
Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream (Manchester)
Indulge in decadent, locally-sourced ice cream with unique flavors and boozy creations in a cool, hipster atmosphere.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream (Manchester)

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Indulge in decadent, locally-sourced ice cream with unique flavors and boozy creations in a cool, hipster atmosphere.
Avoid Weekend Crowds
Visit during weekdays for a more relaxed experience and easier parking.
Indulge in Boozy Treats
Try the ice cream cocktails like Stout Dreams for a special, adult-friendly indulgence.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Ice Cream Shop
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Bourbon & Honey Ice Cream
A surprisingly rich and smooth flavor that perfectly balances bourbon's warmth with honey's sweetness.

Unique Flavors & Craft Cocktails
From Strawberry Butter Cake to boozy ice cream cocktails, discover inventive and decadent creations.

Hipster Vibe & Welcoming Atmosphere
Enjoy your treat in an eclectic, industrial-chic space with a lively and friendly atmosphere.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Avoid Weekend Crowds
Visit during weekdays for a more relaxed experience and easier parking.
Indulge in Boozy Treats
Try the ice cream cocktails like Stout Dreams for a special, adult-friendly indulgence.
Explore Seasonal Flavors
Look out for limited-batch options that highlight fresh, local ingredients.
Be Prepared for Parking
Parking can be challenging, especially on weekends; consider weekdays if possible.
Tips
from all over the internet
Avoid Weekend Crowds
Visit during weekdays for a more relaxed experience and easier parking.
Indulge in Boozy Treats
Try the ice cream cocktails like Stout Dreams for a special, adult-friendly indulgence.
Explore Seasonal Flavors
Look out for limited-batch options that highlight fresh, local ingredients.
Be Prepared for Parking
Parking can be challenging, especially on weekends; consider weekdays if possible.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream is celebrated for its inventive and decadent ice cream flavors, particularly unique creations like Bourbon & Honey and boozy ice cream cocktails. Diners appreciate the high-quality local ingredients and the cool, hipster atmosphere. However, some visitors have experienced issues with parking, particularly on weekends, and occasional challenges with service speed and menu availability.
"Good variety of ice cream options here 🍦
Not so many parking spots available since all the businesses share the main lot, but whatever because it's free :)
I got a dirt cup and my girlfriend got a cookie dough scoop.
The upstairs area was closed and I didn't get to explore it.
Good place for ice cream, they just get a little busy sometimes."
N/A
"This was recommended to me by everyone who had been to Lexington, and I was so underwhelmed. The parking situation here on weekends is awful. In my opinion, the ice cream here is good but so overpriced. I had the bourbon sundae and it was okay. All the chocolate was hardened at the bottom of the cup u see the ice cream and difficult to eat. The most puzzling part was the “Photo Booth” was a small closet with blank walls full of past visitors signatures. I expected something fun and cute since there is so much beautiful chalk art inside and ice cream art outside. All in all, I would not come back 🤷🏽♀️"
Emily MacArthur
"They do have excellent ice cream, and they always seem to have two plant-based options which is great for vegans! However parking is absolutely terrible any ice cream is a bit pricey. The staff is always very helpful too
I just want to add to what the person said about the photo booth. When they first opened there were props, but I'm going to say they were carried off or destroyed by less than stellar patrons.
Kernal approved: 5/ 🥦🥦🥦🥦"
Bad Kernel
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Signature flavors include Bourbon & Honey, Kentucky Blackberry & Buttermilk, and Strawberry Butter Cake Sundae. They also offer unique creations and seasonal specials.
Yes, they consistently offer two plant-based options that are great for vegans.
Yes, they offer 'boozy' ice cream cocktails like Stout Dreams, made with ice cream and bourbon cream.
Parking can be challenging, especially on weekends, as businesses share a common lot. Weekday visits are recommended to avoid crowds and parking issues.
Yes, you can order pints for takeout and some locations offer online ordering for specialty flavors. They also offer shipping.
The atmosphere is described as a 'hipster vibe' with industrial-chic digs, making it a cool and welcoming space.
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Made with all high-quality, local ingredients like Kentucky dairy from JD Country Milk and no artificial sweeteners or flavorings, it is some of the most decadent ice cream you’ll ever eat. While little ones can enjoy two monster scoops in a homemade waffle cone, adults might want to opt for a (spiked) trip down memory lane with Stout Dreams, a boozy ice cream cocktail made with their stout ice cream, Buffalo Trace bourbon cream, espresso, brownie and salted caramel.
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Blueberry lime cheesecake, blackberry and buttermilk, bourbon and honey – Crank & Boom invents flavors you didn’t even know you craved.
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Crank & Boom Ice Cream Lounge 277 reviews Open Now Dessert, American $ Menu "oh yum! Beaumont Inn/Facebook. Central Kentucky; Best Casual restaurants in Lexington. You are reading "23 Best Restaurants in Lexington, Kentucky" Back to Top. Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez. Address: 555 Jefferson St, Lexington, KY 40508, USA. This B&B has been filling bellies with fantastic food since 1918. Pizza Places . • Steakhouse • Lexington Booked 47 times today Tony's of Lexington is the perfect mixture of an eclectic urban feel, traditional southern charm, and unparalleled service.We will now be offering the Tony's experience curb side. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, along with a huge variety of specials, we have something for everyone. We're a Lexington favorite and longtime pizza parlor with a casual vibe housed in a former synagogue with stained-glass windows. Job email alerts. Old Chicago. Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville, Kentucky, offers a dining experience as rich as its history suggests. The Distillery District is home to one of Lexington's most legendary pizza spots, Goodfellas. 7. #134 of 725 Restaurants in Lexington. 4 mile(s) from Transylvania University, colloquially known as 'Transy', is a private university in Lexington, Kentucky. The casual dining employer for our size. Rafferty's Of . Tony's of Lexington 401 W Main Street Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 955-8669 Tony's of Lexington is a rustic-modern steakhouse known for its meat, seafood, and bourbon. Minton's 760 117 American (New) $$ This is a placeholder Casual Ambience "to ensure an excellent meal and dining experience, you end up with Minton's 760. your weekly tour of the best restaurants in one of our .
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There is perhaps no ice cream more synonymous with Lexington than Crank and Boom, serving gourmet frozen treats in flavors such as Bourbon & Honey and Kentucky Blackberry & Buttermilk. While their signature flavors are enjoyed across the community, they also have a rotating menu of seasonal and limited-batch ice cream, as well as sorbet and dairy-free options. Another distinctly Bluegrass trait of Crank and Boom is the ability to order ice cream floats made with bourbon cream and locally brewed rum thanks to a full menu of elaborately crafted “ice cream cocktails.
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Using 100% Kentucky dairy from JD Country Milk, and blackberries and strawberries from neighboring farms, Crank & Boom makes everything in house, from scratch—even their sauces and waffle cones. With unique ice cream flavors and seasonal options popping up on the regular, plus ice cream cocktails like the Stout Dreams made with Coffee Stout ice cream and Buffalo Trace bourbon cream, you’ll understand why locals rave about this place.
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Crank & Boom has two locations, one on the Pepper Campus in the Distillery District and another in The Barn at The Summit. And they have online ordering for specialty flavors such as Stronger Together, a blend of strawberry and banan that benefits Black Soil, which works to support Kentucky-based black farmers and culinary artists. That follows Dr. Moose Stack, CAndy Beshear and NTI: Non-Traditional Ice Cream.
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Crank & Boom started as part of Thai Orchid Cafe, then they started selling scoops at Thursday Night Live and now is available all around Lexington in their stores or in local shops!. They have locations in the distillery district off Manchester Street as well as in Stonewall Shopping Center. The C & B Ice Cream Lounge on Manchester has a cool rustic feel inside and plenty of outdoor seating.
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Toa and Mike Green began making small-batch ice cream to serve at their restaurant, Thai Orchard Cafe. Their ice cream, made from local ingredients, was such a hit that they closed the restaurant and began the wildly successful business, Crank & Boom. Their ice creams are an ode to the agricultural bounty we have here in Kentucky using local dairy and fresh fruit from nearby farms.
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From the owners of Thai Orchid Cafe (which I still miss), who started making ice cream for the cafe and ended up having crazy demand for the ice cream, so opened a shop!. They serve ice cream, sorbet, sundaes and even ice cream cocktails at their Distillery District location. The ice cream is very rich – the chocolate is extra chocolately in the most delicious way – and creamy.
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If you love ice cream (or even if you don’t, for that matter) you are going to love the Crank and Boom location in Lexington. There is nothing quite like tasting the delicious flavors of a C & B ice cream melting on your tongue, but don’t take our word for it, check it out yourself. Experience a welcoming ambiance when you step into Crank and Boom.
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Crank and Boom Craft Ice Cream has garnered quite a cult following. The owners and founders - Toa and Mike Green - originally owned a Thai restaurant but they noticed that people kept coming back specifically for their homemade ice cream. Eventually, it hit critical mass - and a lightbulb went off for the couple.
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The thing that sets C&B apart to get a dessert is that it’s also a cocktail lounge of sorts. Set in the Distillery District, this family-friendly ice cream shop also serves prosecco floats, cocoa porter floats and spiked root beer floats (I like it with bourbon & honey ice cream)...
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Since you're likely to be in the Distillery District anyway, after dinner you can head to Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream on Manchester, and then perhaps go across the street to The Burl to catch a live show. Tickets generally cost $15-35, and there are both indoor and outdoor stages.
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Craft ice cream with eclectic flavors, like bourbon honey and coffee stout. Boozy ice cream floats, homemade waffle cones. Travel & Leisure called it “the best ice cream in Kentucky.” Located in a historical brewery in an industrial-chic area, the Lexington Distillery District.
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This area, also called the Pepper distillery district, is home to a number of whimsical food and drink concepts, including Ethereal Brewing, Middle Fork Kitchen Bar, Crank & Boom Dessert Lounge and the Break Room. But, first up—and no surprise here: Ethereal Brewing Co.
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Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream is a premium ice cream maker in Lexington. Recognized throughout national media outlets like PEOPLE Magazine, The New York Times, and the Cooking Channel, their mission is to “create joy, ignite laughter, and inspire compassion.
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This local ice cream place doesn’t have gluten-free cones but many of their ice creams are gluten-free. I prefer to get the pint so I know I’m safe from cross-contamination. They have dairy-free ice cream and some of the sorbets are incredible too!
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The scoop shop is located in the Distillery District beside Middlefork Kitchen Bar and James E Pepper. They offer a variety of composed sundaes and ice cream flights!. And they take inspiration from their location and make bourbon ice cream!
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And if you need to feed your Sweet Tooth to finish off the evening, you can’t go wrong at the Crank and Boom Lounge for an ice cream snack. Located in the trendy, up-and-coming distillery district, its a can’t miss treat.
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- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (281 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (5.0/5), Value (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Dessert, American- Address: 1210 Manchester St, Lexington, KY 40504-1129- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Partially shaded | Eating ice cream outside seems like a given. Once you’ve grabbed a scoop, head outside to one of the many covered picnic benches among the twinkling Distillery District cafe lights.
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– Rating: 4.5/5 (448 reviews)– Price level: $$– Address: 1210 Manchester St Lexington, KY 40504– Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt– Read more on Yelp
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Crank & Boom has some great concoctions in addition to just regular scoops of ice cream. They make some mean sundaes and boozy ice cream cocktails.
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Hit up a bar or grab some ice cream at Crank and Boom Ice Cream Lounge in the uber-chic industrial Distillery District in Lexington, Kentucky.
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While Crank & Boom itself is nice, the area around it is full of incredible graffiti and a huge mural you just have to see in person.
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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit