Washington, DC, is home to some of the most over-the-top ice cream spots that DC families return to all summer long. Whether you are looking for bold, creative flavors your kids will talk about for days or a cool reward after a long afternoon at the monuments, the city delivers in a big way. From handcrafted small-batch scoops and inventive gelato to loaded sundaes and shops with something for every dietary need, there is no shortage of places to make the outing memorable.
This guide takes the guesswork out of finding your next family ice cream stop. We have rounded up the best over-the-top ice cream spots in and around DC, including the reader-voted Washington Parent Picks nominees and winners in the Foodies Ice Cream category. These are the shops known for wild flavors, fun toppings and creative presentation that turn a simple cone into a full family experience.
Where to Find the Most Over-the-Top Ice Cream Spots That DC Families Love
Everyday Sundae
If you are looking for a neighborhood scoop shop that feels like a local secret, Everyday Sundae in Petworth is it. This beloved spot is known for rich, creamy ice cream and rotating seasonal flavors that keep families coming back week after week. The menu blends comforting classics with playful twists, making it easy to find something everyone in your crew will love.
- Address: 713 Kennedy St. NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 3-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
- Phone: (202) 723-0159
Here’s the Scoop
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Founded by Karin Sellers, this Black-owned Georgia Avenue shop is much more than an ice cream stop. It is a true community space where families feel welcome to linger. Generous portions of hand-dipped ice cream, milkshakes and creative sundaes are served in a bright, welcoming environment, and the rotating flavor menu means there is always something new to discover alongside favorites like salted caramel pretzel and double chocolate fudge brownie. Dairy-free options from Cajou Creamery are also available, making it easy for every member of your group to find something they love.
- Address: 2824 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 1-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday, 1-8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
- Phone: (202) 629-4040
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
If your family loves flavors that make you stop and say “wait, that actually works,” Jeni’s is your place. Founded by James Beard Award-winning ice cream maker Jeni Britton, this Ohio-born brand has become a genuine DC favorite with combinations like goat cheese with cherries, brambleberry crisp and the Persian-inspired bastani sonnati made with saffron, rosewater and pistachio. Every batch is made without artificial colors or additives. Dairy-free options are available, and the U Street and Capitol Hill locations make it easy to fold a visit into a full family day out. This shop is a Washington Parent Picks nominee in the Foodies Ice Cream category.
- Address: 1925 14th St. NW and 526 8th St. SE, Washington, DC
- Hours: 1 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, noon-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-midnight Sunday
- Phone: (202) 621-8625
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
This is the shop to bring your kids when you want them to try something they have never tasted before. Mount Desert Island Ice Cream produces small-batch flavors in-house, just five gallons at a time, with a menu that travels the world through frozen desserts. Think Vietnamese coffee, lemon poppy berry jam swirl and rotating seasonal specials that reward repeat visits. The cozy Mount Pleasant location gives the whole experience a neighborhood feel, and vegan and non-dairy options like cereal milk and blueberry basil sorbet mean no one gets left out.
- Address: 3110 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 2-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 1-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9:30 p.m. Sunday
- Phone: (240) 804-7038
Ice Cream Jubilee
Ice Cream Jubilee has one of the best origin stories in the DC food scene. Founder Victoria Lai spent her weekends experimenting with flavor combinations in her apartment while working as an attorney at the Department of Homeland Security before turning her passion into a multiple-award-winning ice cream business. The result is an all-natural, small-batch lineup made entirely in-house in Washington, DC, with standout flavors like banana bourbon caramel, Thai iced tea and honey lemon lavender. Pair your scoop with hot mini donuts for a next-level treat, and check the dairy-free menu if anyone in your group needs it. This shop is a Washington Parent Picks nominee in the Foodies Ice Cream category.
- Address: 3333 M St. NW, Washington, DC (multiple locations)
- Hours: 2-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
- Phone: (202) 299-9042
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Van Leeuwen is the kind of ice cream shop that wins over skeptical teens and toddlers in the same visit. Starting as a food truck in New York City in 2008, the brand now has multiple DC locations and a reputation for seriously rich, custard-style ice cream made with high butterfat content and real egg yolks. Flavors range from classic vanilla bean to creative combinations like churros and fudge, buttermilk berry cornbread and praline butter cake. Eight vegan options are always on the menu, so the whole family is covered. The Georgetown location on Prospect Street is an easy and satisfying stop after a day of exploring the neighborhood.
- Address: 3245 Prospect St. NW, Washington, DC (multiple DC locations)
- Hours: 1-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-midnight Saturday, noon-11 p.m. Sunday
- Phone: (202) 464-0310
Happy Ice Cream
Do not let the walk-up format fool you. Happy Ice Cream, created by former Komi pastry chef Ben Brunner, delivers some of the most chef-driven scoops in the city from a simple sidewalk setup in Dupont Circle. The rotating menu features dense, creamy flavors built with serious technique, and the ever-changing lineup gives families a reason to come back and keep discovering. It is the kind of place that becomes a ritual stop on any warm afternoon in the neighborhood.
- Address: 1509 17th St. NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 12:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, noon-8:30 p.m. Friday
D/Lai Ice Cream
D/Lai Ice Cream sits steps from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, which makes it one of the most convenient and rewarding sweet stops for families wrapping up a day at the monuments. This boutique shop has built a loyal following quickly with rich, well-balanced flavors and a welcoming atmosphere. If you are already in that part of the city, it is an easy and delicious addition to the day.
- Address: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: Noon-9:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-7:30 p.m. Sunday
- Phone: (786) 218-8616
Don’t miss these Washington Parent Picks
Each year, Washington Parent readers vote for their favorite businesses across the DMV. Below are the nominees and winners in the Foodies Ice Cream category for 2026. If you have a favorite, make sure your vote is in!
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Bruster’s has been a family staple since 1989, and the Gaithersburg location is a go-to for Montgomery County families who want a reliable, generous scoop without the wait. What sets Bruster’s apart is that every flavor is made fresh in the store daily, which means you get ice cream at its creamiest with no ice crystals. With more than 150 recipes on rotation and at least 24 flavors handcrafted every day, there is always something new to try alongside crowd favorites like Graham Central Station, banana pudding and death by chocolate. Fresh waffle cones are also made on-site, and non-dairy oat milk options are available for guests with dietary needs.
- Address: 18519 N. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20879
- Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream
Washington Parent readers have spoken, and Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream is their winner. This Korean-American family business in Bethesda has earned that loyalty with up to 40 small-batch flavors made with local ingredients whenever possible, ranging from classic vanilla and chocolate to creative options like lemon poppyseed shortbread, mango sticky rice, matcha and Thai tea. The ultra-creamy texture comes from original family recipes, and the River Road location has the warm, unhurried atmosphere that makes a quick ice cream run feel like a proper outing. Vegan flavors, ice cream sandwiches, sundaes and floats are also on the menu.
- Address: 5241 River Road, Bethesda, MD
- Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
- Phone: (301) 652-6823
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream — Washington Parent Picks nominee
Northern Virginia families have been relying on Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream since 2000, and the shop’s three locations in Arlington and Vienna make it one of the most accessible quality ice cream destinations in the DMV. Voted Arlington’s Best Ice Cream by Arlington Magazine, Toby’s makes and scoops superpremium handcrafted ice cream on-site alongside locally roasted gourmet coffee. Popular flavors include espresso chip, real vanilla bean, black raspberry chip, ube, pistachio and Philippine mango, with seasonal additions like fresh peach in summer and peppermint stick in winter. Custom ice cream cakes, thick milkshakes and malts make it a natural choice for birthday celebrations and family outings alike.
- Address: 5849A Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22205; 510 14th St. South, Arlington, VA 22202; 280 Cedar Lane, Vienna, VA 22180
- Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday); hours vary by location, call ahead to confirm
- Phone: (703) 536-7000
Ben & Jerry’s — Washington Parent Picks finalist
Ben & Jerry’s may be a nationally known brand, but the District Wharf location earns its place on this list with a setting that is hard to beat. Pick up a generous scoop of your favorite flavor and head out to the waterfront for one of the easiest and most enjoyable family ice cream moments in the city. The iconic mix-ins and indulgent sundaes are exactly what you expect, delivered with a great view of the water.
- Address: 705 Wharf St. SW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
- Phone: (202) 290-1277
What are the most over-the-top ice cream spots in DC?
Which DC ice cream shops have dairy-free or vegan options?
Which DC ice cream shop won Washington Parent Picks?
Are there family-friendly ice cream shops near DC museums and monuments?
What makes DC ice cream shops stand out from national chains?
