Best Ice Cream in Cape Cod: 12 Best Shops

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After a day lounging at the beach, winning games of mini golf, or exploring Cape Cod, a cold, sweet treat is just what you need.

There are so many great places to get ice cream on Cape Cod that it can be overwhelming to decide where to go. 

That’s where I come in! As a lifelong New Englander, I’ve been visiting Cape Cod since I was a baby, so I’ve got the best scoop on where to go.

Keep reading for tips on where to get the best ice cream in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium

I was introduced to Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium many years ago in Bar Harbor, Maine, which is the original shop.

I was thrilled to find that they had several locations in Massachusetts, including one in Falmouth in Upper Cape Cod. 

What I love about the Ben & Bill’s menu is that they have several dairy-free, vegan flavors to choose from!

Meg’s Pick: 1 scoop cherry chip and 1 scoop vegan black forest in a sugar cone!

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
209 Main St., Falmouth
(508) 548-7878

Caffee Gelato Bertini

Located in South Yarmouth, this adorable gelateria serves gelato, sorbet, and espresso drinks. My kinda place!

I recommend trying the Cape Cod beach plum or beach rose flavored gelato for some local flavor.

Caffee Gelato Bertini is only open for the Summer season from May to October.

Meg’s Pick: 1-2 scoops Cape Cod beach plum gelato in a cup.

Caffe Gelato Bertini
46 South St, South Yarmouth
(508) 778-0244

Cape Cod Creamery

Perhaps the biggest and most well known place to get ice cream in Cape Cod is Cape Cod Creamery. 

This gourmet shop has 3 locations in Cape Cod:

1. Dennis, MA
2. Hyannis, MA
3. South Yarmouth, MA

Cape Cod Creamery has classic summertime flavors like Bayview Beach Brownie, Chapin Cherry Chocolate, and Nauset Peach. 

For a fun New England twist, I recommend Great Island Grapenut, which has Grapenut cereal in it.

Yes, we’re a little nutty over here in New England.

If you can’t make it to one of their shops, you can get Cape Cod Creamery ice cream by the quart at various grocery stores across the Cape.

Meg’s Pick: As many scoops of Great Island Grape Nut as I can get! I also recommend the Chapin Cherry Chocolate and Patti Page Peppermint flavors.

One of my favorite local ice cream shops is Emack & Bolio’s, which started off as a post-bar scene hangout spot in Brookline, MA.

Emack & Bolio’s has expanded across the world ever since. 

Emack & Bolio’s doesn’t use dairy from cows that have been injected with hormones, plus they have lots of vegan-friendly options. 

But they are most known for their Instagram-worthy cones that are dipped in something sweet, like marshmallow or chocolate, and smothered in something else sweet, like cookie crumbles or Fruit Loops fruity cereal.

Meg’s Pick: “Deep Purple” chip and Beantown Buzz in an Oreo-dipped cone!

Four Seas Ice Cream

Four Seas Ice Cream is a year-round ice cream shop located in Centerville, between Osterville and Hyannis.

During the winter, this shop is open from 11-5 or so (sometimes they close up early, so call ahead!).

Like many of the ice cream shops in the area, they have a good menu with a mix of classics (cookie dough, strawberry, etc) and fun flavors (cranberry bog, egg nog, cantaloupe, peach, etc).

In addition to ice cream, you can get fast food meals like hot dogs, lobster rolls, sandwiches, as well as drinks.

Meg’s Pick: Cranberry sherbet, fresh peach ice cream, Coca-cola float

Four Seas Ice Cream
360 S Main St
Centerville
(508) 775-1394

Ice Cream Cafe

Located in Orleans, Ice Cream Cafe has been serving Cape Cod for nearly 30 years. 

I’m not surprised they’ve been around for so long. Not only is their ice cream delicious, but they have tons of variety, too.

No matter what your dietary needs are, you’ll likely find a treat that fits your needs! 

If you can’t make it to the shop, Ice Cream Cafe also has a food truck at Nauset Beach in Orleans.

Meg’s Pick: I recommend the chai, chocolate chili pepper, or salty caramel ice cream or piña colada frozen yogurt. 

Ice Cream Cafe
5 South Orleans Rd
Orleans
(508) 240-0003

Ice Cream Smuggler

Open since 1979, Ice Cream Smuggler in East Dennis was once featured on Food Network’s show, Best Thing I Ever Ate, featuring its hot fudge ice cream sundae. That’s how you know this place is good!

They also sell ice cream cakes and pies, which are just as tasty as their sundaes.

Meg’s Picks: Apple pie, coffee heath bar, ginger, mint chocolate chip, mocha chip, or French raspberry truffle flavors. While you’re at it, make it one of their famous hot fudge sundaes with whipped cream!

Ice Cream Smuggler
1555 Route 6A
East Dennis
(508) 385-5307

Katie’s Homemade Ice Cream

Another highly popular place to get ice cream in Cape Cod is Katie’s Homemade Ice Cream in Hyannis.

At Katie’s Homemade Ice Cream, you can get hot dogs and sausage dogs, ice cream, cookies, soft serve, sundaes, frozen drinks – and believe it or not, more!

Every month they have a special menu with limited time flavors, treats, and sundae combos.

My favorite thing about this shop is that they have a fun mix of classic and unique flavors. 

Meg’s Pick: I recommend the Cape Cod Sand, Lavender Honeycomb, and Toasted Coconut Caramel ice cream flavors.

Katie’s Homemade Ice Cream
568 Main St.
Hyannis
(508) 771-6889

Lewis Brothers Homemade Ice Cream

Located at the tip of the Cape in Provincetown, Lewis Brothers Homemade Ice Cream aims to use locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. 

Lewis Brothers also has a form on their website so customers can suggest new flavors. How fun is that!

If you can’t make it out to P-Town, keep an eye out for their solar-powered ice cream truck, which makes stops at the beaches in Truro.

Meg’s Pick: I recommend trying the Green Tea, Mixed Berry, and Peanut Butter & Jelly flavors. They aren’t always available, though, so as a backup, I also recommend the Caramel Heath, Grape Nut, and White Russian ice cream flavors.

Lewis Brothers Homemade Ice Cream
310 Commercial St.
Provincetown
(508) 487-0977

Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream

Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream has 3 locations across Cape Cod:

1. East Falmouth
2. East Orleans
3. Mashpee

There are over 45 homemade flavors to choose from, including Amaretto Cherry Chip, Orange Pineapple, Grape Nut, and Banana Oreo.

Aside from your usual cup, cone, or sundae, you can also get 2.5 gallon tubs. All you have to do is call ahead to reserve your tubs so they can prep them for you.

Meg’s Pick: 2 scoops Amaretto Cherry Chip or Banana Oreo in a cup.

Somerset Creamery

One of the longest running places selling ice cream in Cape Cod is Somerset Creamery.

This family-owned creamery has been around since 1937. It’s still family-owned and operated today.

They have 2 locations in Somerset, outside the Cape, and 1 location in Cape Cod in Cataumet.

Meg’s Pick: Blueberry Pie or Cranberry Bog ice cream or Cranberry soft serve.

Somerset Creamery
1268 MA, Route 28A
Cataumet
(508) 563-3430

Sundae School Ice Cream

Another delicious place for ice cream in Cape Cod is Sundae School Ice Cream. 

This hilariously-named shop has been around since 1976. It has locations in Dennisport and Harwichport, MA.

Meg’s Pick: 1-2 scoops Blueberry, Coffee Oreo, Creamsicle, or Maple Walnut in a sugar cone.

Where is your favorite place to get ice cream in Cape Cod?

Let me know in the comments below where your favorite place for ice cream in Cape Cod is.

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About the author

Meg Frost is a Boston-based travel blogger that helps people embrace technology to make vacation planning and traveling wicked easy, affordable, and fun.

She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami.

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This post was originally published July 31, 2016. It was last updated November 6, 2022.