Where to Find the Best Ice Cream in Baltimore
Whether you're craving soft serve, a milkshake or a classic scoop, these Charm City ice cream shops are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
The snowball may be Baltimore’s claim to frozen treat fame, but our ice cream is just as impressive. Each Charm City shop has its own specialty, from locally sourced ingredients and one-of-a-kind flavors to allergy-friendly options and even alcohol-infused scoops. Stop by one of these Baltimore ice cream shops to see how locals put their own spin on this fan-favorite dessert.
Always Ice Cream
An expansion of Annapolis Ice Cream Company, which was named best ice cream in the country by Fodor’s Travel in 2026, Always aims to provide an alternative to the traditional, old-school ice cream parlor experience. The Cross Keys shop rotates through more than 200 made-in-Maryland ice cream flavors, including regional specialties like “Lemon Raspberry Smith Island Cake” and “Rise Up Coffee Ice Cream.” They also have several vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free flavors available, and accept custom ice cream cake orders.
Baltimore in a Box Ice Cream
The same people behind Baltimore in a Box, a service that builds and ships care packages filled with quintessential Baltimore snacks and souvenirs, have teamed up with a local ice cream maker, Cream Cruiser, to develop several only-in-Baltimore flavors. Many of the ice creams feature locally made treats, from Fisher’s popcorn and Otterbein cookies to Zeke’s Coffee and Utz crab chips. Stop by the window on Hampden‘s iconic 36th Street to get a taste of Charm City!
Bmore Licks
Located in Canton and Federal Hill, Bmore Licks is a woman-owned second-generation ice cream shop and the only one in Baltimore to boast over 100 handmade soft serve flavors, homemade hard ice cream and milkshakes—all of which are made to order! Almost as famous as its fresh flavors is the shop’s playful exterior, which features multi-colored murals of ice cream cones and shakes, bright blue windows and string lights.
You can’t miss Bmore Licks’ colorful storefronts in Canton and Federal Hill!
Cajou Creamery
This husband and wife duo started making plant-based ice cream for their lactose-intolerant children and grew it into Cajou Creamery, a whole line of dairy-free ice cream made from cashew, almond and hazelnut milks. Find them at their retail storefront, 411 N. Howard St., and in Whole Foods Markets throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.
The Charmery
The Charmery in Hampden is known for its avant-garde flavors, from Mountain Dew to bananas foster and even fresh corn!
The Charmery knows how to keep you on your toes. While you can always expect to see their classic Baltimore flavors Maryland Mud, Old Bay Caramel and Tell Tale Chocolate on the menu, their rotating options are sure to shock you. Spinach, cold pizza and canned cheese ice creams have all been produced by The Charmery, but don’t worry— they churn out just as many sweet experiments. Grab a scoop (or two, or three…) at their store in Hampden or the ice cream factory in Union Collective.
Miss Twist
You can spot this Locust Point parlor from a mile away, thanks to its vibrant bubblegum pink and teal facade. That playfulness continues inside, where you place your order at a Miss Twist truck facade, a replica of the one that started it all! Pick from vanilla or chocolate soft serve, get a “twist” of both or opt for a shake—their extensive menu includes traditional fruit and candy flavors as well as unexpected creations like banana nut and blueberry pancake.
Moo Moo Cows
Named one of the best ice cream shops in the United States by Yelp, Moo Moo Cows prides itself on its “cow-to-cone” philosophy. They use freshly collected milk from a third-generation Pennsylvania farm to produce 25-30 ice cream flavors each day, with their most popular being the Cinnamon Toast Crunch soft serve. They also sell snowballs, a quintessential Baltimore treat made from shaved ice and flavored syrups.
Pitango Gelato
A stone’s throw from both historic Broadway Square and Baltimore’s stunning waterfront, Pitango Gelato is one of the city’s most scenic sweet shops. Every scoop is made with top-quality local milk and churned in-house, and the seasonal sorbets are made with fresh fruit. Need an extra energy boost? Try an affogato, a scoop of gelato with a shot of an espresso.
Taharka Brothers
Taharka’s “Honey Graham” is one of the most beloved ice cream flavors in Baltimore.
Locals will recognize Taharka Bros. by its simple packaging: a white container with a hot pink label that shows the brand’s logo, “Made in Baltimore” and handwritten flavor. The ice cream flavors, like Mintflix & Chillz, Matcha Mochi and Honey Graham, are deliciously complex. Pints are sold in grocery stores around town, but the best way to experience Taharka Bros. is to visit their mainstay scoop shop inside the historic Broadway Market in Fell’s Point or Cross Street Market in Federal Hill.
Tia’s Italian Ice
This Black-owned business may be known for bringing Philly-style water ice to Baltimore, but ice cream and soft serve are also on the menu! Tia’s sixteen flavors include birthday cake, strawberry cheesecake, caramel apple and vegan vanilla. Can’t decide between ice cream and Italian ice? Order a gelati, which sandwiches creamy soft serve between hefty scoops of Tia’s signature water ice.
Tipsy Scoop
Tipsy Scoop’s Orange Crush Cream-sicle is made with local Sagamore Spirit whiskey.
For a spirited twist on this classic treat, head to Tipsy Scoop in Federal Hill. Here, adults 21+ can indulge in liquor-infused scoops, boozy sundaes and tasting flights featuring flavors like Spiked Lemon Curd, Mexican Hot Chocolate and the Baltimore-inspired Orange Crush Cream-sicle made with Sagamore Spirit whiskey. The Black-owned shop also boasts plenty of alcohol-free flavors so children and non-drinkers can still indulge.
Sydney’s Ice Creams
Sydney’s is always serving up one-of-a-kind flavors!
After tasting Sydney Newton’s one-of-a-kind, decadent ice cream flavors, you may be surprised to learn that she hasn’t been in the business very long. But it’s precisely her unconventional resume—which includes two years as a traveling Broadway actress, five years at Patisserie Poupon and 12 years at the Capital Grille—that sets Sydney and her Mayfield ice cream shop apart. She brings French baking techniques and a passion for hospitality to her shop every day, and many of her most popular flavors are inspired by her family, including “peaches n biscuits” and banana pudding. Skip the stress of picking just one and order the sampler tray to try up to 6 flavors!
