From beloved time-tested institutions to exciting new comers taking the city by storm, there’s no denying that finding the best ice cream in Portland is no easy feat. It’s not unusual for the city’s most popular ice cream shops to host lines that wrap the block.
As a Portland local, allow me to share the Portland ice cream shops that are worth the wait. Longtime readers of this website know I’m not one for small talk, so let’s dive right in.
Best Ice Cream in Portland, Oregon
(Click here for the table of contents)
Table of Contents: Portland’s Best Ice Cream Shops
Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw was founded in 2011 with a simple mission in mind: make some of the best ice cream in Portland using local ingredients. The unique flavors span the gamut, from tried-and-true classics like lavender honey to wild cards like bone marrow (a retired seasonal flavor).
One of my favorite things about this local ice cream shop is the seasonal menu. Every month you can expect the release of a new batch of interesting flavors crafted using seasonal ingredients. If interested, here’s this month’s lineup.
Salt & Straw is the most iconic Portland ice cream shop, lines are all but guaranteed during warm days, but getting your hands on these unique treats is completely worth the wait.
Fifty Licks
Something to note: There’s three locations in town, but the Fifty Licks on Burnside is temporarily closed due to fire damage.
The passion project of Chad Draizin, what originally started as a retro ice cream truck quickly expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in 2013 (with a second location in 2017).
Focusing on quality over quantity, the ice cream shop features a handful of thoughtfully-curated flavors like cornbread honey-butter and toasted milk. But it can be argued that Fifty Licks is better known for serving some of the best vegan ice cream in Portland (don’t sleep on the golden milk flavor, so good).
Cool Moon Ice Cream
Peppered among the charming boutiques and art galleries of the Pearl District, Cool Moon entered the scene in 2008. All the flavors at this Portland ice cream shop are made in-house using 100% natural ingredients and sweetened with cane sugar.
Don’t except to find obnoxious colors like electric blue and bright pinks because food dye and artificial flavors aren’t invited to this party. Cool Moon’s commitment to creating exciting flavors earns them a spot on this list of the best ice cream in Portland.
To date, Cool Moon has released nearly 200 flavors, of which 26 are available at any given time. I’m a sucker for the seasonal pumpkin ice cream (available October 1 through Thanksgiving). But honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the flavors on offer.
If you’re lactose intolerant, Cool Moon keeps 2-4 sorbets on tap. Most are fruit-based, but when their famous chocolate sorbet is on offer, that gets my vote.
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop is a popular spot known for its creative take on snacks and soft-serve ice cream. Conventional wisdom would tell you to walk past a cheese shop while searching for the best ice cream in Portland, but conventional wisdom would be lead you astray in this case.
Granted, this is a great spot to catch up with a friend over a cheese board, but the soft serve seems to be the biggest draw. The menu is very simple, choose a flavor of soft serve and your dusting of choice (chocolate malt, matcha, strawberry) or opt for one of the innovative sundaes.
I never pass up the opportunity to swing by while exploring Burnside. The soft serve is so airy and mild, it’s the perfect post-dinner treat!
Kate’s Ice Cream
Much like the other great spots mentioned on this list, Kate’s makes some of the best vegan ice cream in Portland. The difference? Kate’s makes vegan ice cream exclusively, but between you and me, it’s hard to tell the difference.
Inspired by her dairy-intolerant younger sister, Katelyn Williams began experimenting with plant-based ice cream in 2014. Striving to make ice cream accessible to all, she creates 100% plant-based and gluten-free ice cream using local ingredients sourced from farmers markets.
This is one of the best ice cream shops in Portland for elevated childhood classics (like cookies and cream or vanilla bean) and creative concoctions (like rose water cardamom almond and lemon blueberry cheesecake). Here’s the full lineup of current flavors.
Cloud City Ice Cream
Cloud City was a longtime dream that finally came to fruition in 2011 spurred by the tragedy of loss. The owner, Bryan Gilbert, was determined to revive the neighborhood ice cream shop in his mother’s memory and signed the lease the day after his mother lost her long battle with breast cancer.
He honors his mother by creating flavors based on her famous desserts. You’ll find delicious flavors like Marionberry Crisp (mascarponoe ice cream, marionberries, gluten-free oat crisp) and Caramelized Bananas (a twist on bananas foster made with organic bananas, dark rum and brown sugar).
If you’re a traditionalist, fret not, long-loved classics like bourbon vanilla and mint chip are always on offer. I consider this is some of the best ice cream in Portland, the caramelized banana flavor alone is worth a detour.
Eb & Bean
Eb & Bean is my personal go-to when I’m in the mood for something tart and satisfying. This gem of a place serves exceptional frozen yogurt that’s perfect for capping off a summer evening. Offering dairy and plant-based options with a slew of toppings, don’t act too surprised when you become a frequent flier.
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
No list of the best ice cream in Portland, Oregon is complete without mentioning Lovely’s Fifty Fifty. Though this is a wood-fired pizza joint first and foremost, you can’t afford to skip the ice cream.
Made with seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms, you can grab the ice cream to-go or enjoy it after a proper wood-fired pie (but the wait to get seated is terribly long most days of the week).
Hell, grab a cone while waiting for a table. Regardless of the order of operations, your spoiled taste buds will be privy to Portland’s best ice cream.
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Ruby Jewel
Known for making some of the best ice cream sandwiches in Portland, Ruby Jewel probably needs no introduction.
I first came across this beloved Portland ice cream shop by pure happenstance. A coworker treated a few folks in the office to life-changing ice cream sandwiches, as one does, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
In my opinion, the star of the show is the lemon cookie and lavender ice cream combo. But if you gravitate towards traditional flavors there’s always the tried-and-true classics like chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream.
Ruby Jewel has a handful of ice cream shops in Portland and is starting to expand on a national scale. I suggest swinging by a shop and creating your own combo. You can customize the cookie/ice cream combo however you want.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
Handel’s is the only shop on this list of the best ice cream in Portland that doesn’t have local roots. Gripping about chains seems to be a favorite past-time, but sometimes the success is warranted, Handel’s is no exception.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream was started in 1945 by Alice Handel in Youngstown, Ohio. Her knack for creating delicious ice cream put her on the map and, as of 2022, there’s more than 90 locations across 11 states. Oregon is lucky enough to be one of them.
The ice cream is perfectly rich and creamy, evoking nostalgic childhood memories for anyone that ever split a cone with a friend on a hot day in August. The portions are generous and there’s plenty of flavors to choose from.
Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream serves some of the best ice cream in Portland.
Portland, Oregon Best Ice Cream Shops (Post Summary)
In sum, here’s a quick list of the best ice cream in Portland, Oregon. Hope you enjoyed!
- Salt & Straw
- Fifty Licks
- Cool Moon Ice Cream
- Cloud City Ice Cream
- Kate’s Ice Cream
- Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
- Ruby Jewel
- Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
- Eb & Bean
- Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
Map of the Best Ice Cream in Portland
Cheers!
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