Sweets Spots for Alexandria Treats

Find more information about ice cream shops, bakeries and other sweets spots in Alexandria here.

Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream

Zip back in time to when tall stools, checkered floors and a whole host of delicious flavors were the name of the ice cream game with a visit to Pop’s. Just one block from the waterfront on King Street, this old-fashioned ice cream parlor offers over 60 flavors, from traditional favorites to funky yet totally yummy, scooped into cones and sky-high sundaes.

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar

For decadence in excess, order an over-the-top milkshake from The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar, served in souvenir jars.

The Creamery

Alexandria is all about authenticity, and this mom-and-pop ice cream shop on King Street serves it up in a waffle cone. Homemade ice cream in classic flavors like cinnamon, butter pecan, pistachio and rocky road, plus cookies and cobblers baked on-site for the last 35 years? Yes, please.

Kilwins

Kilwins is another example of a nostalgia-inducing ice cream shop, where you can watch as the staff creates confections including traditional salt water taffy, fudge, caramels and chocolates. If the heavenly smell doesn’t bring out your inner kid, the taste will. Order a scoop of strawberry chunk or toasted coconut, then head two blocks down to the waterfront to enjoy your sweet treat.

The Dairy Godmother

The beauty of this Wisconsin-style frozen custard shop on Del Ray’s Mount Vernon Avenue is that its ever-changing menu means no two visits are alike. Check The Dairy Godmother’s website for a flavor forecast that might include chocolate-covered pretzel or lemon meringue pie or try other refreshing, fruit-filled sorbet. Even your pup can partake with an all-natural “puppy pop.”

Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato

Inside a pink-colored house one block off King Street, there’s a sweet oasis for dessert-deprived taste buds. It’s Casa Rosada, a family-owned shop started by an Argentinian family and named after the president’s office in Buenos Aires. Try a bite of their creamy handcrafted gelato and sorbet in flavors like dulce de leche, stracciatella, mint granizado and other unique flavors.

The Magnolia Dessert Bar

Sisters Thai’s resident confectionary serves “bing bing” shaved ice in flavors ranging from to matcha green tea to durian. Peruse the menu for more decked-out desserts like lychee raspberry cheesecake, honey toast topped with treats and more.

Dolci Gelati

For authentic Italian gelato there is only one place to go—Old Town Dolci Gelati Café. Italy-native Gianluigi Dellaccio, appointed Italy’s “Ambassador of Homemade Gelato,” brings his homeland’s sweetest export to the D.C. metro area, incorporating his own twists along the way. Stop by the cozy café and mix and match flavors like saffron pistachio and honey mascarpone fig. For a satisfying and stimulating sugar rush, try the affogato and watch espresso pour over your frozen treat.

Lavender Moon

The cupcake craze may never die in Alexandria, where locally-owned Lavender Moon whips up organic, small-batch fluffy bites that have amassed a loyal following. It’s hard to choose between flavors like buttermilk with Mexican chocolate pudding and vanilla bean with lemon curd, so don’t choose. Treat yourself and order two. Or three…

Alexandria Cupcake

Find from-scratch cupcakes baked daily on King Street at this local institution, where fresh fruit, bourbon vanilla and other premium ingredients take your taste buds to infinity and beyond. The buttercream frosting, well, takes the cake, and the signature rosewater flavor is reason enough to make a date with this little cupcake.

Buzz Bakeshop

Buzz is the perfect spot to lounge around with friends or focus for a remote work session, all the while being fueled by fresh-baked delights. Sample gourmet s’mores cupcakes, mini key lime pies with torched meringue, or start your day with muffins and breakfast bakes galore. Vegan and gluten-free guests will leave satisfied with goodies crafted just for them.

Nothing Bundt Cakes Bakery

Pick up a bundt cake for a special occasion in a wide variety of flavors, from lemon raspberry to carrot to chocolate chip cookie and beyond, or enjoy mini “bundtlets,” alongside gluten-free options.

Veronica’s Bakery

Pick up pan dulce from Veronica’s Bakery, a family-operated bakery and café in Arlandria-Chirilagua specializing in Latin American pastries, desserts and cakes, plus traditional Salvadorian, Mexican and Honduran cuisines.

The Dairy Godmother

The Dairy Godmother‘s frozen custard sure hits the spot, but did you know that this Del Ray fixture also offers treats for your furry friend’s sweet tooth? Try the yogurt Puppy Pops, aka pupsicles, sure to cool down a hot dog.

The Dog Park

Did someone say sugar-free treats? The Dog Park‘s bakery table is laid out with woof-worthy yums in a variety of seasonal shapes and colors. Fido will be sure to love the yogurt-covered peanut butter “bonbons.”