25 Best Ice Cream Places, Bakeries & Cafes

© Gracious Bakery

Gracious Bakery & Cafe in New Orleans is bright and contemporary, with a beautiful cakes and pastries display. It is a veritable gallery of edible art, glossy chocolate chunks of Black Forest cake, gourmet moon pies, passion fruit coconut cake and so much more. Whether you want to overindulge or get the perfect birthday or Valentine gifts, these delicious treats cannot fail. If you want your pick of the wonderful baguettes offered at Gracious, you have to come early, they go fast.

Breakfast options are fantastic, and grabbing a seat at one of the cute bistro tables and ordering the house-made ricotta breakfast panino with fig jam and Covey Rise honey, served with seasonal fresh fruit, or a cheddar and green onion biscuit sandwich with house-cured ham and scrambled eggs is the perfect start to any morning. If you're feeling in the mood for something different, a pretzel croissant with coarse sea salt and a gourmet coffee will make you happy. Their coffee beans are sourced from local micro-roaster French Truck Coffee. Things to do in New Orleans

1000 S Jefferson Davis Pkwy #100, New Orleans, LA 70125, Phone: 504-301-3709

© Bi-Rite Creamery

When you go to Bi-Rite Creamery for your ritualistic scoop of salted caramel or honey lavender ice cream, calories are the last thing on your mind. All you can think about while waiting in the long line is the smoky flavor of caramel, salted just enough, or the flavor of real pecans in the butter pecan ice cream. Creamy, fluffy scoops are made of organic local ingredients, all sourced from the area.

Everything is made in-house, even add-ons like peanut brittle. The creamery is part of Bi-Rite Market, producers of organic food who pride themselves on producing truly organic ice cream, using Straus Family Creamery organic dairy. Things to Do in San Francisco

3692 18th St, San Francisco,  California 94110, Phone: 415-626-5600

© Island Creamery

As you stroll through charming Chincoteague Island, you will spot an adorable red and white stripped lighthouse in the middle of the city. It is not there to help the navigation of ships, but of tourists craving something cold and delicious. It has been home of Island Creamery since 1975, and the locals will tell you that this is where they go for a scoop of Mint Chip, complete with large chunks of dark chocolate, or Java Jolt, made with strong coffee and chunks of chocolate brownies.

If you're thirsty, they also sell coffee that you drink. Island Creamery makes all their ice cream fresh every day, in small batches, using butterfat from LancasterCounty cows, mostly local fruits, and homemade goodies. Romantic Weekend Getaways in Virginia

6243 Maddox Blvd, Chincoteague Island,  Virginia 23336, Phone: 757-336-6236

© Stacks Pancake House

For some people, breakfast is all about pancakes. So when you find a place that makes them perfectly fluffy, light and melt-in-your mouth good, you will go anywhere to get your fill - even a shopping mall on Marguerite Parkway. This place is incredibly popular with locals and tourists alike, so be prepared to wait in line.

The restaurant is no-frills and always packed, but the food more than makes up for it. Everything is good, but Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Stacks' famous coconut syrup are one of the most ordered dishes. You can also find a few other menu items that will make you stray from the pancakes, such as the Kahlua Pork Omelet or the Hawaiian Loco Moco.

27680 Marguerite Pkwy Ste C, Mission Viejo, CA 92692-3651, Phone: 949-218-4600

© SoCo Creamery

The folks at SoCo say their ice cream is very simple: They use their secret recipe made in their New England kitchen, blend some fresh milk with cream and cane sugar, add a few flavors, and that's it. The result is divine, and when you taste SoCo ice cream or sorbet, you taste realcocoa powder, organic coconut, morsels of raw ginger and whatever fruit or spice they add to their all natural ice cream.

There are no growth hormones, artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors,or corn syrup. The selectionis huge, and all the flavors are delicious, but bourbon eggnog, autumn pumpkin, coconut lemongrassand mission fig are all contenders for the most popular flavor.

5 Railroad St, Great Barrington,  Massachusetts 01230, Phone: 413-644-9866

© Herrell's

New England ice cream lovers don't let a little cold weather prevent them from enjoying ice cream. This is especially true in Northampton Massachusetts where Herrell's is serving up more than 300 flavors of gourmet ice cream year round. Aside from the traditional dairy-based ice cream, they also offer dairy-free, vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free and sugar free options. It is the kind of ice cream that you do not lick, you eat.

Its chewy, dense and very rich, it almost has no ice crystals, which means It doesn’t melt fast, so feel free to pour some hot fudge over it. Their star flavors include Salty Caramel Wave, Party in a Cup, Triple Malt, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan and Burnt Sugar 'n' Butter, and they keep coming up with new flavors all the time. Before you leave their charming downtown store, make sure to get some of their fabulous homemade hot fudge in a jar. Herrell's is also an excellent bakery that offers dairy and non-dairy No-Moo® baked goods.

8 Old South St, Northampton,  Massachusetts 01060, Phone: 413-586-9700

© Breads Bakery, NYC

Boasting 5 locations in New York City, Breads Bakery has earned a reputation for baking and serving up some of the best breads and confectionary in the city. Just a few of the delicious bakery treats that attract customers from all corners include their famous Chocolate Babka, Cinnamon Babka, Fresh Fruit Tart with Mascarpone Cream and the all-time favorite, their classic New York style Cheesecake. Fabulous breads include their Organic Sourdoughs, a variety of Challah, croissants and baguettes. There are cakes and pastries too! The café serves delicious breakfast sandwiches, salads, rolls, quiches and coffee. Nationwide shipping is also possible.

Breads Bakery, 18 E. 16th Street, (Union Square), New York, NY 10003, 212 633 2253

© Knead Bagels

Knead Bagels is a tiny place on Walnut Street, north of Washington Square, that brought real, New York-style bagels to Philadelphia, to all the bagel-lovers delight. The bagels are as they should be – dense and chewy, with a shiny almost crunchy crust. Their bagel spreads are anything but classic with such delicious offerings as togarashi with lime, scallions and cream cheese or pastrami-spiced with smoked chopped liver.

Bagels come in many flavors such as plain, garlic, sesame, poppy, onion, Moroccan spiced and other exotic flavors. They are still making small batches so you have a pretty good chance of getting your bagel piping hot. Once you satisfy your basic bagel-craving, try their bagel sandwiches with stuffing like turkey bacon, cheese and egg or kale and smoked Gouda with pimento. Things to Do in Philadelphia

725 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Phone: 267-519-9920

© Bonnie Brae Ice Cream

For the last 100 years, Washington Park locals have been coming to this quaint house on the corner of University Boulevard to get their ice cream fix. The building first served as a drugstore with an old-fashioned soda fountain, and then asa Dolly Madison Ice Cream Shop. It wasn't until 1986 thatBonnie Brae Ice Cream took over and became the favorite stop for local families. They have 140 flavors of ice cream, 32 of which are served daily, even offering two vegan options as well as sherbert or sorbet.

Some of the more popular flavors include Oreos and Cream, Triple Death Chocolate, Orange Creamsicle, and Carrot Cake. Make sure you have some time to spare when you stop by as there is always a long line in front of the store's iconic red and white stripped awning. All ice creams, cones, cakes and pies are made in the store and you can take them home or eat them inside or on the outside patio. Guests can enjoy their treats in an old-fashioned atmosphere, complete with red vinyl seats and handwritten menus.

799 S University Blvd, Denver, Colorado 80209, Phone: 303-777-0808

© Schmear It

Schmear It is a bright red bagel food truck coming soon to a neighborhood near you with hot, chewy bagels and delicious La Colombe coffee. Check out their Facebook page or Twitter for the daily schedule. The bagels come from South Street Philly Bagels but the truck driver and owner Dave Fine will be happy to toast it for you and fill it with your choice of spread, or schmear it as he says, and he can really schmear.

Only your imagination is the limit of what you can mix, some popular toppings include cream cheese, egg salad, tuna salad, a vegan tofu, and a peanut butter and nut spread. You can also add mix-ins such as lox, tomato, scallion, cucumber, mango, sriracha, wasabi, banana, maple syrup, blueberries, and who knows what else is coming.

Philadelphia, PA, Phone: 215-792-3892

© District Donuts Sliders Brew

For an industrial space with exposed brick and ducts on the ceiling, District is surprisingly homey and comfortable. You can see an interesting mix of customers, from a grandfather taking his grandkids for fresh doughnuts, or an office person having his first morning cup of delicious coffee (they get their coffee from small suppliers) to local gourmands who know where to find the best doughnuts in the city. What they do to doughnuts is pure art.

You can find your classics with home-made glaze and in-house made creams and fillings, and then you can have Croquenuts, which are griddled doughnut sandwiches with stuffing such as roasted pork belly, smoked ham, Havarti cheese, red onion, guava mustard, and pickled veggies. Their sliders, a fancy name for small sandwiches, are fabulous too.

2209 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130, Phone: 504-570-6945

© J.J. Hapgood General Store

Entering J.J. Hapgood's you will feel transported to the romantic past, straight to 1827 when the store first opened its doors. It is filled to the brim with everything that a family might need such as dry goods, Vermont produce, meat, dairy, charcuterie, local cheeses, authentic wood-fired pizzas, ready-made meals, candy, fine wine, beer, pastries, breads, gifts and much more. Many of the objects are original to the store, but the custom-made wood-fired oven, a gallery space and outdoor patio are new.

Locals often stop by for their morning coffee and you can smell it - they use a special blend of fair trade organic coffee. Their pizza dough, pastries and breads are made daily with organic local flour. The breakfast menu is small but delightful, with offerings like organic local granola or oatmeal, organic oatmeal pancakes or Misty Knoll Turkey Hash with house-roasted turkey, mushrooms, potatoes, onions, peppers, herbs and fresh cream, served with two poached eggs and toast.

305 Main St, Peru, VT 05152, Phone: 802-824-9824

© The Breakfast Klub

Be prepared to wait because the Breakfast Klub is popular. This mid-town Houston institution is a diner-style eatery where local families come for breakfast after church, but also where business types bring their clients for a power breakfast, and where students hang out over endless cups of coffee and affordable meals.

It is colorful and lively, with local artists’ works hanging on the walls, and full of cheerful chatter and wonderful smells. Expect everyone’s comfort food favorites, southern style, including catfish with grits, fried chicken with waffles, biscuits and gravy and so much more. Lunch is served too. If you fall in love with their fish batter, they have it for sale, as well as seasonings, chicken coating and other stuff too. Things to Do in Houston

3711 Travis St, Houston, Texas 77002, Phone: 713-528-8561

© Churn

A delicious ice cream treat from Churn will take you on a nostalgic journey to your childhood, when ice cream was still made from cream. These days, most supermarket ice creams are not even made from dairy products and are full of unhealthy additives to increase their shelf-life. Not so at Churn. Here all the ice creams are lovingly churned on site using fresh local cream and natural fruit, chocolate and other flavors. Churn serves their delicious ice cream in tubs, cones, sundaes and milkshakes – each and every one is an indulgent treat that you will want to eat every day. They also make a range of old-fashioned candy, baked goods and drinks.

Churn, 5223 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012, 02 279 8024

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Your vacation to Aspen would be incomplete without having visited Paradise Bakery and Café at least once. Paradise Bakery is known far and wide for serving the best breads, cakes, cookies and ice creams in the town; those in the know return time after time for a little slice of heaven-on-a-plate. You could get your day off to an amazing start by stopping by in the morning to enjoy a fabulous Breakfast Burrito or Croissant and your favorite hot drink. Later in the day visitors come to enjoy a cup of coffee and an indulgent sweet treat – cinnamon rolls, muffins, ice creams, sandwiches and delectable brownies are the order of the day.

Paradise Bakery and Café, 320 S. Galena Street, Aspen, CO 81611, 970 925 7585

© Creole Creamery

Although it opened in 2004, Creole Creamery has a 1950's-feel to it, often being referred to as an ice cream parlor. The chain's small uptown shop has the décor to match its vibe, with black and white tiled floors, wide leather booths and the sweet smell of cones, cakes and pies. Their delicious scoops, sundaes and malts come in many flavors, some very imaginative, but you can always find good old vanilla, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate chip.

The Creole Creamery is challenging its fans to “The Tchoupitoulas Challenge," in which guestsare challenged to try and finish a Tchoupitoulas sundae made with eight scoops of ice cream,achoice of eight toppings,topped with whipped cream, wafers and cherries. The reward is your name on their hall of fame.

4924 Prytania St, New Orleans, Los Angles 70115, Phone: 504-894-8680

© Dolce Neve

What is the difference between ice cream and gelato? Gelato is made using anold, traditional Italian process, it has less fat, is denser, is served slightly warmer than ice cream and is made in much smaller batches. Come to Dolce Neve and find out first hand.

The gelato is prepared right in front of guests, so you can watch it come together from start to finish, ending up with a delicious, fresh product. This small, bright and nicely furnished shop serves original Italian homemade gelato, cakes, gelato sandwiches, coffee and espresso. Dolce Neve goes for quality over quantity- there are only 18 flavors, which are handcrafted daily as needed.

1713 S 1st St, Austin, Texas 78704, Phone: 512-804-5568

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When you visit one of the two Molly and Myles outlets in Greenville you are in for a treat. Although the ice-cream is what draws you in, Molly and Myles is more than just another ice-cream parlor – it’s an unforgettable ice cream experience. Every time you visit you will find new and exciting ice cream options to try – all the ice creams are sourced from a small collection of dairies – customers get to decide which ice creams remain on the menu and which will be replaced by a new treat. Absurdly memorable additions include candy-coated cones and wild and wacky flavors. Choose your favorite in a tub, cone, sundae or ice cream sandwich. They also make awesome ice cream cakes for birthday parties.

Molly and Myles, 2123 Augusta Street AND 3225 North Pleasantburg Rd, Greenville, SC 29605, 864 263 3232

© Crank and Boom Craft Ice Cream

The Crank and Boom Ice Cream Company started off modestly as a home-made dessert option on the menu of the family’s Thai Orchid Café. The amazing coconut ice cream at the restaurant became so popular that Crank and Boom was established to produce their premium ice cream treats in larger quantities. Today they have 2 outlets in Lexington and avid fans can order their products for nationwide shipping. The ice cream is all hand-made using the finest natural ingredients including signature flavors like their Blueberry Lime Cheesecake, Fresh Strawberry, Dark Chocolate Truffle and the decadent Coffee Stout, infused with Oatmeal Stout from their neighboring brewery, Ethereal Brewing.

Crank and Boom Craft Ice Cream, 1210 Manchester Street, Lexington, KY 40504, 859 288 2176

© Urth Cafe

When only the distinctive flavors of the planet’s best shade-grown organic coffee beans will do, Urth Café is your go-to destination in Las Vegas. Urth serves coffee which has been expertly brewed from on-site roasted heirloom coffee beans which are simply superior in both flavor and aroma. Selected fine teas from around the world and a healthy and inspiring choice of delectable baked goods, desserts and other taste sensations await you. The café serves fabulous breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes that please both the eye and the palate. The signature New Yorker Sandwich (natural pastrami, grilled marble bread and local greens) is an all-day winner. Gluten free choices are always available.

Urth Café, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, 702 659 8642

© Richardson’s Ice Cream

For more than 300 years 9 generations of the Richardson family have been dairy farmers in the Middleton region. Their ice cream is legendary and is still made the same way it was back in the old days (1952), when they set out to make one perfect ice cream. Soon their range of fabulous ice creams expanded to include more than 50 flavors. They also make virtually fat-free frozen yoghurts and some dairy-free and sugar-free versions for those with allergies. Visitors are invited to visit the farm where it all started for a fun country day out. You will meet some of the cows responsible for the milk and cream used to make their premium treats.

Richardson’s Ice Cream, 156 South Main Street, Middleton, MA 01949, 978 774 5450

© Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden

Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden is all about serving epic coffees, beers, wines and cocktails in an environment dedicated to taking good care of our planet. Here sound sustainability principles are employed to lessen the impact on the environment by providing an ideal habitat for pollinators and urban wildlife. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gardens and grounds to learn more about small-scale sustainability. Besides all your favorite coffees (brewed using sustainably sourced beans, of course) you can enjoy a large selection of other delicious hot or cold beverages including local craft beers, artisan cocktails and fruit-juice concoctions. There is usually a food truck in attendance to satisfy those hunger pangs.

Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden, 121 Pickle Road, Austin, TX 78704, 512 481 0694

© Moomer’s Home-made Ice Cream

Located just 5 minutes from downtown Traverse City, a “Moomer’s Experience” is a must on your Michigan itinerary. The Plummer family have been dairy farmers for many years and finally decided to share their passion for dairy farming and wonderful home-made ice cream with the public. When you visit them, you will get the opportunity to try a few of the 20 flavors that are available daily. Every time you visit there will be new delights to choose from – the range includes 160 flavors. They also make mouth-watering sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes, malts and other irresistible sweet treats including ice cream cakes in your choice of flavors.

Moomer’s, 7263 N. Long Lake Road, Traverse City, MI 49685, 231 941 4122

© Kelley Country Creamery

Over the past 150 years, several generations of the Kelley family have been dairy farmers in Fond du Lac. Their creamery is located on a small county road, where they care for 65 Holstein cows which provide the high quality milk used to make their premium ice cream. There are always at least 20 or 22 flavors available on any given day and special seasonal flavors are available from time to time. You can enjoy yours in a tub or a cone or order a special ice cream cake or pie for your next special occasion. You can watch the ice cream making process as you eat – there is a window into the production room.

Kelley Country Creamery, W5215 County Road B, Fond du Lac, WI 84937, 920 923 1715

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Life in Boston would just not be the same without Flour Bakery and Café. There are three branches in the city, all of which offer the same wonderful range of artisan breads, pastries, quiches and cakes that keep customers returning time after time. You can stop by to enjoy a cup of delicious coffee and a warm-from-the-oven muffin or croissant. Perhaps you would like a very special tart for a dinner party or simply a fresh loaf of artisan bread – Flour Bakery has it all. They also have a café where you can meet with friends to enjoy fabulous lunch-time sandwiches, quiches and more. There are locations in Beacon Hill, Seaport and Hynes Convention Center.

Flour Bakery, 209 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, 857 449 7452