I seriously love ice cream. Crunchy candied pralines in vanilla, fudge brownie chunks in chocolate, gooey caramel swirls…it’s just great. There should always be a couple foods in your life to make your day better by just thinking about chowing down on them, and ice cream is mine.
While living downtown a few years ago, I stumbled into Cool Moon Ice Cream on the corner of Northwest 11th Avenue and Johnson Street. Located across from Jamison Square Fountain, Cool Moon’s strange flavors and local roots make it a great place to visit.
Along with all the regular flavors such as boysenberry, vanilla, and cookies and crème, Cool Moon also has interesting concoctions that you probably don’t believe should exist in ice cream.
Avocado? Thai Chile? Ginger Chai? Personally, I’m not such a big fan of the avocado, but the Thai Chili is my favorite. It smacks your taste buds in the face with a heat-spiked sweetness. The Chocolate Sorbet is also quite flavorful: light and frothy with a hint of actual cocoa powder.
These, and dozens of other flavors from the obscure to the ordinary, give Cool Moon a one-of-a-kind identity. If you’ve got a picky friend or stubborn little one, you’ve got more than enough to tempt them with. Odds are, you’ll find a favorite flavor (or five, or ten) of your own.
Cool Moon is also locally owned and operated. All products are made by hand on site. Prices are moderate—it is the Pearl District after all—but the final product is worth it. Be prepared to spend $6–8 for two people. They also have a range of shakes, sundaes and other treats to enjoy. Ingredients for their ice cream come from all over the world, from Indonesian vanilla to Vermont maple syrup.
Finally, the atmosphere and surrounding area make Cool Moon a great place to just chill out, whether it’s with a couple friends or a laptop. The bright pastels, clean white furniture and odd lamps hanging from the ceiling give it a bouncy, happy feeling. You feel like a kid in, well, an ice cream store.
Faithful ice cream hounds, Portland visitors and curious locals should stop at Cool Moon Ice Cream for an offbeat dessert experience that will both please and intrigue.
Their website, coolmoonicecream.com, gives you a quick history of the business, flavor lists, FAQs and information about ordering cakes. Also included is a customer-based email address to add comments, questions and even suggestions for new ice cream flavors.