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Best Ice Cream Chain 2026

By Readers' Choice On 8/5/26 at 12:00 PM EDT

Nothing says treat yourself quite like a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Whether you crave classic flavors, over-the-top creations or premium handcrafted desserts, these chains have become go-to destinations for satisfying a sweet tooth. Cast your vote for the ice cream chain that keeps you coming back for another scoop.

Newsweek is proud to recognize this year's 10 standout ice cream chains—selected by our expert panelists and contributors and voted on by readers for their exceptional quality and distinctive excellence. Each has been officially recognized by Newsweek as one of the Best Ice Cream Chains of 2026.

1. Kilwins

Kilwins

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Kilwins is known for handcrafted ice cream served alongside its famous chocolates, fudge and caramel apples. Many locations prepare confections in view of guests, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere. Premium ice cream, old-fashioned candy-making traditions and welcoming shops have made Kilwins a favorite destination for sweet treats and family outings.

2. Cold Stone Creamery

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Cold Stone Creamery is known for handcrafted ice cream mixed to order on its signature frozen granite stone. Customers can personalize creations with candies, fruits, cookies and sauces or choose from signature combinations. Interactive preparation, premium ingredients and endless customization options make every visit a unique dessert experience.

3. Graeter's

Graeter's

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Graeter's has handcrafted premium ice cream using its signature French Pot process for more than a century. Known for dense texture and generously sized chocolate chunks, the family-owned company offers classic and seasonal flavors in scoop shops across the country. Traditional small-batch production continues to define the Graeter's experience.

4. Menchie's Frozen Yogurt

Menchie's

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Menchie's Frozen Yogurt offers a self-serve experience where guests can mix flavors and customize creations with an extensive topping bar. Rotating frozen yogurt flavors, fresh fruit, candies and sauces encourage endless combinations. Bright, family-friendly stores and interactive dessert-making make Menchie's a fun destination for all ages.

5. Baskin-Robbins

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Baskin-Robbins has delighted ice cream lovers for generations with its famous "31 flavors" concept, offering an ever-changing variety of classic and seasonal favorites. The chain also serves sundaes, shakes, ice cream cakes and specialty frozen treats. Colorful shops and endless flavor choices make every visit a fun dessert adventure.

6. Dairy Queen

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Dairy Queen has been a beloved destination for frozen treats for generations, serving iconic soft serve, Blizzard Treats, sundaes and dipped cones. Seasonal specialties and signature desserts complement its classic menu. Family-friendly restaurants and recognizable favorites have helped Dairy Queen remain one of the world's most popular ice cream destinations.

7. Ben & Jerry's

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Ben & Jerry's has become one of the world's most recognizable ice cream brands with its imaginative flavors, chunky mix-ins and commitment to social impact. Scoop shops serve signature favorites alongside limited-edition creations, sundaes and shakes. Rich textures, creative recipes and a fun atmosphere make every visit a memorable dessert experience.

8. Bruster's Real Ice Cream

Bruster's Real Ice Cream

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Bruster's Real Ice Cream makes fresh ice cream in its stores using small-batch recipes and high-quality ingredients. With dozens of rotating flavors, waffle cones, sundaes and seasonal specialties, customers always have something new to discover. Fresh preparation and generous portions have made Bruster's a favorite neighborhood ice cream shop.

9. Culver's

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Culver's serves fresh frozen custard made throughout the day in classic flavors alongside rotating Flavor of the Day selections. Rich, creamy custard complements the chain's signature ButterBurgers and family-friendly dining experience. Customers appreciate the freshly prepared desserts, generous portions and welcoming atmosphere that have made Culver's a Midwest favorite and beyond.

10. Salt & Straw

Salt & Straw

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Salt & Straw has earned a reputation for artisanal ice cream featuring imaginative flavors inspired by local ingredients and seasonal collaborations. Every scoop reflects culinary creativity, with combinations ranging from nostalgic classics to bold savory-sweet creations. The company's handcrafted approach and rotating menu keep customers returning to discover something new.

FINALISTS Andy's Frozen Custard Carvel Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Häagen-Dazs Shops Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Marble Slab Creamery Pinkberry Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard TCBY Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

About Newsweek Readers' Choice™ Awards

Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readers.choice@newsweek.com.

Our Featured Panelists

Teresa Bergen

Teresa Bergen is a Portland, Oregon-based travel writer who specializes in the outdoors, eco, vegan and sober travel. She's the author of Easy Portland Outdoors and the Sober Travel Handbook. Learn more about her at teresabergen.com.

Julie Bielenberg

Julie Bielenberg is a Colorado-based writer producing over 75 pieces a year for outlets such as AAA, Family Vacationist, Rachel Ray in Season, Spoke + Blossom, USA Today, Vail Daily and numerous others. She has been the State's #1 agritourism for ten consecutive years and is always in search of field, farm, forest and forage. Julie has three children and two pandemic pooches and is married to an avid outdoorsman. Follow her on Instagram.

Gavin Booth

Gavin Booth of coupleinthekitchen.com specializes in recipe development, all things grilling, food- and wine-based travel and romantic destinations of the world. He has extensive travel experience, visiting all 50 U.S. states and over 40 countries. He's a full-time recipe developer, photographer, videographer and writer.

Cherith Fluker headshot

Cherith Fluker

Cherith Glover Fluker is an Alabama-based freelance writer specializing in travel, self-care, and lifestyle content. With a blend of experience, creativity and Southern warmth, Cherith's writing resonates with readers seeking inspiration and authenticity. Her work has appeared in Food, Wine, & Travel Magazine, SheBuysTravel, LakeLife 24/7, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Motherly and more. She also shares her voice on her blog, WhatCherithinks. Cherith is the author of the book Secret Birmingham, set to be published in fall 2025. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association and the National Federation of Press Women.

Laurie Jo Miller Farr headshot

Laurie Jo Miller Farr

An award-winning contributor to luxury lifestyle and travel magazines, Laurie Jo Miller Farr specializes in deluxe hotels and destination marketing. Based in New York City, she is a dual U.S./U.K. citizen, having spent half a lifetime in London. Formerly serving as the tourism promotion director for the city's official tourism boards in both NYC and Boston, she recently relocated from San Francisco, where she edited a weekly travel newsletter and co-hosted a podcast. Follow her @lauriejmfarr.

Melissa Garcia

Melissa Garcia, known as the ConsumerQueen, is a full-time content creator with over 20 years of experience helping people save money and make savvy decisions. Her mission is to teach others to save where they can so they can spend on what they love. Melissa shares the best products to make life easier and also owns RoamingMyPlanet and The Oklahoma Homesteader, where she continues to inspire and educate her audience.

Catherine Parker headshot

Catherine Parker

Catherine Parker has a passion for travel that's driven her across North America, visiting all 50 states, seven Canadian provinces and seven Mexican states as well as top destinations in the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. After graduating from the University of Houston, Catherine started her career in travel and tourism as a flight attendant. A writer for over 10 years, she maintains an active roster of national publications. Catherine also publishes a travel website, CarfulOfKids.com. Her favorite places are national parks, museums and sidewalk cafés. She's torn between a weekend in the mountains or the beach.

Jacky Runice

When Jacky took her first flight at age 17 to Spain, she hadn't stepped a foot outside of Chicago. As a broadcast journalist for 20 years, she always managed to bring her travels back to her Chicago audience with radio documentaries about the culture and characters of places she visited. She transitioned to print journalism (syndicated travel column via Tribune Media Services and Travel Columnist for the Daily Herald Chicago) and then to the web where she has written for numerous outlets such as CBS, LuxuryHotels.com, Examiner.com, AOL, USA Today and others. Follow her on Facebook.

Jamie Davis Smith - headshot-Newsweek Fans Choice

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie Davis Smith is a writer and attorney from Philadelphia who now calls Washington, D.C. home. She's traveled to more than 90 countries, often bringing her children along on her adventures. Her work can be found in The Washington Post, National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, Afar, The Huffington Post, USA Today and many other publications. Jamie can be contacted at byjamiesmith@gmail.com, and posts about her travels on Instagram.

Aly Walansky

Aly Walansky writes regularly about food news and trends. She has been a food journalist for over twenty years and has covered everything from budget shopping to recipes to culinary travel content for national publications that include the Food Network, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, The Kitchn and more. She was ranked among top 10 journalists of 2023 and top 10 freelance journalists in 2024, as well as #1 food journalist of 2022, by Muck Rack. Follow her at alywalansky.substack.com.