Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
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This is the best ice cream in DC hands down. They consistently create unique homemade flavors that are phenomenal. The service is always on point and the shop has sufficient space for patrons.
The flavors here are so delicious. Definitely my favorite ice cream spot in DC I've tried so far! I also love the rotating monthly menu. Their olive oil ice cream is absolutely delish. I do think it's weird that they don't offer samples but service is quick and there's some seating in front of the store.
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is one of those places that instantly becomes a favorite. Their flavor selection is always exciting, creative, and consistently delicious. Every scoop feels generous, almost like getting a scoop and a half, which makes each visit feel like a small treat and a bonus all at once. One of my favorite things about this shop is their doggy ice cream. My dog absolutely loves it, to the point where he screams if we walk by without stopping. It has become part of our routine, and watching him light up when he gets his own cup makes the stop even better. They also serve an ice cream taco in the winter, and I cannot wait for it to come back. It is fun, a little quirky, and exactly the kind of seasonal special that keeps things interesting. The walk up window is another huge plus. It makes grabbing ice cream with my dog easy and enjoyable, especially on nice days when you just want something quick and tasty. Mount Desert Island Ice Cream delivers great flavors, generous scoops, and thoughtful touches that make it stand out. It is a place I look forward to every time.
A cute little ice cream shop in Mt. Pleasant that always has lines out the door in the summer! Be aware that they don't allow any samples and rotate through a lot of unusual flavors, so you're playing ice cream roulette with very expensive scoops. I've had some hits (pretzel toffee, most recently) and some misses (the cherry blossom one made the odd decision to overwhelm the flavor of the real blossoms used with dried cherries). Texture of the ice cream isn't particularly good here, unfortunately. Flavors are very creative but hard to predict quality-wise. Overall, not my favorite ice cream shop in DC, but super cute and with tons of fun options. It's a good vibe, but be aware that the line moves very slowly.
Incredible creamy texture. The seasonal items like the brambleberry are not nearly as good as the staples such as Chocolate, sea salt caramel, and butter beer.
Great ice cream but major downside -- no tasting option :( some flavors are obscure so would be great if we could try them before getting whole scoops of it. Small shop indoors but nice outdoor space.
No mountains, but a cute ice cream spot in Mt Pleasant. This local spot has some interesting flavors. The entrance looked like I was about to enter someone's house. Tucked away on the side is a cute ice cream shop. Very limited seating, but they do share an outdoor patio area. I thought the ice cream flavors were interesting but the ice cream melted so quickly. A friend and I shared a flight (4 scoops) because there were so many flavors we wanted to try. Mutabbaq was my favorite that had nuts, cinnamon, cardamon, and based off a Palestinian dessert. The blueberry sour crumble was also a solid choice. The flavors of the ice cream were pretty light and less on the creamy side. Great place on a hot summer day or if you are wanting to quell your sweet tooth after or before or really anytime. Surprisingly they are open pretty late (til 9:30).
Three different landscapes all in the name yet they're all represented in some way or another. Mountain for the trek in the long line up the stairs as you burn up under the hot desert sun while inching closer to the island utopia that is immersed in frosty creamy goodness! It's also named for an island out in Maine. Mount Desert Island (MDI for short) Ice Cream hosts their ice cream parlor for commonly seen crowds looking to get a good taste of their innovative and classic flavors. With a rotating set of flavors, it's good to come often to experience seasonal specialties as well as beloved traditions. Parking can be tough here as it's all street parking but loop around long enough, something will eventually open up! Or consider parking further away and walking. In addition to offering their scoops on demand, you could consider ordering ahead online and picking it up at the counter. When you've finally endured the line and are able to enter the small space, you'll likely be asked to keep the door closed to maintain optimal ambient temperature to prevent everything from melting down to puddles. Although they have their menu posted up on the wall, to save you the trouble from craning your neck to get a glimpse from the outside, you can check on their website for the flavor of the day. Unfortunately, you won't have the opportunity to sample their flavors so if it's your first visit, consider going with a safe flavor or get multiple scoops and be adventurous! It is still a bit absurd for an ice cream parlor to not offer samples, however. Their claim is to reduce environmental waste, time to serve, and costs. Their popular following suggests that this isn't a deal breaker. I ended up playing it safe and got the chocolate mint and coffee. Both were really tasty and solid flavors, although they weren't exceptional and do melt really fast so there's not much to savor. The amount per scoop is relatively decent, slightly more than the ones sold at boutique shops. There's not much of a dining space inside but there is a small outdoor dining area with covering for those looking to enjoy their sweets on site. It's not much and not too well maintained but it beats having to crowd the walkways. Overall, Mount Desert Island Ice Cream offers good tasting, decently sized premium ice cream cones, cups, pints, sandwiches, truffles, and shakes in addition to coffee drinks. The flavors of their ice cream range from classics to innovative creations (joined with their wacky names). Without being able to sample their flavors, you'll likely just need to return or get their flights to give them a good shake. It's a local favorite and frequented by crowds so plan to wait! They do have locations in other parts of the world (even Japan) so next time we're in the vicinity of one of their shops, we may plan a visit to climb that mountain, trek that dessert, and explore that island!
I couldn't be more happier when I found out about this place. I used to love going to Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Matsumoto, Japan and I would order a box of chocolate ice cream to bring back home because just a scoop of ice cream was not enough! It's so good that I was not able to stop eating! You can tell that the quality of their ice cream is different. There were a few people waiting in line when we got there but the service was quick and efficient. There are some seating outside. If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out!
Charming ice cream spot with some unique flavors. I wanted to try them all but I compromised and got a flight which comes with 4 flavors. Definitely appreciated that being a menu option! They have limited indoor seating but there's a nice little outdoor patio that you can sit at if the weather's nice.
On a pleasant sunny day I found myself in the Mt Pleasant neighborhood for lunch. Looking for a sweet treat after mid-day meal I stumbled upon the quaint Mount Desert Island ice cream shop. Very clean and relatively new looking, there were plenty of unique flavors of ice cream from which to choose. I chose a scoop of churro and a scoop of coffee ice cream from the friendly scooper. Took my treat outside and spent a few minutes in the outside arbor built on the street. A very nice time, a perfect frozen treat. Plenty more flavors to try next time.
Solid ice cream spot with unique flavors. The ice cream is super creamery and on the thicker side, which I enjoyed. They rotate between a few flavors and have their staples they keep year round. It's a small space with a few inside seats. Only downside is they don't do samples. A bit unfortunate since I wanted to try a flavor or 2 before ordering. I personally LOVED the spiced chai. The blueberry crumble was good but think I would have enjoyed the thai coconut or the spiced thai latte more based on how the spiced chai tasted. I hope they find a way to give samples in the future. I appreciate them being cautious of the health of others but it does hinder on the experience. Looked at other reviews and the same was said about the lack of samples. Never heard of an ice cream place not offering samples...
Wonderful ice cream spot with a ton of unique flavors! I first fell in love with Mount Desert Island Ice Cream while visiting Acadia National Park, so imagine my excitement when I learned this Maine classic had made its way all the way to Mount Pleasant DC! They have a great list of unique rotating flavors, and it's always fun to come back to try out their new seasonal releases. A few of my favorites over the years have been their hibiscus sorbet -- a delightful dairy-free addition to their Hispanic Heritage Month flavors that is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet -- the cinnamon cardamom -- a super spiced ice cream that, despite being freezing cold, feels like you're about to drink a warm beverage -- and blueberry sour cream crumble. When I'm feeling less adventurous, they also have a really solid strawberry ice cream that uses real berries (none of that artificial nonsense you see in grocery stores) with a delightful fruity, slightly tangy flavor. There's usually a pretty long line, but it moves quite quickly since they don't allow samples. It's also a small space that gets crowded pretty easily, so I'd recommend taking your ice cream to go and enjoying it as you walk around Mt Pleasant or on the benches just below the entrance to Mount Desert. read more
I visited Mount Desert Island Ice Cream after hearing good things about it. They have some really unique flavors, including blueberry sour cream and Earl Grey, which definitely caught my attention. Unfortunately, they had a sign posted saying they weren't offering samples, which was a bit of a bummer since I wanted to try some of the more unusual flavors before deciding. I ended up getting a single cup with two flavors: Thai tea and Vietnamese coffee. Both were delicious and had strong, authentic flavor profiles without being overly sweet. Service was quick, and while there is some seating inside, it's fairly limited. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and would come back to try some of their other creative flavors. My only real complaint is the no-samples policy, especially with so many unique options on the menu. read more
The flavors here are so delicious. Definitely my favorite ice cream spot in DC I've tried so far! I also love the rotating monthly menu. Their olive oil ice cream is absolutely delish. I do think it's weird that they don't offer samples but service is quick and there's some seating in front of the store. read more
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is one of those places that instantly becomes a favorite. Their flavor selection is always exciting, creative, and consistently delicious. Every scoop feels generous, almost like getting a scoop and a half, which makes each visit feel like a small treat and a bonus all at once. One of my favorite things about this shop is their doggy ice cream. My dog absolutely loves it, to the point where he screams if we walk by without stopping. It has become part of our routine, and watching him light up when he gets his own cup makes the stop even better. They also serve an ice cream taco in the winter, and I cannot wait for it to come back. It is fun, a little quirky, and exactly the kind of seasonal special that keeps things interesting. The walk up window is another huge plus. It makes grabbing ice cream with my dog easy and enjoyable, especially on nice days when you just want something quick and tasty. Mount Desert Island Ice Cream delivers great flavors, generous scoops, and thoughtful touches that make it stand out. It is a place I look forward to every time. read more
A cute little ice cream shop in Mt. Pleasant that always has lines out the door in the summer! Be aware that they don't allow any samples and rotate through a lot of unusual flavors, so you're playing ice cream roulette with very expensive scoops. I've had some hits (pretzel toffee, most recently) and some misses (the cherry blossom one made the odd decision to overwhelm the flavor of the real blossoms used with dried cherries). Texture of the ice cream isn't particularly good here, unfortunately. Flavors are very creative but hard to predict quality-wise. Overall, not my favorite ice cream shop in DC, but super cute and with tons of fun options. It's a good vibe, but be aware that the line moves very slowly. read more
2 months ago
Incredible creamy texture. The seasonal items like the brambleberry are not nearly as good as the staples such as Chocolate, sea salt caramel, and butter beer. read more
No mountains, but a cute ice cream spot in Mt Pleasant. This local spot has some interesting flavors. The entrance looked like I was about to enter someone's house. Tucked away on the side is a cute ice cream shop. Very limited seating, but they do share an outdoor patio area. I thought the ice cream flavors were interesting but the ice cream melted so quickly. A friend and I shared a flight (4 scoops) because there were so many flavors we wanted to try. Mutabbaq was my favorite that had nuts, cinnamon, cardamon, and based off a Palestinian dessert. The blueberry sour crumble was also a solid choice. The flavors of the ice cream were pretty light and less on the creamy side. Great place on a hot summer day or if you are wanting to quell your sweet tooth after or before or really anytime. Surprisingly they are open pretty late (til 9:30). read more
1 year ago
Three different landscapes all in the name yet they're all represented in some way or another. Mountain for the trek in the long line up the stairs as you burn up under the hot desert sun while inching closer to the island utopia that is immersed in frosty creamy goodness! It's also named for an island out in Maine. Mount Desert Island (MDI for short) Ice Cream hosts their ice cream parlor for commonly seen crowds looking to get a good taste of their innovative and classic flavors. With a rotating set of flavors, it's good to come often to experience seasonal specialties as well as beloved traditions. Parking can be tough here as it's all street parking but loop around long enough, something will eventually open up! Or consider parking further away and walking. In addition to offering their scoops on demand, you could consider ordering ahead online and picking it up at the counter. When you've finally endured the line and are able to enter the small space, you'll likely be asked to keep the door closed to maintain optimal ambient temperature to prevent everything from melting down to puddles. Although they have their menu posted up on the wall, to save you the trouble from craning your neck to get a glimpse from the outside, you can check on their website for the flavor of the day. Unfortunately, you won't have the opportunity to sample their flavors so if it's your first visit, consider going with a safe flavor or get multiple scoops and be adventurous! It is still a bit absurd for an ice cream parlor to not offer samples, however. Their claim is to reduce environmental waste, time to serve, and costs. Their popular following suggests that this isn't a deal breaker. I ended up playing it safe and got the chocolate mint and coffee. Both were really tasty and solid flavors, although they weren't exceptional and do melt really fast so there's not much to savor. The amount per scoop is relatively decent, slightly more than the ones sold at boutique shops. There's not much of a dining space inside but there is a small outdoor dining area with covering for those looking to enjoy their sweets on site. It's not much and not too well maintained but it beats having to crowd the walkways. Overall, Mount Desert Island Ice Cream offers good tasting, decently sized premium ice cream cones, cups, pints, sandwiches, truffles, and shakes in addition to coffee drinks. The flavors of their ice cream range from classics to innovative creations (joined with their wacky names). Without being able to sample their flavors, you'll likely just need to return or get their flights to give them a good shake. It's a local favorite and frequented by crowds so plan to wait! They do have locations in other parts of the world (even Japan) so next time we're in the vicinity of one of their shops, we may plan a visit to climb that mountain, trek that dessert, and explore that island! read more
2 months ago
I couldn't be more happier when I found out about this place. I used to love going to Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Matsumoto, Japan and I would order a box of chocolate ice cream to bring back home because just a scoop of ice cream was not enough! It's so good that I was not able to stop eating! You can tell that the quality of their ice cream is different. There were a few people waiting in line when we got there but the service was quick and efficient. There are some seating outside. If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out! read more
Charming ice cream spot with some unique flavors. I wanted to try them all but I compromised and got a flight which comes with 4 flavors. Definitely appreciated that being a menu option! They have limited indoor seating but there's a nice little outdoor patio that you can sit at if the weather's nice. read more
11 months ago
On a pleasant sunny day I found myself in the Mt Pleasant neighborhood for lunch. Looking for a sweet treat after mid-day meal I stumbled upon the quaint Mount Desert Island ice cream shop. Very clean and relatively new looking, there were plenty of unique flavors of ice cream from which to choose. I chose a scoop of churro and a scoop of coffee ice cream from the friendly scooper. Took my treat outside and spent a few minutes in the outside arbor built on the street. A very nice time, a perfect frozen treat. Plenty more flavors to try next time. read more
1 year ago
Solid ice cream spot with unique flavors. The ice cream is super creamery and on the thicker side, which I enjoyed. They rotate between a few flavors and have their staples they keep year round. It's a small space with a few inside seats. Only downside is they don't do samples. A bit unfortunate since I wanted to try a flavor or 2 before ordering. I personally LOVED the spiced chai. The blueberry crumble was good but think I would have enjoyed the thai coconut or the spiced thai latte more based on how the spiced chai tasted. I hope they find a way to give samples in the future. I appreciate them being cautious of the health of others but it does hinder on the experience. Looked at other reviews and the same was said about the lack of samples. Never heard of an ice cream place not offering samples... read more
We had some kind of fruit mix flavor and also sesame. The sesame was very much so sesame in the sense and it was nice they were generous with it (they explained they could give out more of one flavor when we ordered). It would have been nice if they allowed for samples or did a better job describing the flavors..My friend had asked for an explanation of the flavors since she couldn't try it and the girl behind the window just basically listed the ingredients which was on the menu. Very casual spot. No one else was here when we came in the afternoon. read more
This is a nice little ice cream shop. I had heard good things about it. They have a few seats inside but mostly it's to-go. Good selection of flavors with both normal and interesting ones. I ordered a triple and got Hojicha (roasted green tea), Thai Iced Tea, and Black Sesame for $8.53 after tax. They were all tasty although the hojicha didn't have as strong a flavor as I would have liked. The prices are pretty reasonable. Beware, they don't allow any samples. If you order a single, it's really more like 1.5 scoops and you can ask for two flavors. read more
Wonderful options! Tried a flight of chocolate mint, strawberry, four oranges of the apocalypse ice creams and watermelon sorbet. I think my favorite for this sunny day were strawberry ice cream and watermelon sorbet as they both were refreshing after a looooooong run! I'd "ice cream" for Chocolate mint anytime as it's very chocolatey and minty. A hint of mint chunks are amazing within this scoop! You can't go wrong with this choice really! Four oranges of the apocalypse ice cream is nice and zesty. It'd be elevated with some orange zest! But it's smooth, light acidic and citrusy flavor. I'd come back to try seasonal flavors! Until next time! The service was friendly and quick! Staff were very hospitality and welcoming. Sitting around is nice as it's very chill to people watch from window if you're lucky to grab that seating. read more
2 years ago
Wow. What a great range of flavors and absolutely incredible tasting treats! My friend and I stopped by after dinner to get dessert and we were NOT disappointed! Every flavor was delicious and we can't wait to try the rest of the menu! read more
A good local ice cream shop in Mount Pleasant. I recently went here on a weekday afternoon to get a couple scoops of ice cream and was able to get my order in under 2 minutes. I got the Alfajor and Champurrado in a homemade waffle cone at a reasonable DC price ($8.25 with tax). The cone was the best part-rich, buttery, crispy, and warm. The ice cream was creamy but I had a hard time detecting the flavors, especially the alfajor. read more
I really like their ice cream and the best part is being a local to where I live. When one of my favorite ice cream places moved out, I was heartbroken but the pandemic really put some places at a standstill and I don't blame them for leaving. I admit I discovered this place a couple of years ago while I was cruising Uber eats and this came up on my keys. I had never heard of the company nor did I know that they were a chain? I've had a variety of flavors that included girl scouts in the past, Brigaderio, Maine Sea salt caramel. Those are pretty good. On this trip. I decided to mix it up so I could try different flavors. One of them included buttermint which tasted like peppermint which was very refreshing. The other flavor I got was the strawberry one which was really good. The other two flavors I got were the blueberry basil and the berry swirl coriander which I thought was my favorite on this trip. I typically get the pints so I can havd them throughout the week. I'm glad to see that they're open till 10:00 pm during the week which really helped top off my night:) read more
Large scoops with unique flavors! I think the price is reasonable. As an out of towner, I found this ice cream enjoyable! Unfortunately, they aren't doing samples as of writing this on August 2023, so you'll just have to dive in. The blueberry sour cream was enjoyable and the most popular, so we had to try it. It wasn't incredibly sour but was nice and more unique than a typical a plain blueberry flavor. We would get it again! I also got the four oranges, which I personally enjoyed but I like orange flavors. Was more on the creamy end than the fruity/tarty side as FYI. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here but if you're within vicinity, definitely come by here! The constant line is proof that they know what they're doing. Nice seating outside too if you're coming on a late summer night like we did (not covered though). read more
Tons of interesting flavors, all executed well, and a long line that moves, well, at a decent-enough clip. Vibe is totally a modern/hipster ice cream shop. They lean into the more Asian flavors, with black sesame, Vietnamese coffee, Thai iced tea, candied ginger, plus some more mainstream ones like blueberry basil (I think it was blueberry basil), sweet cream, and into outright normal ones cookies and cream. They don't do samples (which is fair and explained clearly after you enter), but all the ice creams and sorbets are delicious. Hard to blame them but the only hiccup is that there's so much gourmet ice cream out there, even ones that lean more into Asian flavors, that it's hard to truly be exceptional. read more
3 years ago
Cool ice cream store with an interesting range of flavors as well as coffee offerings. I particularly liked the brigadeiro Brazilian chocolate flavor. The chocolate mint was also very good, the chocolate flavor comes out a lot more than the typical mint chip. Prices are high at around $6 for a small scoop. And despite the price they don't offer samples which is a bit annoying when you have so many unusual flavors. read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
Ice cream wasn't as smooth and creamy as others I've had, but the flavor was so good. The sesame was strong. It wasn't that sweet and really just packed a punch in my mouth. The Thai tea was okay. Not the best I've had just because it was sweeter than I prefer, but it was still pretty good. There are no samples offered, so you just have to trust that they'll be good. They have a lot of interesting flavors. I loved the diversity of flavors and wished that I could've tried more. read more
2 years ago
AMAZING ice cream. The place smells like a bakery and you can tell everything is made with fresh ingredients. The service was quick and polite too! It was a bit loud, but that's more a note of how many people come for the flavors. I need to come back and try the coriander streusel. read more
5/5 for flavor variety, 5/5 for taste, 3.5/5 for price (super pricey, but not a surprise in a foodie town ice cream shop), and 0/5 for not giving samples (still)! And also 0/5 for a $0.50 charge for an extra spoon (so their board says)? SO many amazing sounding flavors. And even better that you can get a flight! The ice cream is not super soft and takes awhile to melt, but the taste is spot on. Super enjoyed cinnamon cardamom, hasty pudding (molasses + cornmeal), and blueberry sour cream crumble. The hasty pudding was our overall favorite out of all of them, but they were all delicious and had some extra texture/crumble pieces. Would definitely stop by for ice cream, just know you're going to be paying a lot! read more
3.5* This place has been on my radar because of its high rating and feature in several guides but I wasn't blown away. The ice cream was delicious, sure, but like any other homemade ice cream shop. Got the chocolate (very rich and decadent), and blueberry sour cream crumble (sour cream didn't really come through, mostly blueberry). The shop itself is a tiny room with a tiny window, no display case, no samples! Personally samples are a key part of the ice cream experience, and I don't know if this was a Covid policy or not but regardless, missed out. They also don't have personalized cups, just plastic- for the price they could have made it more specialized. Also, staff was not necessarily rude but did not give off friendly energy and seemed like they didn't really want to be there. Given DC lacks ice cream shops, I would go again, but not because the experience wowed me. read more
6 months ago
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More info about Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
3110 Mt Pleasant St NW
Washington, DC 20010
Mount Pleasant
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(240) 804-7038
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http://www.mdiic.com
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Mount Desert Island Ice Cream - coffee - Updated August 2026
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