Hanging out with friends. Binge-watching Netflix. Unwinding after a long shift at work. Celebrating a good test grade (or trying to forget a bad one). Honestly, when is not a good time for ice cream? Here, I've compiled a list of Ann Arbor's top ten places to grab a delicious scoop of this amazing dessert.
1. Blank Slate Creamery
This Ann Arbor staple is known for making all of their ice creams and cones in-house using fresh, local ingredients. Their flavors rotate daily, but some must-tries include the Balsamic Strawberry, Fresh Basil, and Browned Butter Cookie Dough. They also have non-dairy options made with coconut milk. However, they close for the winter from December through March, so be sure to stop by before then!
2. Iorio's Gelateria
Iorio's is a family-run business that specializes in traditional, all-natural Italian gelato. They carry an assortment of flavors that range from traditional Italian favorites such as Stracciatella and Pistachio to innovative concoctions: think Violet, Earl Grey, and Pomegranate Champagne!
(Pro tip: They also operate as a café and offer a killer selection of coffee/espresso!)
3. Washtenaw Dairy
Ah, Washtenaw Dairy. As an Ann Arbor local, some of my best memories were made at this homey little shop. Known for and adored by townies for their generous scoops and amazing donuts, it's the perfect place to grab a treat with friends after class. I recommend their Superman ice cream—while you could try making it at home, nothing beats the nostalgic experience of licking one of these giant, colorful cones.
4. Ben and Jerry's
Despite being a chain, Ben and Jerry's does ice cream too well to leave off the list. I don't know about you, but a world without Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, Phish Food, Milk and Cookies, or Chocolate Therapy flavors would be a sad world, indeed.
5. Rod's Place
Rod's Place on State Street is half frozen yogurt shop, half Korean restaurant, all delicious foodie stop. Following a delicious bowl of bibimbob, order one of their famous colliders, which is chocolate or vanilla froyo served with your choice of yummy dessert toppings. If you want to learn more about how the heck this quirky Korean/dessert combination came to be, check out this previous Spoon article!
6. El Harissa Market Café
This hidden gem of a café is family-owned and specializes in North African cuisine, but they also offer an amazing selection of gelato that makes it an awesome place to grab a quick dessert. There, you can find gourmet versions of all the standard flavors: Tahitian Vanilla, Swiss Chocolate, Strawberry Vegan, etc. However, I recommend trying their more exotic offerings: Rosewater Baklava Pistachio, Turkish roast, Mexican Chipotle Chocolate, and so much more.
7. Zingerman's Creamery
If you have ever set foot in Ann Arbor, then you've probably heard of Zingerman's. The name is most closely associated with their deli, but Zingerman's is actually the title of a community of businesses in the Ann Arbor area—one of which is Zingerman's Creamery, a specialty shop that handcrafts its own gourmet cheeses and—of course—gelato. Certain flavors come and go with the season such as Cherry Cream Cheese, German Chocolate, and Watermelon Sorbet, but others are available year-round (and for good reason!): Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Buenos Aires Brownie, Burnt Sugar, and Dulce de Leche, to name a few.
8. Eat More Tea
This adorable little business is the sister store to Teahaus and specializes in tea-flavored desserts such as cakes, candy, macarons, and tea-infused gelatos and sorbettos. Everything there is made from scratch in small batches, so no matter what you get, you can be assured of it having been made with attention to detail and quality.
9. Menchie's
Ironically, I first discovered this California-based frozen yogurt chain when I was in Canada. There, I immediately fell in love with its smooth, all-natural froyo, unique flavors, and super cute aesthetic. When I heard it had opened in Ann Arbor, you can imagine how stoked I was. Like most froyo places, their flavors rotate regularly, but I absolutely recommend trying their Toasted Coconut Crunch, Chocolate Glazed Toffee Bar, and Rich 'N Nutty Pistachio flavors when they're available.
10. Michigan Creamery
This family-owned ice cream shop recently underwent a brand change from Stucchi's to Michigan Creamery, putting more emphasis on sourcing all their ice cream and products from local suppliers around Michigan. Most of their ice cream comes from the renowned Guernsey Farms in Northville, just under a 30-minute drive from Ann Arbor. Given that Michigan Creamery has been holding its own right next to a Ben and Jerry's on State St. for over a decade now, they've clearly established that the ice cream they scoop up is not to be missed.
No matter which shop you choose to visit from this list (although, if given the chance, I highly recommend trying them all at least once), you will not be disappointed. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and treat yo'self.