Indulge yourself
Try these sweet treats to take your mind off the heat
Published July 2019
Looking for ways to satisfy your sweet tooth and beat the heat? Well then, you've come to the right place! Compiled for your ease is a list of our favorite places in Rosslyn to get refreshing and cool sweet treats to satisfy any mood or craving. Enjoy!
When you're feeling a little gourmet . . . .
Rosslyn's Barley Mac is the place to go if you want from-scratch gelato. Flavors change daily. In case you were wondering, Italian gelato is different from American ice cream because it uses less cream and doesn't have egg yolks in it (ice cream does). Hence gelato is fluffier and less dense and also has slightly less fat, too.
You can find these boozy milkshakes at Key Bridge Terrace at Hyatt Centric.
Another place that has cool treats for the discriminating diner is Key Bridge Terrace, located at Hyatt Centric Arlington. They offer local ice cream and sorbet as well as boozy and non-boozy milkshakes (their coinage, not ours!). Choose from vanilla bourbon, kahlua mocha or banana split with Myer's rum. Order your non-boozy milkshake with the same flavors.
When you want to drink your dessert . . . .
Speaking of liquid refreshment, Rosslyn has dozens of places to get milkshakes and other drinkable desserts. Ben's Chili Bowl in Upper Rosslyn serves hand-spun, thick 'n creamy milkshakes in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cherry, coffee, maple and Oreo. Yum! Another great spot to get a milkshake (or a smoothie) if you're closer to Lynn Street: Potbelly! They have a huge selection, including one shake made with cold-brew coffee for the caffeine addicts among us. And, of course, we would be remiss if we didn't mention McDonald's at Central Place Plaza, the humble but satisfying favorite. Who doesn't love a classic McDonald's chocolate shake every now and then?
And if you're trying to be healthy-ish, you can get a great smoothie at Vitality Bowls, better known for its açai bowls, or even at Saigon Noodles & Grill, a neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant that also serves bubble tea.
When you'd rather be in California . . . .
Okay, for all you California transplants out there: Besides Cali-based Vitality Bowls, which made it into the smoothie category instead, we have another cool dessert in Rosslyn that has California roots: Poke Bar's mochi ice cream (Poke Bar originated in California). If you've never had this Japanese dessert, you're in for a treat. It's basically a ball of ice cream surrounded by a soft sticky rice dumpling. You can retrieve your own from the restaurant's freezer case. It's a great way to end your meal.
When you want to indulge your dog . . . .
When you're kicking back on the outdoor patio at Quinn's on the Corner with your brownie à la mode or funnel cake fries, your dog can be there right beside you enjoying his or her doggie ice cream. This is the place to go if the two of you want to get out somewhere and cool off together.
When you want something sweet during your mini golf game . . . .
After you've finished playing nine holes of mini golf this summer at Rosslyn Putt-Putt + Candy BAR, you can cool off with some tasty popsicles from locally-based Pleasant Pops (pictured at top). Founded by two friends who frequented farmers markets, Pleasant Pops feature fresh, local ingredients in some classic and unusual flavors, from coconut to hibiscus pomegranate.
When you need an excuse to check out the renovated Rosslyn Safeway . . .
Go get some mochi ice cream! Yes, we know they have it at Poke Bar on Lynn Street, but you can never have too many places to get mochi, friends, and here in Rosslyn you can get your mochi downtown or uptown. Our beautifully remodeled Safeway (purveyor of the uptown mochi) has its own mochi bar where you can select your late-afternoon sweet feast. While you're there, be sure to check out the new bakery and the creatively decorated cupcakes that look like they belong in a high-end pastry shop. They're not cool treats but they're still worth a mention.
