Food Guide: Harvard Square Ice Cream Shops

On a warm day, nothing sounds better than a cold, sweet scoop of ice cream! But with plenty of ice cream shops in Harvard Square, which is the best one to go to? Read on to find out the vibe of each shop and what to expect there.

Ben & Jerry’s: Craving a Classic

Ben & Jerry’s is located at 35 JFK St., and a convenient dessert option right next to Sweetgreen! Although this shop has a reputation for being overrated and overpriced, there’s no doubt it has the most consistent ice cream quality. With a variety of flavors from Americone Dream to Strawberry Cheesecake, there’s surely something for everyone. It is important to note that though the ice cream here is the highest of quality, there’s no indoor seating, so its deliciousness quickly melts away.

J.P. Licks: Wanting it All

J.P. Licks is located at 1312 Massachusetts Ave., within view of the main entrance of the Smith Campus Center. This shop truly seems to be a Harvard staple — students can consistently be spotted completing work at the front bar-style seating area. J.P. Licks also has a sizable amount of seating available for customers, ranging from bar-style window seats and indoor seating to outdoor tables. The iconic Boston has numerous ice cream flavors to choose from, as well as the option to purchase a “Make at Home Kit” for crafting your own sundaes and ice cream sandwiches. Even better, the shop itself has a very cozy and cute aesthetic thanks to its animated cow logo and consistent color scheme of pink and black.

Lizzy’s Ice Cream: Finding a Hidden Gem

Lizzy’s Ice Cream is located at 29 Church St., near Pokeworks. It’s a rather small shop with essentially no seating, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit. Lizzy’s has a vast array of ice cream flavors including chocolate ice cream with cookie dough pieces, although it has the classic cookie dough (made with vanilla ice cream) as well! Lizzy’s Harvard Square location has a unique flavor called Charles River Crunch, which is a play on the neverending Harvard and Cambridge niche.

BerryLine: Keeping it Simple

BerryLine is located at 3 Arrow St., right behind Zinneken's. Why not follow a waffle dinner with an ice cream dessert? BerryLine is a rather hidden shop — it’s bigger than Lizzy’s but smaller than J.P. Licks with a small amount of indoor seating looking out to the front of the shop. When it comes to ice cream and frozen yogurt, BerryLine has a smaller range of flavors than the other shops, but there’s definitely still something for everyone. Their flavors are on constant rotation, so you will have the chance to find new favorite flavors and spice up your palate. Also, it’s the first shop on the list with real fruit as a topping option!

Shake Shack: Wanting a Wild Card

Shake Shack is located at 29 Church St., right by Peet’s Coffee. Is this actually an ice cream shop? No. But the frozen custard is amazing. Amidst their plentiful seating and choices of vanilla or chocolate frozen custard, an ice cream craving can be easily quenched here. This custard is a million times better than run-of-the-mill vanilla or chocolate ice cream that can be found everywhere else.

—Staff Writer Hailey E. Krasnikov can be reached at hailey.krasnikov@thecrimson.com.