all-natural ice cream offers quite a few unique options. Alongside traditional offerings like vanilla bean and butterscotch, Mimi’s features matcha, sweet corn, wasabi peas, fennel and more. Adult options like drunken cherry choco, rum raisin and Bailey’s Irish cream are also available.
Fantasticks
2800 Clarendon Blvd, Clarendon
The recently opened Fantasticks offers custom gelato popsicles, allowing customers to choose from 20 different base flavors. The pops are then dunked in chocolate and other dip options before being topped with sprinkles, gummy bears or many more toppings.
La Moo Creamery
2501 N. Harrison Street, Yorktown
La Moo appears to be Arlington’s lone spot still offering Thai rolled ice cream — where liquid ice cream and toppings are placed on an ice-cold surface and frozen. Traditional toppings are mostly offered, but customers can also get the likes of Fruity Pebbles, rose syrup, boba and more.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
269 19th Court S., Crystal City
Alongside its more unique offerings — such as lemon poppy seed muffin and earl grey tea — Van Leeuwen offers eight different vegan options. Assorted ice cream bars and sandwiches are also on the shop’s menu.
Ice Cream Jubilee
Ballston Quarter
Tucked away in the mall’s Quarter Market level, Ice Cream Jubilee’s menu is inspired by “travel, boozy cocktails and childhood treats.” Unique offerings from the D.C.-based company include banana bourbon caramel, marionberry, matcha green tea and passionfruit guava sorbet.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
The Village at Shirlington
Jeni’s is built on allowing customers to try a handful of different flavors. There are plenty to choose from here, with the scoops available including gooey butter cake, sparkling cherry pie, brambleberry crisp and wildberry lavender.
Häagen-Dazs
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
The national chain offers a variety of scoops, from bourbon vanilla bean truffle to black and white cookie. Dazzler Sundaes, featuring layered ice cream and toppings, are a big player on the brand’s menu, which also features milkshakes, smoothies and frappes.
Cold Stone Creamery
2200 Crystal Drive, Crystal City & 3141 Langston Blvd (opening soon)
Cold Stone prepares scoops on a frozen surface, allowing for ice cream and toppings to become completely integrated — providing no limit to what can be created. Flavors like sweet cream, cake batter and classic cookie dough are always available, while stores also offer “local favorite flavors.” A location at the Lyon Village Shopping Center is expected to open this month.
Iceberry
1715 Wilson Blvd, Rosslyn
Arlington’s lone frozen yogurt shop, Iceberry offers a variety of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry and mango. The store doesn’t operate on a weight-based system, instead allowing customers to add toppings like blueberries, gummy bears and mochi pieces for a 60-cent fee.
Baskin-Robbins
3520 Langston Blvd, Cherrydale & 3100 Columbia Pike, Douglas Park
Known for its original 31 flavors, Baskin-Robbins’ flavor library now consists of more than 1,400 options. Locally, you’ll be able to find flavors such as Oreo ‘n Cold Brew, strawberry dragonfruit, creole cream cheese and more.
Dolci Gelati
1751 Crystal Drive, Crystal City
Dolci Gelati’s small-batch gelato is made fresh daily, ranging from traditional flavors like coffee and cookies and cream to the more unique carrot, maple bacon and more.
Dippin’ Dots
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
A staple at ballparks around the country, the “Ice Cream of the Future” has a location in Pentagon City. Popular flavors include rainbow ice, cookies and cream and much more.
Three Whistles
2719 Wilson Blvd, Clarendon
This hybrid coworking space and cafe offers a sizable selection of Dolci Gelati flavors and milkshakes.
Kilwins
3101 Wilson Blvd, Clarendon (opening soon)
Steps from the Clarendon Metro station, Kilwins will be coming soon to the neighborhood. Long having a presence in the D.C. area, Kilwins’ unique offerings include cappuccino chocolate chip, turtle cheesecake and sea salt caramel, among others.
Any glaring omissions? Let us know in the comments. Note that the list intentionally omits businesses where ice cream is not a primary food option.
