As the summer heat kicks in, we all need a little sweet relief. Thankfully for us, the Puget Sound area knows how to do ice cream. From Blaine to La Conner, here are some of our favorite ice cream shops that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Photograph by Brandee Simons
Love from London
Downtown Bellingham’s newest ice cream shop is bringing a bit of Londoner love to the city of Subdued Excitement. If you’re in the mood for a more unique dessert spot, Love from London may be for you. The British-themed shop offers bubble waffle cones, ice cream, and an assortment of their 19 topping choices and nine sauces. From bananas and Mars bars to Biscoff, salted caramel, milk chocolate, and maple syrup, Love from London is sure to have something for everyone. They’re also serving imported drinks from Britain, and if you haven’t already, we’d recommend giving Scotland’s favorite drink, Irn-Bru, a try!
1301 Commercial St., Bellingham, 360.483.8818, Facebook @ Love From London
Photograph by Anne Godenham
La Conner Ice Cream Tower
Conveniently located directly off the Swinomish Channel, the La Conner Ice Cream Tower with its unique lighthouse-esque architecture is sure to catch the eyes of passersby. The red brick surrounding the tower and the pink, yellow, and purple round tables, help cultivate a quintessentially beach town feeling. Along with ice cream, the tower also serves various coffee drinks and hot dogs for those who may be looking for a quick snack. The tower’s summer hours are now in full swing, operating seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
104 1st St., La Conner, 360.399.1722, laconnericecreamtower.com
Photograph by Morgan Merriam
Cyro Rolls
Let’s get the good times rolling with our next ice cream shop: Cryo Rolls. This shop is a bit of a local sensation, boasting 1.8 million followers on TikTok and 82.9 thousand followers on Instagram. This crew blew up posting and going live displaying the creation process of their specialty ice cream.
To make this rolled delight, servers pour the ice cream base on a freezing metal counter. From there, they work in your mix-ins as your base freezes, eventually spreading it out into a sheet. Next is everyone’s favorite part: the roll. Once your rolls of choice are served, you can top your treat with whipped cream and sauces.
Get your chance to watch this process first hand and enjoy staples flavors like cookies & cream and strawberry cheesecake or spring for their weekly flavor releases!
1207 Granary Ave., Ste. 150, Bellingham, 360.778.1199, cryorolls.com
Photograph by Katheryn Moran
Lopez Island Creamery
If you’re around the Anacortes area and looking for the scoop, consider stopping by the Lopez Island Creamery’s factory store. Upon arrival, the factory has an industrial feel with concrete floors, gray walls, and blue and white tables and chairs. The open window into the pasteurization room is reminiscent of a less hoppy and more cheerful brewery.
All of the ice cream for Lopez Island Creamery is made at the factory location with farm-fresh and local cream. The cream gets pasteurized, then churned in small batches, and shipped to local grocery stores or served at one of their two brick-and-mortar locations.
If you want to stop in, you’ll be able to grab a quick scoop, pint, or ice cream sandwich. The creamery features rotating seasonal flavors and usually has over 15 flavors available in the store. Or, if you’re on Lopez Island on a Saturday or Sunday, check out their recently-opened Lopez shop!
9028 Molly Ln., Anacortes & 9 Old Post Rd., Lopez Island, 360.299.8200, lopezislandcreamery.com
Photograph by Morgan Merriam
Mallard Ice Cream
If you’re looking for a scoop in downtown Bellingham, make your way over to Railroad Avenue. Churning since 2001, Mallard’s features a library of over 700 flavors, from the classics we love to the freaky and funky, according to their website.
True to their name, this shop is filled top to bottom with ducks—inflatable, rubber, you name it. Beyond bright colors and waterfowl friends, Mallard’s is stacked with all the books and board games you could want, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
At Mallard’s, they pull out all the stops to make ice cream a great experience. With allergy-friendly flavors, half-and-half indecision scoops for when you just can’t decide, and Lactaid chocolates available for purchase, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
1323 Railroad Ave., Bellingham, 360.734.3884, mallardicecream.com
Photograph by Morgan Merriam
Aloha Cafe
If you’re making your way toward Peace Arch or just happen to be in town, make time for a visit to Blaine’s Aloha Cafe. Sitting just across from Blaine Harbor, this shop is a precious sight, full of florals, pastels, and of course, some beautiful bites.
Among their food and drink selections is Aloha Cafe’s Hawaiian shaved ice. These bowls are the perfect way to cool off, and come with a choice of any three syrup flavors and an option for additional toppings. Their tiger’s blood, lilikoi, hawaiian dream combo is a fan favorite in-shop.
While you eat, peruse the cafe’s shop, which offers everything from soaps to scrubs to stuffies and muscle rubs, all handmade by owner Drisana Horton.
684 Peace Portal Dr., Blaine, 360.933.1047, alohacafeblainewa.com
Loving these spots but hungry for more? Check out what else Whatcom and Skagit have to offer…
- Sirena Gelato, Bellingham
- Crooked Spoon, Bellingham
- Lafeen’s, Burlington
- Sugar Shack Ice Cream, Ferndale
- Big Scoop, Mount Vernon
- Snow Goose Produce, Mount Vernon (seasonal)
- Schuh Farms, Mount Vernon
- Edaleen Dairy, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden
- Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Bellingham
