If you’re like us, chances are you’ve been searching high and low for the best vegan ice cream in Washington D.C. Vegan ice cream is the new It food in D.C.— and it’s no surprise, given all the vegan-friendly options out there.
Ice cream is America’s favorite treat. And there is no shortage of vegan options when it comes to picking a scoop: from classics like vanilla and chocolate to more exotic flavors like lavender and matcha.
There’s a vegan ice cream for every budget and taste preference. And not to mention that many of these places are also gluten-free, so you can indulge in your favorite dessert without compromising your diet. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and taste test!
Here are 7 of our favorite spots to get vegan ice cream in D.C.:
Vegan Ice Cream Spots in D.C. to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
- Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats – A small batch, local ice cream shop offering vegan options like Vegan Mint Oreo, Toasted Coconut, and Mango Sorbet in Bethesda.
- Little Sesame – This spot offers vegan, gluten-free oat milk soft serve with flavors such as Vanilla Tahini, Chocolate Turkish Coffee, and Twist (a combo of both).
- Cajou Creamery – D.C.’s first plant-based creamery, known for its locally made, plant-based ice cream, available by the pint in local markets and ice cream shops.
- Jeni’s – Artisan ice cream made without stabilizers or artificial colors, featuring vegan-friendly flavors like Lemon Bar, Banana Cream Pudding, and Cold Brew with Coconut Cream.
- HipCityVeg – A vegan restaurant offering banana whips that taste like banana soft serve ice cream, plus seasonal vegan milkshakes made with organic soy ice cream.
- Here’s The Scoop – A community-focused small business near Howard University offering creative vegan flavors like Baklava, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Vanilla Cinnamon (Horchata).
- Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream – Known for small-batch, real ingredient ice cream, offering vegan options like Cereal Milk, Grasshopper Pie, and Orange Tarragon Sorbet.
1. Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats
Sarah’s offers small batch ice cream at their two Bethesda locations. The mother-daughter duo created Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats after Sarah retired in 2018. They offer delicious small batch, dairy and vegan, ice creams and sorbets in summer-perfect flavors.
Try these yummy vegan ice cream and sorbet options at Sarah’s:
- Vegan Mint Oreo
- Vegan Toasted Coconut
- Mango Sorbet
- Pink Lemonade Sorbet
- Rainbow Sorbet
Visit Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats at one of their two locations:
Wildwood Shop: 10219 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 or
River Road Shop: 5241 River Road Bethesda, MD 20816
2. Little Sesame
If you’re in either the Golden Triangle or Chinatown neighborhoods and are looking for a cool vegan treat, Little Sesame is the perfect spot to grab an oat milk soft serve. If you’re gluten free, their soft serve is both vegan and gluten free so no need to worry about messing up your dietary needs.
Little Sesame is serving up their light and cool treats in these flavors:
- Vanilla Tahini
- Chocolate Turkish Coffee
- Twist (both flavors together)
They also offer toppings of cocoa nibs, halva, or soomsoom crumble.
Check out Little Sesame at:
Golden Triangle: 1828 L ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 or
Chinatown: 736 6TH ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
3. Cajou Creamery
If you want to skip the cone and go for the pint, Cajou Creamery is D.C.’s favorite go-to plant-based ice cream made locally. The creamery is the DMV’s first plant -based creamery and you can find their ice cream being scooped in local ice cream shops or by the pint at local markets.
Use Cajou Creamery’s pint finder to find a pint near you.
4. Jeni’s
Jeni’s Ice Creams is all about making quality artisan ice cream without the junk. You won’t find any stabilizers, coloring, or emulsifiers in their ingredients list—because they don’t use them. They have plenty of delicious dairy-free and sorbet options that are vegan friendly.
We’re loving these crazy-good dairy-free flavors at Jeni’s:
- Lemon Bar
- Banana Cream Pudding
- Cold Brew with Coconut Cream
The heart of Jeni’s is at gathering people together over delicious ice cream in any one of their many ice cream scoop shops around the country. You can also find Jeni’s in select grocers.
Stop in for a scoop of Jeni’s here in Washington D.C, at one of these locations:
- Jeni’s 14th Street
- Jeni’s Bethesda Row
- Jeni’s Old Town Alexandria
- Jeni’s Barracks Row
- Jeni’s At The Yards Park
- Jeni’s At The Boro
5.HipCityVeg
HipCityVeg may not be an ice cream shop, but if you’re looking for a frozen treat that is vegan, creamy, sweet, and delicious to cool you off, HipCityVeg has perfected the banana whip! Made with just bananas, it’s hard to differentiate it from banana soft serve ice cream. You can add various toppings or try one of their seasonal vegan milkshakes made with organic soy ice cream.
Grab your banana whip at one of these D.C. HipCityVeg locations:
712 7TH ST NW, Washington, D,C. 20001 or
1300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
6. Here’s The Scoop
Here’s The Scoop is a community-minded small business started by owner, Karin Sellers in 2019. They offer dairy, dairy-free, and vegan ice cream options in Washington D.C.
Located near Howard University on Georgia Ave NW, Here’s The Scoop has delicious vegan flavors like:
- Baklava—coconut ice cream with pistachios
- Blueberry Cheesecake—creamy vanilla with blueberry currant
- Vanilla Cinnamon (Horchata)
- Guava & Cheese—thick & creamy cheesecake ice cream with a guava swirl
Here’s The Scoop also caters for weddings, parties, community events, fundraisers, and corporate events, so you can book them for your next affair! They even have super cute ice cream carts which make for the perfect Instagram photos!
7. Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream
Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream creates small batch ice cream with real ingredients. They offer dairy, dairy-free, and vegan ice cream options.
Try these great vegan choices at Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream in D.C.:
- Vegan Cereal Milk
- Vegan Grasshopper Pie
- Orange Tarragon Sorbet
Visit Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream at it’s Washington D.C. location:
3110 Mount Pleasant Street NW, Washington, DC 20010
You can find vegan ice cream in D.C. if you’re craving it. Some of the selections we shared today are perfect for those trying to eat healthier, as a lot of them are free of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. There are a number of vegan ice cream shops that serve decadent options that are still healthy.
Whether you prefer coconut-based vegan ice cream, plant-based ice cream, almond-milk ice cream, or sorbets, be sure to visit one of these places whenever you want to enjoy a special treat in Washington D.C.
If you’re looking for a new place to call home, explore our available apartments throughout Washington D.C.
FAQs on Vegan Ice Cream Spots in and around D.C.
Where can I find vegan ice cream in Bethesda?
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats in Bethesda offers a variety of vegan options, such as Vegan Mint Oreo, Vegan Toasted Coconut, and Mango Sorbet. You can visit their Wildwood or River Road locations.
What are the vegan soft serve options at Little Sesame?
Little Sesame offers oat milk soft serve in two flavors: Vanilla Tahini and Chocolate Turkish Coffee. They also have a Twist option that combines both flavors, along with toppings like cocoa nibs, halva, and soomsoom crumble.
Where can I buy Cajou Creamery’s vegan ice cream?
Cajou Creamery is D.C.’s first plant-based creamery, and their locally made vegan ice cream is available by the pint at local markets and ice cream shops. You can use their pint finder to locate one near you.
What vegan flavors are available at Jeni’s Ice Cream?
Jeni’s Ice Cream offers several delicious dairy-free and vegan-friendly flavors like Lemon Bar, Banana Cream Pudding, and Cold Brew with Coconut Cream. These are available at multiple locations across D.C.
Does HipCityVeg offer vegan frozen treats?
Yes, HipCityVeg serves banana whips, a creamy, sweet, and vegan alternative to soft serve ice cream. They also offer seasonal vegan milkshakes made with organic soy ice cream.
What vegan flavors can I try at Here’s The Scoop in D.C.?
Here’s The Scoop offers unique vegan flavors like Baklava (coconut ice cream with pistachios), Blueberry Cheesecake (creamy vanilla with blueberry currant), and Vanilla Cinnamon (Horchata). They also cater for events and parties.
Where is Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream located in D.C.?
Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream in D.C. offers small batch, real ingredient ice cream with vegan options like Vegan Cereal Milk, Vegan Grasshopper Pie, and Orange Tarragon Sorbet. They are located at 3110 Mount Pleasant Street NW, Washington, D.C.
