Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
If you're strolling through Portland’s Old Port and craving something sweet, Mount Desert Island Ice Cream at 51 Exchange Street is a must-visit. This cozy spot is known for its inventive, small-batch ice cream that’s anything but ordinary.
What sets them apart? They craft their ice cream in tiny batches—no more than five gallons at a time—using real ingredients like hand-scraped vanilla beans and freshly squeezed lemons. The result is a rich, creamy texture with bold, unique flavors.
Their menu is a playground for the adventurous palate. Fan favorites include the Sea Salt Caramel, a perfect blend of sweet and salty, and the Cookies N Cream, which offers a nostalgic twist. For those who can't decide, the Ice Cream Flight lets you sample multiple flavors in one go.
The shop's vibe is as delightful as its offerings—think friendly staff, a welcoming atmosphere, and the irresistible aroma of freshly made waffle cones wafting through the air. It's the kind of place where you might find yourself lingering longer than planned.
Whether you're a local or just passing through, Mount Desert Island Ice Cream offers a sweet escape from the ordinary. It's not just about ice cream; it's about the experience of discovering flavors that surprise and delight.
Reviews
Very friendly ice cream shoppe in Old Port Portland, Maine. Flavors are fresh and interesting. Would recommend a flight to sample the most variety! Will look to compare to the original in Arcadia
Yummy yummy ice cream! First time at this location. I tried the cinnamon cardamom and it was like an ice cream version of chai. Yum!
MDI is a great spot for lovers of all types of flavors of ice cream--classic AND imaginative. Super creamy. Don't expect to be able to enjoy your ice cream inside their store! Their Exchange Street location is ideal for locals or visitors who have spent all day perusing Old Port and want to finish off the day with a sweet treat while strolling around the cobblestone streets. Yum! At some point they had a Cranberry Bliss Bar-inspired flavor that quite literally knocked my socks off. I tried it a few times back in the madness that was 2020, and paid an exorbitant amount for ICECREAM DELIVERY simply because this flavor was that good. A must try when they offer it!
Very on-the-spur-of-a-moment decision and it was a good one! I was hoping they would give samples because they had a lot of great flavors that we would want to try but no samples here. Cookies and Sweet Cream - This was lovely! Perfect balance of the sweet cream flavor, ice cream and the cookies in there. I would not have minded an entire portion of just this! Sweet Cream ice cream + Oatmeal Cookie plus Peanut Butter Fudge; This was actually on point! Ice Cream had the sweet cream flavor and I could get the strong peanut butter flavor and they were actually chunks of oatmeal cookie in there as well. If you are a fan of this combination, I would totally recommend it. Got it the waffle cone and it was a good one too. Crunchy and fresh!
No samples! I wish they did split scoops then, so that I can try more flavors. I went with the hojicha, and didn't have any regrets. They have two locations in Japan apparently, which is pretty cool.