As summer time approaches, and with record-heat possible this coming week, our very own Mr. MoCo wanted to share his current 12 favorite ice cream spots in MoCo. The word current is there because this list often changes with places moving in and out of his rotation. “While I love just about every ice cream place there is, I’m choosing the 15 that appeal to me the most right now. I’m also including places that offer “frozen treats” because I consider it all in the ice cream family. If there’s a place not listed, it’s just not currently in my top 12, which is likely to look different than yours (I’m only one person and can only eat so much ice cream, so there are also likely places I haven’t been to yet).” The list you’ll see below is accurate as of June 15th, 2024:
12. Sprinkles (Potomac): A Potomac Village staple since the late 80s, I first tried Sprinkles at some point in the 90s. It’s a bit out of the way in terms of things I’ve done in general so I haven’t been lately, but I enjoy it when I go.
11. York Castle (Rockville): I don’t like coconut ice cream in general, but I love the coconut ice cream at York Castle (along with just about every other flavor I’ve tried). They even had a Guinness flavor that I had a sample of. Pretty interesting. I also love the pineapple ice cream.
10. Moorenko’s (Silver Spring): Moorenko’s was the first place I ever had the interesting flavors like “lavender vanilla bean” or something like that. When I am in the area in Silver Spring, I always make sure to stop by.
9. Pitango (Bethesda): This is always such an interesting experience for me. I choose one of the very unique gelato flavors and always think it’s just ok for the first couple bites, but then something about it becomes addicting and I love it. Weird, I know.
View this post on Instagram
8. Jimmie Cone (Damascus): Last year I discovered you can order an extra little cup of sprinkles that you can dip your soft serve into after you’ve gone through the ones that come on your cone. I manage to make it up to Damascus at least once per season for Jimmie Cone.
View this post on Instagram
7. The Scoop (Potomac): They have a banana pudding type of flavor that I am really fond of. It has been open for less than two years and I have probably made it over about five times.
View this post on Instagram
6. The Charmery (Chevy Chase): Baltimore-based ice cream spot The Charmery opened last year in Chevy Chase and I and was thoroughly impressed. Creative flavors, great taste, and even an Old Bay Caramel flavor that is subtle enough on the Old Bay to be amazing in a dessert.
View this post on Instagram
5. Jeni’s (Bethesda): Jeni’s, a national chain, has some of the most flavorful ice cream I’ve ever tried. They have a coffee with cream and sugar flavor that tasted exactly like coffee with cream and sugar, in ice cream form. They offer flights in case you and some friends want to try a bunch of different flavors.
View this post on Instagram
4. Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream (Chevy Chase, Rockville): Very similar to Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream in taste. O recently tried a coffee Oreo flavor that I ended up buying a pint of to bring home and share with the family. They have a location in Federal Plaza and in The Heights Food Hall.
3. Carmen’s Italian Ice (Olney, Rockville): Last year I received a notice on Uber Eats letting me know that I am now considered a “regular” at Carmen’s and that I have ordered a whopping 17 times. I’m sure I’ve ordered a dozen or so times since then. My go-to order is a gelati, which offers a cup of Italian ice in between frozen custard.
View this post on Instagram
2. Sarah’s Handmade (Bethesda, Rockville): The creative flavors that are obviously sweet (it is ice cream), but not overly sweet, are great in a cup, cone, or in a milkshake. They drop new seasonal menus and I get excited and make plans to go, which tells me a lot since I don’t live near either of the Bethesda locations.
View this post on Instagram
1. Bear’s Shaved Ice (Rio– Gaitherburg): Bear’s has been a Rio staple for years, but it wasn’t until last week that I became reacquainted with it. They offer a version of their shaved ice with ice cream beneath it that I tried recently and I am hooked. Don’t forget the condensed milk on top.
View this post on Instagram