Summer’s here and it’s time for ice cream. Luckily, Rhode Island has plenty of great ice cream shops. Get out and try a few and decide for yourself which is best. Here’s just a few of the most highly-acclaimed in our state.
Charlestown
Holy Cow has over 100 flavors of small batch, premium ice cream. They also offer sorbet, yogurts, and vegan and dairy-free options. Everything is made fresh daily and does not contain preservatives, artificial colors, sweeteners, or additives.
Flavors include raspberry truffle, peanut butter Oreo, sea-salted caramel, and many, many more.
Cumberland
This shop has an amazing, creative ice cream menu, plus tons of toppings. Their ice cream is creamy and you can even special order certain flavors.
You’ll have to visit to discover what’s in Cow Tracks, Dinosaur Droppings, or a Purple Cow, but they’re all delicious. They also have classics such as Rum-Raisin, Maple Walnut, and French Vanilla.
East Greenwich
Clementine’s Homemade Ice Cream
Clementine’s won the Food Network’s Magazine best scoop for the state award for their oatmeal cookie ice cream. However, they have more than 25 flavors so you might find another one that tickles your taste buds more.
They feature special summer flavors such as peach and banana and occasionally whip up a batch of Fluffernutter too. They also have frozen yogurt, no sugar added ice cream, and sorbet and another location in Middletown!
Newport
Cold Fusion serves handcrafted gelato and sorbet in an amazing range of flavors. Try Amaretto Almond Crunch, Cassia Cinnamon, or Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla gelato. If sorbet is your thing, how about Blackberry Merlot, Blood Orange, or Key Lime?
Kilwin’s has been making their own premium ice cream since 1985. They also make their own waffle cones, hot fudge, and caramel toppings in-house.
Several of their flavors are actually trademarked including their Kilwin’s Tracks with vanilla-flavored ice cream, chocolate-covered peanut butter truffles, and thick chocolate fudge. They also have no-sugar added ice cream and yogurt.
Providence
Like No Udder is a 100% vegan ice cream shop, but they sure don’t compromise on taste. They use coconut, cashew, soy, oat, and almond instead of dairy and feature a rotating selection of house made ice cream, soft serve ice cream, and shakes.
Flavors fluctuate, but a few of the favorites include peanut butter, pistachio, and maple pecan, among others.
This shop features classic homemade ice cream, plus a smattering of specials. They’re all subject to availability and some sell out fast. Cookies and cream, coffee crunch, and black raspberry are just a few you’ll want to try. Keep an eye out for pistachio, mango, strawberry rhubarb and espresso chip too. Yum!
Tricycle goes far beyond the cone, even though they have them too. They also make delicious ice cream sandwiches, ice cream tacos, and exotic sorbets in a variety of tropical flavors.
Even the cone is transformed into a work of art, dipped in fine chocolate, and scooped into a flavored waffle cone.
Tiverton
This is a take-out window within the Bristol Harbor Inn, but it holds a treasure trove of flavor delights.
The ice cream is handmade and hard, but sumptuous. They also make their own waffle cones and offer yogurt, sherbet, and sugar-free options. Classic flavors range from Black Raspberry to Vanilla.
Wakefield
Brickley’s is open 7 days a week and features fresh homemade ice cream made on-site. They have 45 flavors ice cream, frozen yogurt, no-sugar added ice cream, sherbets, and sorbet. Unusual flavors include apple pie, ginger, and sweet cream, but they also have all the classics.
Warwick
This 1950’s style ice cream shop offers a huge variety of Hershey ice creams as well as frozen yogurt, soft serve, and shakes. They have everything from classic flavors such as vanilla to caramel cheesecake and cookie monster. This is a cash only establishment.
West Warwick
This is a mom-and-pop ice cream shop serving over 80 flavors of hard serve, soft serve, and sugar-free ice cream and yogurt. Flavors include peanut butter, birthday cake, and cappuccino chip.
Watch Hill
This family-owned ice cream shop has been in business since 1887. They make their ice cream in small batches on premises as they have for generations.
Staple flavors include Black Cherry Chocolate Chip, Coconut Pineapple, and Watermelon Sherbet. They also do seasonal flavors such as Peach Cobbler, Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler, and Blueberry Mojito.
