20 Great Ice Cream Places in RI

Gray's, Tiverton

16 E Rd, Tiverton, RI 02878

This is the ice cream place from your childhood dreams. From the look of the stand to the density and flavor of the ice cream, this is old-school heaven. Imagine a rotation of up to 50 flavors all made on site. There are new flavors, but we find ourselves craving the classics: strawberry, maple walnut and the classic coffee.

Ice Cream Machine

4288 Diamond Hill Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864

Long-running ice cream parlor featuring a vast array of flavors, plus outdoor picnic tables. Although we live in a "fresh and local" food culture, it says something that the largest food company in the world SYSCO chooses to sell Ice Cream Machine products to their other restaurant clients. People love this place and we at GoLocal do too. You may visit their websit here. 

The Vanilla Bean

757 Matunuck Beach Rd, Wakefield RI 02879

The charm of this little shack is still there...as were the lines. They currently serve Bliss Brother's ice cream, from Attleboro, in many different flavors and sizes. We hit the classic hot fudge sundae with vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream and nuts. Add in the salty breezes on the picnic tables and you have a perfect summer evening. For more on The Vanilla Bean visit here. 

Hill-Top Creamery

5720 Post Rd, East Greenwich, RI 02818

Have you ever heard of an ice cream place where people camp out on opening day to be in front of the line like it's a concert? Well, now you have. This one we discovered as adults and it's just as satisfying as the whole childhood memory thing. This has become our go-to location for soft serve around home. For a list of flavors and details click here. 

Cold Fusion Gelato

389 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840

In fairness to ice cream it really can't compare to gelato when it comes to creamy goodness. Gelato usually has less fat than ice cream so the flavor is more intense--fat tends to dull flavor as it coats the palette--and the slower churn makes a denser, richer and more flavorful frozen dessert. You may visit the website here. 

Brickley's Ice Cream

921 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882

322 Main St, South Kingstown, RI 02879

Brickley’s simply has to be one of the best ice cream shops in the state. Why else would anyone wait in the long lines that form in the afternoon? For sunburned beachgoers, this family-owned Mecca to all things creamy, sweet and delicious is a must-stop before the ride back home. Homemade daily in South County, this is old-fashioned ice cream at its best. You may visit the website here. 

The Inside Scoop

30 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, RI 02852

Got a big crowd with a lot of finicky flavor hounds in the mix? Take them to the Inside Scoop. With nearly four dozen flavors made fresh daily, sherbet, sorbet, yogurt, a dozen toppings, homemade cones, sundae combinations, sugar-free flavors, smoothies. If everyone can’t be pleased here, there’s just no pleasing them. You may visit the website here. 

Three Sisters

1074 Hope St, Providence, RI 02906

This isn’t the first time an ice cream spot inhabited this funky little location at the across from Lippitt Park on Hope Street. But we think it’s the first time it’s been this good. Homemade, small-batches made with milk from Rhode Island cows makes us feel good about the local/artisan angle. But mostly, we just like the flavors. You may visit their website here.

Daily Scoop

230 County Rd, Barrington, RI 02806

We first had this shop’s ice cream when we saw it sitting in the freezer at a local supermarket. The flavor was maple walnut, and dare we say it was the best maple walnut we’ve ever had. Since then, Rhode Islanders that we are, we make the trek to the East Bay for that and other yummy flavors, all made with top-shelf, all-natural ingredients. You may visit the websit here.

St. Clair Annex

141 Bay St, Westerly, RI 02891

For many Rhode Islanders in Westerly, it wouldn't be summer without ice cream from St. Clair Annex. This small family-owned restaurant and ice cream parlor has been a fixture in the village of Watch Hill for nearly 70 years. You may visit the website here. 

Spinnakers

3 E Ferry Wharf, Jamestown, RI 02835

Spinnakers serves homemade super premium ice cream from the award-winning Richardson's Dairy in Massachusetts. After getting your ice cream, you can sit out front at the tables with umbrellas, or walk through the shop to the back deck, which has a beautiful harbor view. You may visit the website here.

Rebecca's

435 Water Street, Block Island

A small local ice cream stand on Block Island that keeps it simple. Their ice cream isn’t homemade and they only have 8 classic flavors but the ice cream is still affordable and very tasty. 

Newport Creamery

A number of locations around the state of Rhode Island that you can find here. 

They've been a Rhode Island fixture since 1940 when they began making and serving super premium ice cream at the flagship store in Middletown. Rhode Islanders love the super thick milkshake made with ice milk instead of ice cream. 

Susanna's Ice Cream

915 Mitchell's Lane, Middletown

Susanna's was just named "Best Ice Cream in New England" by Yankee magazine. Handmade at Sweet Berry Farm, flavors vary depending on the season. Summer might bring Louisiana Banana and White Peach & Ginger, while autumn's choices might be Pumpkin or Damson Plum. Available only in pints and half-pints. You may find out more about the shop here. 

Aldo's Bakery

130 Weldon Way, New Shoreham, RI 02807

Aldo's is well known on Block Island for their restaurant, bakery and ice cream parlor. The homemade ice cream includes locally grown ingredients, and the family also makes their own gelato and frozen yogurt. You may visit the website here. 

Frosty Freez

496 E Main Rd, Middletown, RI 02842

When this ice cream stand opens every year on April 1, there's usually a line of customers around the building. Choose from regular ice cream flavors (Moose Tracks and Pistachio are favorites) or try the chocolate/vanilla soft serve swirl. You may visit the website here.

DeCiantis Ice Cream

45 Quaker Ln, West Warwick, RI 02893

DeCiantis Ice Cream is a family owned and operated establishment. DeCiantis Ice Cream owns and operates two large, commercial ice cream making machines. Each machine turns out almost twenty five gallons of ice cream in around ten minutes. You may visit the website here.

Dolce Gelateria Sweet Ice

270 Wickenden St, Providence, RI 02903

A local neighborhood ice cream shop that served homemade ice cream and gelato. You can find out more about the ice cream shop here. 

Sunshine Creamery

305 N Broadway, Rumford, RI 02916

Sunshine creamery is a nice option for ice cream close to the east side of providence. They have a nice selection of flavors, with a friendly staff and reasonable prices. They give good sized portions as well.

Powder Mill Creamery

777 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI 02828

Powder Mill Creamery is a family owned and operated restaurant and ice cream shop, located on beautiful Waterman Lake. They have a list of exotic flavors that consist of coconut lemon cookie with white chocolate, white chocolate caramel pistachio, peanut butter chocolate chip cheesecake. You may visit their website here.