Best of Asheville
The best ice cream in Asheville
Start with French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Downtown for A chocolate dessert or sipping chocolate, The Hop in North Asheville and West Asheville and The Mad Dipper (formerly Ultimate Ice Cream) in Charlotte Street for ice cream made with milk from mountain dairies. Here are all 5, with what to get at each.
- French Broad Chocolate LoungeDowntown · Ice cream
Get: A chocolate dessert or sipping chocolate
Bean-to-bar chocolate makers with a lounge on Pack Square. Downtown Asheville chocolate lounge known for rich drinking chocolate, truffles and decadent desserts in a cozy setting.
- The HopNorth Asheville and West Asheville · Ice cream
Get: Ice cream and vegan flavors, Asheville's oldest ice creamery, since 1978
Beloved Asheville ice cream shop with two locations, known for creative small-batch flavors and a cheerful neighborhood vibe.
- The Mad Dipper (formerly Ultimate Ice Cream)Charlotte Street · Ice cream
Get: Ice cream made with milk from mountain dairies
Longtime Charlotte Street ice cream spot known for soft serve dipped cones and nostalgic Asheville charm.
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Where is the best ice cream in Asheville?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with French Broad Chocolate Lounge (Downtown), The Hop (North Asheville and West Asheville) and The Mad Dipper (formerly Ultimate Ice Cream) (Charlotte Street). All 5 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At French Broad Chocolate Lounge, get A chocolate dessert or sipping chocolate. At The Hop, get ice cream and vegan flavors, Asheville's oldest ice creamery, since 1978. At The Mad Dipper (formerly Ultimate Ice Cream), get ice cream made with milk from mountain dairies. At Sunshine Sammies, get ice cream sandwiches.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Asheville: 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.