The city of Bristol, a hidden New England treasure, is rich in history, attractions, and abundant natural beauty. There’s no better way to enjoy these than with the city’s scrumptious frozen desserts. Read on to know where you can find the best ice cream in Bristol.
Best Spots for Delicious Ice Cream in Bristol
Stop by any of these places to satisfy your sweet tooth in Bristol with great ice cream.
Dunphy’s Ice Cream Store
Dunphy’s is the true ice cream experience in Bristol, unlike any other. The colorful display of scoops, sundaes and shakes in their window attracts adults and kids alike. Where else in Bristol can you find 24 flavors of soft serve and many more flavors of hard ice cream in one place?
Whatever you’re favorite flavor is, you’ll undoubtedly find it here. Dunphy’s is all about great service and great ice cream in one place. Some of their sumptuous ice cream flavors include Banana Pudding, Apple Pie, Banana Peanut Butter Moosetrack, Oatmeal Cookie Craving, Pumpkin, Brookie Dough, Salted Caramel Banana Foster, and Marshmallow Explosion.
Get your favorite flavor in an ice cream cookie sandwich with assorted toppings; it’s the ultimate indulgence.
- Dunphy’s Ice Cream Store, 912 Stafford Ave, Bristol, CT 06010
Rich Farm Ice Cream
Taking the meaning of rich farm fresh literally, Rich Farm makes super-premium homemade ice cream daily on their farm, using only the best ingredients. One look at their menu and you’ll know this is a great place to spend those sunny days with an ice cream cone in hand.
Ice cream sandwiches and cakes, ices, sundaes, soft-serve, soda floats, shakes, razzles, sugar-free ice cream, and Greek frozen yogurt; they also have seasonal flavors. Their daily flavors include Black Cherry Vanilla, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Cookie Monster, German Chocolate Brownie, Toasted Almond, Sweet Cream, and Razzmanian Devil.
They have a wider range of special flavors. I highly recommend the Hawaiian Cow (coconut, mango, and pineapple ice cream with chocolate chunks) if you’re lucky enough to find it when you drop by. Don’t forget the whipped cream and hot caramel sauce topping (they have an amazing variety of toppings).
- Rich Farm Ice Cream, 409 Hill St, Bristol, CT 06010
Carvel
Starting in 1929, Carvel is not that easy to find anymore, but thank goodness Bristol has one of their ice cream stores. Whether you’re looking for amazing ice cream, sundaes, thick shakes, sundae dashers, ice cream cakes, or soft-serve, they’ve got it all and more.
Take your pick from unique flavors of soft-serve ice cream, like Black Raspberry, Chocolate Hazelnut, Coconut, Cold Brew Coffee, Mint, Pistachio, Oreo Cookie, and Strawberry, apart from the traditional Chocolate and Vanilla swirl.
Among their ice cream options, they haveCherry Vanilla, Cake Mix, Cold Brew Coffee, Peanut Butter Treasure, or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, among others; they’re all fantastic.
Don’t even get me started on their ice cream sandwiches; premium ice cream wedged in an Oreo sandwich is simply out of this world. And don’t miss out on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Sundae Dasher!
- Carvel, 650 Farmington Ave, Bristol, CT 06010
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
Another delicious chain, Rita’s isn’t your average ice cream shop. You’ll be spoilt for choice here, with options ranging from Italian ice (made of fresh fruit), cool, creamy, and delicious frozen custard, and Gelati (layers of Italian ice and custard).
It doesn’t stop there; you can also pick from their frozen custard cakes, custard cookie sandwiches, milkshakes, frozen drinks, Misto shakes, Concretes, and Blendinis (a blend of creamy custard and Italian ice with your favorite toppings).
Their choice of frozen custard flavors – Caramel Macchiato, Cheesecake, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Salted Caramel, Orange Cream, Pumpkin Cold Brew, Strawberry Banana, and more.
They also have some intense flavors in hand-scooped custard – Black Forest, Tiramisu, Chocolate-covered Candy Cane, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Mexican Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie.
You can also have delicious fun with their Italian ice, cream ice, and sugar-free Italian ice options. The flavor choices at any given time are so unique you’ll feel like a kid jumping with joy.
It’s probably the largest Italian ice concept store you’ll come across. And if you visit them on the first day of spring, you’ll get free Italian ice (an exciting tradition they follow).
- Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 358 Scott Swamp Rd, Farmington, CT 06032
Other Places With Great Ice Cream around Bristol
If you’re just outside of Bristol and looking for great ice cream, here are some places I recommend:
- Pat’s Main Street Ice Cream, 384 Main St, Southington, CT 06489
- Kiwi Spoon Frozen Yogurt, 405 Queen St, Southington, CT 06489
- Mortensen Dairy Ice Cream, 3145 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06111
- Frisbee’s Dairy Barn Homemade Ice Cream, 951 Farmington Ave, New Britain, CT 06053
The cherry on top!
Some are on the hunt for great food where they travel. And there are ice cream lovers like us who hunt for great ice cream and frozen treats everywhere we go. You know you’ve got Bristol, Connecticut, covered now.