Boston Globe: Best of the Best
By Globe staff and contributors | Updated June 4, 2026, 5:30 a.m.
We sampled ice cream across Boston. These 12 shops churn out greatness.
ew England takes pride in its plethora of ice cream options and Boston is no exception, serving up everything from inventive, small-batch varieties found in mom-and-pop shops to trendy, social-media-ready creations. Globe food writers and correspondents have sampled flavors across the city to narrow the list down for you. This year, we made one new addition to the Best of the Best list. After a day of fun in Boston — with kids or without kids — there’s no better way to cool down, whatever the time of year.