Boston Area’s Best Ice Cream Stands

May 30, 2011 11:20 AM

(credit: whitefarms-icecream.com)

When the weather is warm, there’s something deeply satisfying about a heaping cone of ice cream at an old-school outdoor stand. While you can find ice cream on practically every corner in the summer, here are a few local spots that stand out. Where’s your favorite place to get ice cream? Leave a comment in the section below.

Related: Cape Cod’s Best Ice Cream Stands

Related: More Great Ice Cream Stands

(credit: kimballfarm.com)

Kimball Farm Ice Cream

400 Littleton Road

Westford, MA

(978) 486-3891

Website & ReviewsKimball’s has been around since 1939 and offers more than 40 flavors of ice cream. The lines may be long, but that’s because families come back year, after year, after year. The Westford location has grown into a family amusement center, with mini-golf, a driving range, bumper boats, batting cages and a country store. In Carlisle you’ll find the simplicity of an ice cream stand with a beautiful view.

(credit: whitefarms-icecream.com)

White Farms Ice Cream

326 High Street

Ipswich, MA

978-356-2633

www.whitefarms-icecream.com

More than 60 flavors are made right on site at White Farms Ice Cream in Ipswich. The seasonal stand has been attracting customers since 1953. Among their flavors, White Farms has sugar free selections and several kinds of sherbet. Customers say the sizes may surprise you; the small may be more than enough. Just look for the cow on the roof. There is now a Sal’s Pizza attached right next door.

(credit: rancs.com)

Rancatore’s Ice Cream

36 Leonard Street

Belmont, MA 02478

617-489-5090

Website & ReviewsRancatore’s was founded in 1985 in Belmont Center. Since then, Joe Rancatore has also opened a location in Lexington. What customers love best about this place is its chocolate – both the chocolate ice cream and the hot fudge. The flavors here are off the beaten path – saffron city, gingersnap molasses, khulfi, zagnut, mango cream – which is exactly what keeps families coming back again and again for their favorites.

(credit: richardsonsicecream.com)

Richardson’s

156 South Main Street

Middleton, MA

978-774-5450

Website & ReviewsRichardson’s certainly has a history. The family-run dairy farm was founded in 1695, but it wasn’t until 1952 that the family started making and serving ice cream. As you might expect for ice cream made on a dairy farm, Richardson’s ice cream has 16 percent butterfat. They also serve low fat yogurt, sugar free flavors, sherbet and sorbet. Their expansion into wholesale means you can enjoy Richardson’s ice cream at restaurants, other ice cream stands, or take home a half gallon from the grocery store.

(credit: bedfordfarmsicecream.com)

Bedford Farms

18 North Road

Bedford, MA

781-275-6501

www.bedfordfarmsicecream.com

Step up to the window and order from more than 60 flavors at Bedford Farms. The farm was founded at the end of the 1800s, but didn’t start serving ice cream to customers until the 1950s. Known for its large servings, generation after generation returns to order up a tasty treat. In addition to their ice cream, Bedford Farms has a selection of frozen yogurt flavors. In 2008 they opened a second location in Concord.

(credit: capecodcreamery.com)

Cape Cod Creamery

5 Theater Colony Road

South Yarmouth, MA

508-398-8400

www.capecodcreamery.com

This is one of the newer ice cream spots on the Cape, but it’s getting rave reviews. It’s won many awards in its short life, and people rave about the creaminess of the ice cream. The flavors are cleverly named for places on the Cape, and they also offer gelato.

allison

Kimball’s is the best! Richardson’s and Bedford Farms are the same ice cream. And Rancatore’s is horrible, at least the one in Lexington is.
Michelle Fuller Fitzgerald

Peaceful Meadows was left out??? Shameful!
Maggie

What about Peaceful Meadows in Whitman, Middleboro and Plymouth?
Tiffany

Does anyone out there remember Green Meadows on Main St. Watertown and Woodland Dairy Bar also in Watertown?

keno41

yes, in high school we would go there after the football games
Hannah Diozzi

I remember Woodland….on the Watertown-Belmont line, yes?
jayjaybee

Yes I do!! I’ve been looking for a good toasted walnut fudge since Woodland’s closed.

janice

used to go there long ago after visiting our grandparents in belmont. i’ve been telling my family all about it. what great ice cream they had.

Mary Tanana

BENSON’S!!!! West Boxford, MA on Rte. 133!!

Cat

I agree…I was shocked it never made the list!!!
Sherry Smith

This is my favorite NORTH SHORE place. (I like Crescent Farms on South Shore). Their ice cream and drinks are delish, but their use of local fresh fruit, such as peaches and raspberries, well, it’s just amazing. Try a fresh raspberry sundae sometime…..

emom

SHAME ON YOU ………… PEACEFUL MEDAOWS IS AN ICON….. AND HAS THE BEST ICECREAM DOWN HERE……. SO CREAMY AND FLAVORS OF THE MONTH ALL YEAR….. dont forget the cows in whitman…… and they have a littles store to buy milk and stuff… YUMMO
Lori

Bubbling Brook in Westwood and Ron’s Ice Cream in Hyde Park should be included..
Jacki

Uncle Ed’s Front Porch in Rehoboth…all hand-made on premise!
Cheryl

The Sweeterie in Norwood is awesome. New ownership has turned the former Ice Jack into a fabulous, clean inviting shop. The ice cream is all home made on the premises and is the creamiest I have ever had. Lines out the door on hot nights

Joanne

I agree, The Sweeterie is great! The new ownership has really brought this place up to a much higher level. Great home made ice cream and a very clean, fun environment., I love the penguins!

Stephen Tassone

It might not be a “stand,” but let’s not leave Cabot’s in Newton out of this!!!!!!
Guest

Jay Gees Ice Cream – Methuen MA – Go Karts, Batting Cages, Mini Golf & Arcade
gigi cox

Crescent Ridge on Bay Rd-always busy!

Sherry Smith

LOVE this place. I drive to it from the north shore. Went there a lot when I lived in Weymouth. Their stand is teffic, they still deliver milk to your house if you want, and the frappes are the creamiest, tastiest, I’ve ever had.

mary

my son plays summer ball for Sharon and after every game we hit Crescent Ridge. We also go on nights he doesn’t have a game. My husband is addicted to the chocolate peanut butter.

Wellie04

What about Cherry Farm Creamery in Danvers? Excellent!
Jennifer Wright Owen

I’d also like to add Ericksons in Maynord (Stow?) and Uhlman’s in Westboro
Bruce

Erickson’s route 58 in Carver is very good when you’re down this way. Great ice cream and real nice people too

William Cravens

Sorry Bruce, Peaceful Meadows is better than Erickson’s.

Mary

Somerset Creamery! Two locations in Somerset and one in Cataumet.

Best homemade ice cream! Always a line but well worth the wait. You smell the homemade waffle cones when you walk in the door as well!
Sherry Smith

Does anyone know of this place? Back in the 80s, we were taking a Sunday drive — think we ended up in Norwood, possibly Mansfield area — and stumbled on an ice cream stand that was like a huge red barn. Sat on top of a hill, there was a farm behind it. The ice cream was fabulous but I could never find it again.
Always wondered where, and what, it was.
Jennifer

I miss Welcome Farm …they were the Best around!!
Hannah Diozzi

Around Salem, Beverly Farms, Manchester, we love Captain Dusty’s
Anne Devaney

YUMMM!!!
Ron’s Gourmet Ice Cream (and Twentieth Century Bowling)
1231 Hyde Park Avenue
Hyde Park, Ma
(617) 364-5274
and
559 High Street (Dedham Square)
Dedham, Ma
(781) 326-8664
Serena

Kimball’s is among the best, but it takes FOREVER to get an ice cream. You go to get relief from the heat, yet you wait in line for 30mins and almost pass out!
J70707

Great choices! Rancatore’s is outstanding- definitely worth the trip to Belmont Center!
Tony

Dr. Davis, Pepperell!
BostonLager

Kimballs is the best. It’s excellent ice cream and they give you a lot.

The WORST ice cream is Ben and Jerry’s. They hardly give you any ice cream. It’s a rip off. Cold Stone creamery is another rip off.
Louise

You must enjoy a delicious ice cream at BOSTON ICE CREAM FACTORY. Steve, the owner, has been making his own ice cream for over 30 years. He has over 30 creamy flavors.. The store is open 11 to 9 pm 7days aweek on 777a Morrissey Blvd in Dorchester.
Try it, you will love it!!