Best of Ann Arbor
The best ice cream in Ann Arbor
Start with Blank Slate Creamery in West Liberty Street for homemade ice cream, MilkShake Factory Ann Arbor for milkshakes and ice cream and Washtenaw Dairy in Old West Side for big cones and cider donuts. Here are all 4, with what to get at each.
- Blank Slate CreameryWest Liberty Street · Ice cream
Get: Homemade ice cream
Ann Arbor creamery known for small batch ice cream in inventive flavors, popular with students and families.
- MilkShake Factory Ann ArborIce cream
Get: Milkshakes and ice cream
Casual shop known for thick, over-the-top milkshakes piled with candy and desserts, a fun treat stop.
- Washtenaw DairyOld West Side · Ice cream
Get: Big cones and cider donuts
Old school Ann Arbor institution since the 1940s, known for donuts and hand dipped ice cream cones.
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Where is the best ice cream in Ann Arbor?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Blank Slate Creamery (West Liberty Street), MilkShake Factory Ann Arbor and Washtenaw Dairy (Old West Side). All 4 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Blank Slate Creamery, get homemade ice cream. At MilkShake Factory Ann Arbor, get milkshakes and ice cream. At Washtenaw Dairy, get big cones and cider donuts. At La Piña Loca, get mexican-style ice cream and paletas.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Ann Arbor: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
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Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated November 14, 2026.