In a town known for its incredible dining scene, it's no wonder you'll find an array of ice cream shops, creameries and chocolate shops offering up delicious sweet treats sure to cleanse the palate. Imagine how refreshing it would be after a day of Asheville adventure to savor a scoop (or two, or three, or more) of house-made ice cream.
In Asheville, you have many options when in search of that perfect scoop. Craving ice cream sandwiches? You'll find it here. Is it frozen custard you're after? Asheville has you covered. Love gelato? You're in for a treat.
Here are 11 great places to eat ice cream in Asheville!
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
The Hop is an institution in Asheville — it’s one of the oldest ice cream shops in town. The Hop opened in 1978 in a converted former gas station on Merrimon Avenue. Its modern era began in 2008 when University of North Carolina Asheville alumni couple Greg and Ashley Garrison bought the shop. This local favorite has now grown to include four locations (West Asheville, North Asheville, downtown at S&W Market, and Black Mountain). The menu includes classic flavors and toppings, dairy-free and no-sugar-added options, and an array of creative seasonal blends like lavender vanilla, blueberry kale, pawpaw, cardamom, and tamarind date ginger. They also sell bubble tea.
The Mad Dipper
Two Asheville social workers started the Mad Dipper as a way to spread happiness in the community. Owners Kevin and Lucia Barnes have kept philanthropy in mind with programs such as Flavor of the Month, which donates a portion of sales each month to different local non-profits. They are also known for their “Random Acts of Ice Cream” when they randomly dole out free ice cream to people in the community. You can find the Mad Dipper in north Asheville and in east Asheville.
French Broad Chocolate
French Broad Chocolates has become a fan favorite for sweet treats in Asheville. While they're known for their handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolate, you’ll find the house-made ice cream at French Broad Chocolate is just as loved and popular. For a special treat, try drizzling the liquid chocolate truffle over your ice cream. You can get it at their downtown Chocolate Lounge, the adjacent Chocolate Boutique for a quick pick-up, and their Chocolate Factory Cafe on Riverside Drive, where you can also take a tour to savor all the chocolatey goodness.
Sunshine Sammies
Started with a hand-built solar-power pushcart in 2013, Sunshine Sammies quickly made a name for itself in Asheville. Though the cart stills pops up at area festivals and events, today, the ice cream sandwich maker has a beautiful storefront on South Lexington Avenue downtown. Sunshine Sammies is known for its all-natural house-made ice cream (with an endless variety of flavors) paired with fresh baked cookies. The ice cream sandwiches are sold in local groceries and via an adorable vintage truck that rolls around Asheville. The shop, built in the 1920s, is an Instagrammers dream.
Kilwins
It’s hard to miss Kilwins when walking in down Battery Park Avenue in Asheville or State Street in Black Mountain. A hive of activity is on display through large glass storefront windows. The aroma of treats and ice cream and the sight of praline pecans being pulled from the copper kettle will surely lure you through the door. And since Kilwins is a franchise, the stores are locally-owned and all their sweet treats are made in-house.
