Founded in 2011 by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek, Portland’s Salt & Straw features fresh, local ingredients in hand-crafted, small-batch ice cream. Enjoy the classics, or try inventive flavors like pear with blue cheese or strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper.

Credit: David Alvarado, Travel Portland

Ice Cream in Portland

Creativity might just be in the water — or the cream — in Portland.

Updated Feb. 19, 2025 2 min read

Karen Martwick

Karen Martwick, Travel Portland’s sr. director of content strategy, has lived in Portland since 1993. Read More

Restaurants and food carts aren’t the only places to experience Portland’s hyperlocal independent culinary scene — you can also savor that creativity by the scoop.

Local Favorites

Salt & Straw

Salt & Straw started as a food cart in 2011. Its popularity quickly necessitated a brick-and-mortar shop, and several more Portland spots followed — now there are locations all over the country. Salt & Straw has entranced food critics from the likes of Bon Appétit and Sunset. Unexpected recipes like strawberry with balsamic vinegar and black pepper, pear with blue cheese, and Arbequina olive oil might raise eyebrows, but trust your taste buds: these flavors sing.

Fifty Licks

Started out of a powder-blue delivery truck, and now consisting of several locations across Portland, Fifty Licks scoops up tantalizing flavors like cherry bourbon, Stumptown Coffee and Tahitian vanilla — still the most popular flavor — all from locally sourced ingredients. For a grown-up treat, try the inventive ice cream cocktails.

Soft Serve Ice Cream in Portland

Portland’s devotion to ice cream has produced some of the nation’s top scoop shops, featuring both traditional and dairy-free options.

dish of truffle chocolates next to a mug of coffee on a wooden coffee table

Portland Candy Makers and Chocolatiers

These Portland candy artisans craft unique sweets, be they creamy cacao confections, rainbow-colored candies or salty-sweet treats.

Portland’s Best Bakeries

Nibble a Danish or slice of rustic bread with our expert guide to Portland’s best bakeries, including gluten-free and dairy-free options, plus award-winners galore.

person using tongs to select a doughnut from a tray

Doughnut Shops in Portland

Find must-try Portland doughnuts all across the city, from zany creations to tried-and-true classics (think crullers and bear claws) to gluten-free options.

a tall lemon meringue pie with a couple of slices missing sitting in a glass pie dish

Portland’s Best Pies

Every season is pie season in Portland! Sit down to a delicious slice made with Oregon-grown seasonal fillings at these favorite local pie spots.

people stand in a lobby decorated with art, colors, and menus on the wall

Voodoo Doughnut

Since 2003, Portland's Voodoo Doughnut has sold millions of wacky, sugary snacks — and the downtown landmark still attracts lines at all hours of the day.

Eb & Bean

Craving something lighter? Eb & Bean offers frozen yogurt with a Portland twist, namely gourmet, all-natural and scratch-made toppings like roasted hazelnuts, dye-free sprinkles and waffle cone pieces. Plus, all of their shops cater to a dairy-free diet with a variety of coconut-milk- and almond-milk-based yogurts and a large selection of non-dairy toppings.

Vegan Treats

For plant-based ice cream, it’s hard to beat Kate’s. Owner and ice cream expert Kate Williams started selling pints at farmers’ markets and pop-ups in 2017, then graduated to serving scoops from the courtyard of her commissary kitchen. Now she’s running a brick-and-mortar ice cream shop on North Mississippi Avenue, in the space previously occupied by Ruby Jewel Ice Cream. (You can also find pints at New Seasons grocery stores.) Ice Queen is another great vegan ice cream spot. If you’re in the mood for a different type of indulgence, they also offer ice pops and paletas (a frozen, fresh-fruit-based treat).

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