We all scream for ice cream. Everyone’s favorite sweet treat is available all over Boston, so if you’re tired of the chocolate and vanilla soft serve and limited topping options at the dining hall, there are plenty of sweet spots off campus.
Ben & Jerry’s – Taste: 8.5/10, Price: 6/10, Accessibility: 9/10
Ben & Jerry’s, originally from Vermont, serves over 25 flavors at its many stores across Boston, but the closest location to campus is on Boylston Street. A scoop, which costs about $8, is slightly on the expensive side but the taste makes the price worth it.
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is famously filled with mix-ins and fun flavors, with last year’s most popular flavor being Half Baked — a combination of chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate fudge brownie. Ben & Jerry’s also has a variety of vegan ice cream flavors made with oat or almond milk.
My personal favorite at Ben & Jerry’s is Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz, which is coffee ice cream with espresso chips mixed into it. It’s the perfect mix of coffee and chocolate and a great treat any time.
J.P. Licks – Taste: 8/10, Price: 8/10, Accessibility: 9/10
J.P. Licks has been a local favorite and a go-to for high-quality ice cream since its start in Jamaica Plain 45 years ago. Conveniently located at 1160 Boylston St., it’s a popular spot near campus for students. A small scoop, which costs $5.80, is quite reasonably priced for ice cream near campus.
Known for its rich and creamy texture, J.P. Licks offers classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate alongside creative options like peanut butter brownie and black raspberry chip. It also caters to many dietary needs with vegan and lactose-free options. Beyond ice cream, J.P. Licks’ coffee and baked goods make it a great place to hang out.
My top flavor at J.P. Licks is coffee Oreo (the best ice cream flavor of all time). I find it to be a little heavy on the coffee flavor, but the sweetness of the Oreos balances it well.
Cold Stone Creamery – Taste: 6/10, Price: 7/10, Accessibility: 8/10
Cold Stone Creamery, located in the Prudential Center, is a well-known chain offering customizable ice creams. Its special feature is mixing toppings directly into the ice cream on a frozen slab, which allows for endless combinations. The ice cream, which costs $8 to $12, is a bit on the expensive side, but worth the price on a special occasion.
The ice cream is rich and indulgent, with a wide range of flavors like Birthday Cake Remix, Chocolate Devotion and classic vanilla. While the mix-ins add variety, the taste can be overly sweet for some. Cold Stone also offers milkshakes, cakes and a few non-dairy options.
My favorite combination at Cold Stone is coffee ice cream mixed with fudge truffles and Oreos. The combo — which is quite similar to coffee Oreo, my favorite at J.P. Licks — is quite delicious.
FoMu – Taste: 6.5/10, Price: 4/10, Accessibility: 7/10
FoMu, which features a menu of vegan ice cream flavors that are coconut milk-based, has several Boston locations near campus including the South End, Quincy Market and Fenway. A scoop is just a bit pricey — about $8, but well worth the price if you are looking for a good vegan ice cream.
The ice cream at FoMu is fresh and creamy, and with a long list of flavors, including a rotating selection of featured flavors, there is something for everyone. Flavors range from vanilla and chocolate to more interesting flavors like peanut butter chocolate cookie and grasshopper pie — although the creamy combination of mint and chocolate can be a polarizing one, FoMu does it well. In addition to ice cream, FoMu has a collection of vegan cookies and is well known for its cookie ice cream sandwich options.
If you feel like venturing farther from campus, other noteworthy ice cream shops include White Mountain Creamery near Boston College, Far Out Ice Cream in Brookline, Time Out Market or Crescent Ridge in the Boston Public Market.
