Best Boise Local Ice Cream Shops
There are so many things to love about Boise, but one of the best parts of the Treasure Valley is all of the local restaurants that offer flavor and flair unique to Boise. Take a stroll through downtown and you’ll find lots of places to eat that you’ve likely never seen before. Of course the same applies to Boise dessert shops and as a lover of food, you better believe I know where almost every single one of them are!
Because I believe everyone needs to know this valuable information, I put together a roundup of the best Boise local ice cream shops. If ice cream is your love language, keep reading!
Best Boise Local Ice Cream Shops
The Stil
Locations:
786 West Broad Street
Boise, ID3724 South Eckert Rd
Boise, ID13 S. Latah
Boise, IDI think The Stil is probably my personal favorite. They offer some of the most unique flavors of ice cream in Boise and I love the creative names they come up with. On a recent visit, a friend of mine was feeling extra brave and tried Picnic in the Park which contained raspberry, walnut and goat cheese ice cream. Sounds a bit odd, but the result of mixing these was absolutely heavenly. But don’t worry if you have a less adventurous palette. Their Fresh Powder is a classic vanilla with cream cheese and it’s absolutely dreamy. The Stil offers dairy free and vegan options and also booze infused flavors.
As if all of this does not have you drooling, they also offer local and regional beer and wine at The Stil and can help with ice cream/wine pairings. I think it’s easy to see why this is my favorite!
Ice Cream at The Stil has no artificial flavors, colors, or additives and they use local dairy to make their small batch varieties. The STIL stands for The Sweetest Things In Life and the company has been in business for four years. They’ve recently added a new location on the Boise Bench, so it’s easy to indulge in Stil ice cream no matter where you are in the Treasure Valley (and honestly, it’s worth the drive if you are not super close to a location).
2. Goody’s Soda Fountain & Candy Store
Location:
1502 N 13th St.
Boise, ID
As part of my “research” for this article I visited Goody’s! Before I even set foot in the shop, I knew exactly what I was going to order. I’ve had numerous people recommend the toasted coconut ice cream, so it was a natural choice. And it was everything I was expecting. Light and summery, but so packed with flavor. I highly recommend it! My friend opted for a frozen lemonade sorbet which was also very delicious. Some flavors are year-round (like toasted coconut) and some are seasonal (frozen lemonade and more). At Goody’s you can order scoops of ice cream, but they also have sundaes, malts, shakes and more.
When you walk into Goody’s Soda Fountain & Candy store you’ll be hit with a bit of nostalgia. Beyond ice cream they have fresh-made caramel corn, chocolates and some old fashioned candies which all line the back walls of the shop. It smells like heaven in there! The Boise location opened in 1997 in Hyde Park, but the original Goody’s started in Sun River, Oregon in 1984. Thirty-seven years and thousands of scoops later, Goody’s is still hand making ice cream twice a week and is a well establish Boise tradition.
3. Stella’s Ice Cream
Locations:
100 N 8th Street
Boise, ID
2826 S Eagle Road Suite 140
Eagle, ID
1212 3rd Street South
Nampa, ID
Everyone has a favorite Stella’s flavor and they usually aren’t the same thing, which means everything must be delicious. Flavors change monthly and they always have at least one vegan option. If you love coffee ice cream, try All Nighter which is chocolate + coffee + cookie dough. If you can’t decide on a single flavor, choose one for now, and take a pint to go of another flavor.
Stella’s has been on the scene in Boise since 2017 and has quite a following. They have multiple locations in the Treasure Valley and their shop is a fun place to visit. For hard core fans, they also sell Stella’s merch like t-shirts and hats.
4. Delsa’s Ice Cream Parlour
Locations:
7923 W Ustick Rd
Boise, ID
1407 W. McMillan Rd
Meridian, ID
West Boise residents are surely familiar with Delsa’s Ice Cream, but for those of you in the east end of Boise, this might be a new discovery. Sit on the patio and enjoy up to a triple scoop, or opt for a sundae or shake. Flavors rotate through 130 different options. One of the best things about Delsa’s is the sherbet options, especially on hot summer nights. Delsa’s also has sandwiches and burgers at the Boise location that are customer favorites.
The original Delsa’s location on Ustick was once part of a farm owned by Owen & Delsa Walton. Delsa Walton was known for her ice cream and made it fresh for the neighborhood kids. In 1961 they added another building to their 80 acre farm and opened an official ice cream parlour. The ice cream is made on-site at their creamery and over the years they have won numerous awards. The Meridian location opened earlier this year.
5. Reed’s Dairy
Locations:
1735 West Chinden
Meridian, ID
10785 W. Lake Hazel
Boise, ID
You’ve probably seen a Reed’s Dairy truck out for delivery on a milk route, but did you know they also have two Treasure Valley retail locations where you can get the most delicious ice cream? It’s true! I stopped by Reed’s Dairy in Meridian on a Friday night and I could tell by the crowd I was in for a treat. Their ice cream is super thick and rich and I loved every bite. They also have flavors available to grab and go in pints and gallons.
And if you are in the mood for something special, pick up a gallon of Root Beer Milk. It’s like the leftover little bit left in the bottom of a Root Beer float once all the ice cream has melted and it’s super delicious.
Reed’s Dairy began as a milk delivery service in Idaho Falls in 1955. The Idaho Falls farm still supplies the dairy needs for the expanding locations in Boise and Meridian and all of the ice cream, cheese and other dairy items are produced right there on site!
Which local Boise Ice Cream Shop is the best?
I asked on my social media recently which local Boise Cream Shop is the best and reviews were mixed. It seems everyone has a favorite! In my view, a balanced diet is an ice cream in each hand, so no matter which of these you think is the best Boise local ice cream shop, you can double fist the desserts and live a happy life.