Maine Is Home to 3 of the Best Ice Cream Shops in the Nation, According to Yelp

Ice cream during the summer is always a delicious treat to cool down with, but honestly, you can have it any season.

Sometimes it's bitter cold out in New England, and you want your mint-chocolate chip ice cream, right?

Well, for all you ice cream fans out there, Maine is home to three of the best ice cream shops in the nation.

According to Yelp's list of the top 100 ice cream shops in the United States for 2023, two Portland spots and one from Bar Harbor were recognized.

Overall, New England landed seven spots on the list, though shockingly, New Hampshire and Vermont (where ice cream staple Ben & Jerry's was founded) didn't make the cut.

Gorgeous Gelato in Portland, Maine

Coming in at No. 62 on the list was Gorgeous Gelato in Portland. Eating at this ice cream shop is like having a taste of Italy, and that shouldn't be a surprise as the co-owners, Donato Giovine and Mariagrazia Zanardi, are from Milan.

The Portland place has been around for nearly 15 years, and you can dive into the place's history with a short documentary on YouTube.

According to Yelp, the gelato is "made from local, all-natural, and high-quality ingredients in small batches by our Milanese-trained gelato makers."

The Gelato Fiasco, Portland, Maine

Landing the No. 45 spot is The Gelato Fiasco, in Portland, Maine, another popular gelato spot. The flagship shop opened in Brunswick, Maine, in 2007, as the owners were craving gelato that at the time just couldn't be found in the state.

The Portland location opened in 2012, and both places are still serving up quality desserts.

According to the Gelato Fiasco website, "flavors are made daily from an always-growing collection of more than 1,500 house recipes."

The Travelin Lobster, Bar Harbor, Maine

The last ice cream place to make it on Yelp's top 100 list ranks at the No. 43 spot: The Travelin Lobster, Bar Harbor, Maine.

Unlike the other two Portland places, this one is seasonal.

Also, you might be surprised to know that it's a family-owned and operated seafood takeout restaurant, so you can also grab a lobster roll or two while you are there.

The Travelin Lobster serves up scoops of its novelty ice cream, which can be the perfect way to cap off the delicious meal you likely will have before it.

Do you have a favorite ice cream spot in the state? What about the massive scoops at Fielder's Choice? Or maybe some lobster-flavored ice cream at Ben & Bills Chocolate Emporium in Bar Harbor?

No matter what style or flavor, it's great to know that you can satisfy your craving for some tasty ice cream.