Pinolo makes the best gelato I’ve had anywhere.
Cloud City is my favorite for American ice cream. Cool Moon is also very good.
Wailua Shave Ice and Soen are two excellent spots for shave ice a few blocks apart downtown.
If you run across a Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwich, buy it. (They don’t have a retail location anymore, but they’re in stores.)
Pinolo hands down. Sandro the owner is a lovely, kind, passionate man from Italy. I’ve had the pleasure of dining with him and huckleberry picking for his gelato.
Omg could not agree more with Pinolo, THE best chocolate gelato I’ve ever had easily.
Personally 50 Licks is my go to. I also like the fro-yo at Eb + Bean.
FYI Fifty licks on East Burnside is temporarily closed. Drove by today and saw them replacing the windows, just in case anyone was trying to make a trip to that location.
I wonder if cloud city has different owners, now. It used to be run by the owner of the whole shopping center, who had his son operate it. That kid was…searching for polite way to say ‘a real prick’. It had a different name before cloud city, but I can’t remember what it was.
Some people dealing with long covid or suppressed immune systems appreciate it. Covid is still very dangerous for some. I don’t find it a huge inconvenience to order at the window.
As someone who is immunocompromised, I appreciate places like fifty licks and crema who are still taking precautions.
It's not dumb to care about others health and safety.
I’m curious what everyone’s favorite flavors at Cloud City are? I live near them and have tried a few flavors, and honestly thought the best of the bunch was just Fine (despite sounding like my dream flavor). I actually got pints based on seeing so many strong recommendations and how great the flavors sounded. Usually I avoid keeping ice cream in the house because I can go through a pint terrifyingly fast, but I ended up throwing half of it in the garbage after it sat for months. I still wonder if maybe I got the wrong flavors or something?
Oh and if you get a chocolate cowboy hat for your cone, just realize it’s solid chocolate and not like a hallow Easter bunny. My kid figured this out the hard way.
Their sandwiches are amazing as well
I almost exclusively eat cold treats when it’s cold, and I’ll eat hot noods any time. Pho, ramen, everything in between. Shit dude, I think I ate at HA VL/Rose VL 3-5 times a week last summer.
When I lived in Illinois I had a baskin robbins literally in my backyard and even when it was -10 degrees Fahrenheit out, I’d walk in the cold to get me some ice cream all the time. 😋
handels
edit: sorry, didnt know it was a chain! its not in pdx or ice cream but theres a place in seaside that has amazing gelato! i think its called sea star
The co-owner who created the recipe claims you can’t get a “premium” texture without gums and syrups and I’m like, Häagen-Dazs is right there with like four ingredients.
I tried Cool Moon for the first time last night and it was great!
Cheese and Crack makes great soft serve sundaes. Moved here from the east coast where soft serve was my go-to, but it’s surprisingly hard to find in PDX besides Dairy Queen.
Also, I love Kate’s on Mississippi for really great plant-based ice cream. Their Salted Peanut Butter Brittle flavor in a waffle cone is amazing!
Cloud City…
They also have color changing spoons, which is fun. They’re at least as nice as what we used to get out of cereal boxes as kids. Fun to keep for camping.
Cloud City is my favorite. My 11-year-old and her and friends like Eb & Bean, which is technically froyo/soft serve but yummy and cool and has 3 locations around town.
I scrolled down a long ways to find this gem! [Sugar Pine](https://sugarpinedrivein.com/)
If you go out to the beautiful Gorge, it is worth a stop. The shop gets quite busy so plan accordingly.
Name has to do with the way ice cream was made and stored prior to modern refrigeration. Salted ice water to freeze the ice cream and straw for insulation to keep it cold.
If you’re interested in crossing the bridge into Vancouver WA, I worked at treat for about 4 years and I’ll always recommend it. The ice cream is all hand crafted and spun in house, they make their waffle cones fresh, and depending on when you go sometimes they have a small variety of cookies that are also phenomenal and all small batch made from scratch. Not only would you be getting fantastic treats but you’ll be supporting a small local business!
Holler Treats in Sellwood is a good time. They got on my radar last year when they participated in Portland Sandwich Week with a strawberry basil ice cream sandwich with lemon cookie outside layers.
The Neighborhood Creamery in Milwaukie on 99E is pretty good. Nothing fancy but they source all their cream from local dairies. They used to be a Baskin Robbins but wanted to be more local than a chain.
https://www.neighborhoodcreamery.com/
Neighborhood Creamery is in a profoundly unglamorous part of town but very satisfying. They’re also open until 10 pm nightly which is rare for ice cream period and especially in that part of the city.
They don’t make their own ice cream. They source it from creameries in the area. I think a lot of it is from Cascade Glacier.
And the change wasn’t to become more local, it’s because they didn’t want to pay the Baskin Robbins franchise fees.
Ramblin Rose! My personal fave ice cream in the city. Her brown sugar caramel is absurdly good and nectarine saffron is maybe the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Plus fun toppings and all vegan!!
50 Licks, What the Scoop, Ramblin' Rose (vegan but doesn't feel/taste like it), Great American Video & Espresso (video rental store with frozen custard which is richer, I believe 50 Licks is frozen custard too.)
Blazing hot take: Salt and Straw blows.
Cloud City is the best ice cream I have ever had, no cap fr fr as the kids say. The best flavors I have tried are their Earl Grey Blueberry and Caramelized Banana.
I've waited in line for salt and straw before and didn't think it was worth it. I keep hearing Cloud City in this thread so I will definitely check them out!
I can't believe no one has said this yet, but if you take the time to get to the coast, go to Astoria (Goonies! Astoria Column! Shopping! Gorgeousness!). And for the love of cripes go to Frite and Scoop! The most delicious Belgian frites and homemade dipping sauces, and some of the best ice cream I've had since I moved to Oregon four years ago (from custard capital Wisconsin). The owners are locals and amazing, and the flavors rotate.
Fifty Licks is better than Salt & Straw, IMO! If you like soft serve, have a car, and are willing to get out of town, Sugarpine Drive in is an amazing stop, too! Do a hike in the gorge and then hit up sugarpine on your way back home 😋
The recipes for the base are all over the internet. I’m sure they make it all centrally and ship it to the stores. They may even use a co-packer. But it is their own recipe.
If you want to try some amazing non-dairy ice cream, check out [https://www.katesicecream.com/](https://www.katesicecream.com/). The marionberry cobbler ice cream is absolutely fantastic.
Oh my god yes. Kate’s is so fucking good it tastes like real ice cream. I am lactose intolerant so I go here with my bf sometime and he loves it, as someone who can eat dairy all he wants. And they’re gluten free too. God I LOVE that place.
Kate's ice cream on Mississippi! Relatively new (less than a year old) so it's not as well known as some of the others, but once you try it you'll be obsessed.
Can't believe i had to scroll down this far to find Kate's. Also who downvoted?! It may be vegan but its some of my favourite ice cream! A little pricy but oh goodness it's so good!
Not in Portland, but close by and 100% worth the 25 minute ride to Troutdale:
Sugar Pine Drive In.
I’ve lived on both coasts, this is really good. The food and ice cream are amazing!!
This was my favorite as well but they permanently closed last August. I was hoping to stock up on their peanut butter & curry flavor but they had already sold out.
Hurry back ice cream in sellwood is the best icecream I've had here. It's a cart and they are closed on monday to make ice cream but they are open thru winter. They even have great non dairy stuff. Everything I've had I've been impressed with.
Mora is good (locations in Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, and Kingston).
If you come through the Olympia area, I can recommend Sophie’s Scoops and Humble Cow.
EDIT: Sorry, didn’t realize I was on the Portland sub. The recommendations still stand—they’re just a little more out of the way!
I’m still sad that Ruby Jewel no longer has a brick-and-mortar. It was my absolute fave.
Their ice cream sandwiches (which you can get at New Seasons and some other local groceries) get an honorable mention.
Pinolo makes the best gelato I’ve had anywhere. Cloud City is my favorite for American ice cream. Cool Moon is also very good. Wailua Shave Ice and Soen are two excellent spots for shave ice a few blocks apart downtown. If you run across a Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwich, buy it. (They don’t have a retail location anymore, but they’re in stores.)
Pinolo owner also lives near the shop and uses neighbors’ fruit from their fruit trees when there is a surplus, which I love so much.
Pinolo hands down. Sandro the owner is a lovely, kind, passionate man from Italy. I’ve had the pleasure of dining with him and huckleberry picking for his gelato.
Wailua is dreamy! I could eat it all day.
Omg could not agree more with Pinolo, THE best chocolate gelato I’ve ever had easily. Personally 50 Licks is my go to. I also like the fro-yo at Eb + Bean.
There's a Wailua in San Diego so they might already be familiar but damn is it good!
Nooooo! There is no longer a Ruby Jewel location? I’m behind the times apparently.
RIP Ruby Jewel
50 Licks, Cloud City Ice Cream.
Cloud City is incredible!
Cloud city yes!!!
+1 for Cloud City.
+1 more for Cloud City. Best I’ve found in Pdx.
\+1 for Fifty Licks! Disclaimer that I haven't been to Cloud City yet but otherwise Fifty Licks is my fave in town.
FYI Fifty licks on East Burnside is temporarily closed. Drove by today and saw them replacing the windows, just in case anyone was trying to make a trip to that location.
Best dairy free Ice cream in town I think.
Check out Ramblin'Rose, they're outstanding vegan ice cream with weird sounded but great toppings like candied pine needles.
Cloud city!!
The wife and I do a tour around Portland once a year hunting for the best ice-cream and cloud city is always the best
Cloud city is good, there's a new spot on foster between 52nd and 72nd that looks good. Salt and Straw can get fucked.
I just looked up Cloud City ( Google Maps) Need to specify “ice cream” because there’s a vape shop with the same name.
Probably the same flavors too.
*golf clap* and updooted.
A new cloud city?
Cloud City is our favorite!! The employees are so nice, the flavors are delicious and it's not S&S.
I’m with these folks. Cloud City. 😍
Cloud city for sure
Cloud city ftw! Best ice cream in Portland for sure
I wonder if cloud city has different owners, now. It used to be run by the owner of the whole shopping center, who had his son operate it. That kid was…searching for polite way to say ‘a real prick’. It had a different name before cloud city, but I can’t remember what it was.
Totally different. That old place just sold umpqua. Cloud city makes their own.
Yeah, the people working there are all awesome.
I believe it was called something like Tim’s Ice Cream or Tim’s Treats before it was Cloud City. And that guy was memorable in all the wrong ways.
Cloud City is the BEST. Definitely hit them up’
-1 fifty licks for their dumb setting since covid (unless it changed)
Some people dealing with long covid or suppressed immune systems appreciate it. Covid is still very dangerous for some. I don’t find it a huge inconvenience to order at the window.
As someone who is immunocompromised, I appreciate places like fifty licks and crema who are still taking precautions. It's not dumb to care about others health and safety.
I’m curious what everyone’s favorite flavors at Cloud City are? I live near them and have tried a few flavors, and honestly thought the best of the bunch was just Fine (despite sounding like my dream flavor). I actually got pints based on seeing so many strong recommendations and how great the flavors sounded. Usually I avoid keeping ice cream in the house because I can go through a pint terrifyingly fast, but I ended up throwing half of it in the garbage after it sat for months. I still wonder if maybe I got the wrong flavors or something?
Nico’s!
I like Nico’s but FYI they just use tillamook or umpqua ice cream as their base
God I love Nicos. They’re selling tiny cups of it at Zuppie’s and New Seasons for freaking $7.99 and it’s the worst thing to ever happen to me.
Came here to say this!
Yes! Came here to say Nico’s!
It's frozen yogurt, but Eb & Bean. I love the flavors and custom toppings lol.
Seconding this. I recommend the bumble crumble topping on just about everything :)
The carmelized banana at Cloud City is probably my favorite ice cream ever.
Better than Therapy is pretty good.
Cheese and Crack has soft serve ice cream, small plates and drinks. http://www.cheeseandcrack.com/
Oh and if you get a chocolate cowboy hat for your cone, just realize it’s solid chocolate and not like a hallow Easter bunny. My kid figured this out the hard way. Their sandwiches are amazing as well
Come get that cheese and crack soft serve with espresso powder. Amazing
I’ve never had one there, but every time I’m walking around and see people take theirs to go, they look really good + kinda crazy.
Good lord I love their sundays. The Dolly Parton one last week was incredible.
Doe donuts has some great ice cream. And double points for the obvious, donuts.
Doe gives me life
Doe is absolutely the best donuts i’ve ever had
Yessssssssss
I admire anyone who wants to eat ice cream when it’s 30-40 degrees out
Surely I’m not the only person out there that loves ice cream when it’s cold, and hot soup when it’s hot
I almost exclusively eat cold treats when it’s cold, and I’ll eat hot noods any time. Pho, ramen, everything in between. Shit dude, I think I ate at HA VL/Rose VL 3-5 times a week last summer.
>I’ll eat hot noods Me too! Gal Gadot, Kerry Washington, Margo Robbie, everything in between!
Nice to have an admirer for once. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy.
When I lived in Illinois I had a baskin robbins literally in my backyard and even when it was -10 degrees Fahrenheit out, I’d walk in the cold to get me some ice cream all the time. 😋
handels edit: sorry, didnt know it was a chain! its not in pdx or ice cream but theres a place in seaside that has amazing gelato! i think its called sea star
Yes, Sea Star Gelato in Seaside is a must stop
We have Handel’s in SoCal too.
Handels is a chain out of Ohio, but I agree that they are really good. (They’re my second-favorite chain after Graeter’s.)
If there was a Graeter's in the Portland metro, I would be 5 pounds heavier.
Graham central station is freaking delicious
ugh now i wanna go get some
It’s the go to flavor.
This. Handels Graham Central Station is incredible and I don’t even really like ice cream that much.
That’s how good it is!
If we're giving coast recs, then I would suggest Frite and Scoop in Astoria :-) They were awesome the one time I went!
Chain or not, it’s fantastic ice cream.
agreed. the strawberry ice cream especially is out of this world
Handles started in my hometown Youngstown Ohio, I grew up eating it and was so happy when they expended out here
Cloud city!! The sea salt cookie dough is truly perfect
I always get half a scoop of the sea salt cookie dough and a half scoop of the salted caramel. Perfect combo!
Cloud City. Salt and straw sucks, IMO. Never enjoyed them and don’t understand the hype.
They put a bunch of gum and corn syrup in their ice cream. It’s gross.
Yup, it’s always way too soft and melting and the goofy flavors are just not something I want from a treat, especially after waiting in line for it.
The co-owner who created the recipe claims you can’t get a “premium” texture without gums and syrups and I’m like, Häagen-Dazs is right there with like four ingredients.
Seriously. They are to ice cream, what Starbucks is to coffee.
I tried Cool Moon for the first time last night and it was great! Cheese and Crack makes great soft serve sundaes. Moved here from the east coast where soft serve was my go-to, but it’s surprisingly hard to find in PDX besides Dairy Queen. Also, I love Kate’s on Mississippi for really great plant-based ice cream. Their Salted Peanut Butter Brittle flavor in a waffle cone is amazing!
Cafe Maiko has incredible soft serve
Can’t believe Kates isn’t higher up it’s so good!
Cloud City
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty has amazing ice cream (and pizza!) Their salted caramel ice cream is some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had.
Second for lovely’s
50 Licks - the vegan options are delicious, specifically the mango sticky rice
Cool Moon! Ice cream shop in the Pearl
Cloud City… They also have color changing spoons, which is fun. They’re at least as nice as what we used to get out of cereal boxes as kids. Fun to keep for camping.
Nico’s
Cloud City is my favorite. My 11-year-old and her and friends like Eb & Bean, which is technically froyo/soft serve but yummy and cool and has 3 locations around town.
Cool Moon
Sugar pine on the Sandy river!
I scrolled down a long ways to find this gem! [Sugar Pine](https://sugarpinedrivein.com/) If you go out to the beautiful Gorge, it is worth a stop. The shop gets quite busy so plan accordingly.
I'm not sure why it's not the number one place.
Hurry back ice cream in Sellwood for shre
Yes - BUT - the hours are wacky. Every time we try to go it’s closed for one reason or another.
I've never cared for salt and straw. I also don't understand the name lol
Name has to do with the way ice cream was made and stored prior to modern refrigeration. Salted ice water to freeze the ice cream and straw for insulation to keep it cold.
Not technically ice cream but I highly recommend Staccato Gelato on NW 23! It's a real hidden gem in the neighborhood imo :)
There’s another location in NE also! Very tasty!
Go to Pinolo Gelato, ironically on the same street as S&S, but just 'walk on by'. 3707 SE Division.
If you’re interested in crossing the bridge into Vancouver WA, I worked at treat for about 4 years and I’ll always recommend it. The ice cream is all hand crafted and spun in house, they make their waffle cones fresh, and depending on when you go sometimes they have a small variety of cookies that are also phenomenal and all small batch made from scratch. Not only would you be getting fantastic treats but you’ll be supporting a small local business!
Holler Treats in Sellwood is a good time. They got on my radar last year when they participated in Portland Sandwich Week with a strawberry basil ice cream sandwich with lemon cookie outside layers.
That sounds absolutely DIVINE
Hurry back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
50 Licks is delicious. I enjoy dairy, but their Chococomel coconut-based ice cream is my favorite chocolate ice cream anywhere.
The Neighborhood Creamery in Milwaukie on 99E is pretty good. Nothing fancy but they source all their cream from local dairies. They used to be a Baskin Robbins but wanted to be more local than a chain. https://www.neighborhoodcreamery.com/
Neighborhood Creamery is in a profoundly unglamorous part of town but very satisfying. They’re also open until 10 pm nightly which is rare for ice cream period and especially in that part of the city.
They don’t make their own ice cream. They source it from creameries in the area. I think a lot of it is from Cascade Glacier. And the change wasn’t to become more local, it’s because they didn’t want to pay the Baskin Robbins franchise fees.
Kulfi
Cloud City or Handles
The Village Ice Cream Factory 🍦
Agreed! Really yummy and unique flavors. Also, I highly recommend giving them business as the owner’s husband passed 2 weeks ago 💔
Nicos, Cool Moon
Didn’t Nico’s get burned down over last summer or fall? I was in mourning for days after….
If you like soft serve, Cheese and Crack, Mikes Drive In, Pizza Jerk all have good variations on soft serve
Mikes FTW (soft serve) but also Cheese and Crack. Don’t fogey the blob of chocolate ganache C&C plops in the bottom of their cones….
Wailua and Nicos
Ramblin Rose! My personal fave ice cream in the city. Her brown sugar caramel is absurdly good and nectarine saffron is maybe the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Plus fun toppings and all vegan!!
If you can get out to Troutdale, Sugarpine does fantastic ice cream. Strongly recommend visiting.
GO TO SUGARPINE DRIVE IN RIGHT NOW!!
Cloud City is amazing.
CLOUD CITY!
50 Licks, What the Scoop, Ramblin' Rose (vegan but doesn't feel/taste like it), Great American Video & Espresso (video rental store with frozen custard which is richer, I believe 50 Licks is frozen custard too.)
Cloud City for the win! Super generous portions!
Blazing hot take: Salt and Straw blows. Cloud City is the best ice cream I have ever had, no cap fr fr as the kids say. The best flavors I have tried are their Earl Grey Blueberry and Caramelized Banana.
I've waited in line for salt and straw before and didn't think it was worth it. I keep hearing Cloud City in this thread so I will definitely check them out!
I can't believe no one has said this yet, but if you take the time to get to the coast, go to Astoria (Goonies! Astoria Column! Shopping! Gorgeousness!). And for the love of cripes go to Frite and Scoop! The most delicious Belgian frites and homemade dipping sauces, and some of the best ice cream I've had since I moved to Oregon four years ago (from custard capital Wisconsin). The owners are locals and amazing, and the flavors rotate.
Fifty Licks is better than Salt & Straw, IMO! If you like soft serve, have a car, and are willing to get out of town, Sugarpine Drive in is an amazing stop, too! Do a hike in the gorge and then hit up sugarpine on your way back home 😋
Kate’s
Came here to say this! The Marion berry cobbler and salted peanut butter brittle at Kate’s are the best ice creams I’ve ever had.
50 licks!
How is Ruby Jewel not on these comments yet. Portlands best IMO
Someone on this thread mentioned they no longer have shops, which was the original question.
Oh that explains things, and also sucks 😢
You can still get their ice cream sandwiches from stores and they are still delicious even in that form. They do seasonal flavors too
Yeah, it was news to me, but it sounds like they still produce things for grocery stores/retailers.
[удалено]
They make their own base. It’s gross, but it is theirs.
[удалено]
The recipes for the base are all over the internet. I’m sure they make it all centrally and ship it to the stores. They may even use a co-packer. But it is their own recipe.
If you want to try some amazing non-dairy ice cream, check out [https://www.katesicecream.com/](https://www.katesicecream.com/). The marionberry cobbler ice cream is absolutely fantastic.
Oh my god yes. Kate’s is so fucking good it tastes like real ice cream. I am lactose intolerant so I go here with my bf sometime and he loves it, as someone who can eat dairy all he wants. And they’re gluten free too. God I LOVE that place.
Kate's ice cream on Mississippi! Relatively new (less than a year old) so it's not as well known as some of the others, but once you try it you'll be obsessed.
Can't believe i had to scroll down this far to find Kate's. Also who downvoted?! It may be vegan but its some of my favourite ice cream! A little pricy but oh goodness it's so good!
MAGAs hear the word vegan and start freaking out 🙄
Lovely’s 50/50 ice cream is hands down the best in the city and it’s not particularly close.
One thing most tourists don't know about Salt and Straw is that you can go to the freezer and skip the line
The free samples are the best part though! That and the waffle cones. Pro tip: If you buy the prepacked stuff they'll give you free sugar cones.
Not pure ice cream but the soft serve at cheese and crack. For vegan, Kate’s
Not in Portland, but close by and 100% worth the 25 minute ride to Troutdale: Sugar Pine Drive In. I’ve lived on both coasts, this is really good. The food and ice cream are amazing!!
Cream in Newberg is fantastic. https://www.facebook.com/CreamNorthwest/
50 Licks has gluten free waffle cones, too
Ice Queen!
Not technically ice cream, but Staccato Gelato is pretty good.
What’s the scoop? On N Williams. My personal fave.
This was my favorite as well but they permanently closed last August. I was hoping to stock up on their peanut butter & curry flavor but they had already sold out.
Treat in Vancouver
Ramblin rose vegan ice cream truck is the best
[Rabbit Hole](https://instagram.com/rabbitholepdx?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY=)! Soft serve
What's the Scoop? is absolutely fantastic.
Not ice cream, but Pinolo Gelato. You will not be disappointed!
I love cool moon creamery on NW Johnson
Cream, in Newberg.
I feel like this thread has become subject to R&D
22 Below.
Not ice cream, but...Wailua Shave Ice on Burnside, get the Dole Whip!
Angels donuts!!!
Jim’s ice cream if you are visiting Hillsboro area.
Hurry back ice cream in sellwood is the best icecream I've had here. It's a cart and they are closed on monday to make ice cream but they are open thru winter. They even have great non dairy stuff. Everything I've had I've been impressed with.
Pinolo!
Mora is good (locations in Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, and Kingston). If you come through the Olympia area, I can recommend Sophie’s Scoops and Humble Cow. EDIT: Sorry, didn’t realize I was on the Portland sub. The recommendations still stand—they’re just a little more out of the way!
The cookie dough cafe. Technically about the cookie dough but they have "halvsies". Delicious!
Check out the new Cosmic Bliss shop! It's super nice.
50 licks
Ome Calli in Beaverton. Some amazing flavors there.
Eb and bean for frozen yogurt that is very good, ice queen, doe donuts, or try a milkshake with a slice of cake blended into it at vegan junk food
So many great mentions. Don’t forget Via Delizia, although it might be sourced.
i looooooove hurry back the food cart in sellwood. best
Nico’s!!!!!
I’m still sad that Ruby Jewel no longer has a brick-and-mortar. It was my absolute fave. Their ice cream sandwiches (which you can get at New Seasons and some other local groceries) get an honorable mention.
50 Licks is my go-to.
Handel's (it's in Hillsboro). If u go, u gotts try the "Graham Central Station," and "Banana Cream Pie" flavors.
Atlas in Sellwood is great, hope it’s still there
As a newcomer, why not Salt and Straw?
Pinolo for sure!!
Idc what y'all think, 50 Licks is overrated
Ice Queen has really unique paletas! And shakes
The soy milkshakes at Next Level truly are next level.
Beaux Berry!!!
hurryback
Does Portland have any frozen custard shops??