Best of Madison
The best ice cream in Madison
Start with Babcock Hall Dairy Store in UW campus for babcock ice cream, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream in State Street for zanzibar chocolate and The Daily Scoop at Memorial Union in UW campus for A scoop or a hand-packed pint of Babcock. Here are all 4, with what to get at each.
- Babcock Hall Dairy StoreUW campus · Ice cream
Get: Babcock ice cream
Made by the university's dairy; 2025 silver in Best of Madison.
- Chocolate Shoppe Ice CreamState Street · Ice cream
Get: Zanzibar chocolate
Family-owned since 1962; 2025 gold in Best of Madison. Madison-based ice cream chain on State Street scooping inventive and classic flavors, a local favorite stop.
- The Daily Scoop at Memorial UnionUW campus
Get: A scoop or a hand-packed pint of Babcock
Babcock ice cream by the lake at the Union. Campus ice cream counter at UW Madison serving Babcock Dairy ice cream, a beloved student tradition on the terrace.
- The Daily Scoop at Union SouthUW campus · Ice cream
Get: Babcock scoops and pints
Campus ice cream counter at Union South, serving Babcock Hall ice cream to students between classes.
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Where is the best ice cream in Madison?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Babcock Hall Dairy Store (UW campus), Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream (State Street) and The Daily Scoop at Memorial Union (UW campus). All 4 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Babcock Hall Dairy Store, get babcock ice cream. At Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, get zanzibar chocolate. At The Daily Scoop at Memorial Union, get A scoop or a hand-packed pint of Babcock. At The Daily Scoop at Union South, get babcock scoops and pints.
Which neighborhood is best for ice cream in Madison?
Most of these are in UW campus. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Madison: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Madison
Ice cream in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated November 14, 2026.