Find urban ice cream at its finest at Three Sisters, where owner Mike Stern concocts creations like “Frogurt,’’ and ice cream treats that include Mexican chocolate, ginger papaya, and Guinness. The day of our visit, they had just whipped up some to-die-for tiramisu. This busy shop is hard by Blackstone Boulevard, one of the most popular walking spots in the city, a wide, green median that runs by some of the city’s most expensive homes, a great place to sit and slurp a cone. Three Sisters, 1074 Hope St., Providence, 401-273-7230, www.threesistersri.com.
Susanna’s Ice Cream at Sweet Berry Farm uses many of the farm’s berries in its ice cream and dairy-free sorbets. Grab a half pint of the exotic rhubarb and ginger (rhubarb from Rehoboth, ginger from Australia) and pull up a stool outside to eat it, near swaying branches laden with fruit. 915 Mitchell’s Lane, Middletown, 401-847-3912, www.sweetberryfarmri.com/susannasicecream.html.
Cold Fusion Gelato was founded by former Wall Street banker Torrance Kopfer, who tired of the rat race and opened this gelateria. They look rich, but the dense and smooth creations boast two-thirds less fat and half the calories of ice cream, making it almost healthy to gobble flavors like macadamia nut or dark chocolate curry. Kopfer studied with Italian masters and is a certified gelato expert. 389 Thames St., Newport, 401-849-6777, www.coldfusiongelato.com.
It’s hard to tell who’s having more fun, the kids with the smiling sticky faces or Ice Cream Factory co-owner Mary Comerford, who churns up several dozen flavors a week at this spot on busy Post Road that she has owned for four years with partner Jane Kirk. Death by Chocolate rules here, Comerford says, as does cherry vanilla. 6710 Post Road, North Kingstown, 401-885-8640.
