7 Best Washington DC Vegan Bakeries & Ice Cream Spots 2025

The nation’s capital is the home of life, liberty, and the pursuit of vegan sweets! I mean, if you give me creamy ice cream or a cream-filled cupcake, I’d equate that to happiness in an instant — maybe that’s just me. But I’m going to take a wild guess that you might agree since you’ve somehow made your way to this sugar-filled article. So, let me give you what you want! If you need decadent cakes, fudge-covered donuts, or chewy cookies that make you think, oh man, I need another one, then you can’t miss these outrageously delicious vegan bakeries and ice cream spots in Washington DC.

Vegan Bakeries in Washington DC

Sticky Fingers Eats & Sweets

314 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012
We’re starting this lineup with award-winning treats! Seriously the owner and creative sugar genius behind Sticky Fingers won The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars two times — so get ready for a sugar coma. Their bakery case is loaded with almost every kind of delicious treat you can imagine — flaky croissants, Oreo cookie sandwiches, cupcakes, donuts, and much more. No worries if you need a whole cake; they can help with that too! Their cakes must be ordered in advance and come in popular flavors like red velvet, Funfetti, and cookie dough. They also have gluten-free options!

vegan gluten free vanilla pride cupcake with blue frosting and a gummi rainbow at sticky fingers washington dc

lineup of vegan cookies at sticky fingers in washington dc

Donut Run

6904 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012
Do not walk; run to this vegan donut shop (well, it is a bit out of the downtown area, so you may want to Uber instead)! These irresistible, plump donuts have been voted the best donuts in DC, and with one bite, you’ll understand why! The donut menu lineup rotates regularly, but you may get lucky and find mocha-cream-covered long johns, strawberry cheesecake, maple cream bars, apple fritters, and many more. They are also known for creating irresistible seasonal and holiday flavors too! If you’re traveling, bring Tupperware because you’ll want to take a few or a dozen of these home.

vegan donut assortment, donut holes, apple fritter, chocolate sprinkle, bostom cream in a white box washington dc

Vegan-Friendly Bakeries in Washington DC

Rise Bakery

2409 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
If you suffer from soy, gluten, or nut allergies, you must make a bee-line to this vegan-friendly bakery in Adams Morgan! This bakeshop has a terrific mix of baked goods and pastries — many things you probably thought you’d never taste again after saying goodbye to gluten! Their vegan lineup includes a variety of fluffy cupcakes, cherry pies, apple turnovers, cookies, and more. They also take special orders for whole cakes in case you’re celebrating or just want an entire cake — there’s no judgment here!

vegan and gluten free apple turnover in front of a white lattice fence with flower in dc

vegan cookies and cream cupcakes before a glass display at rise bakery in dc

Sweet Crimes Gluten-Free Bakery

1238 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
Another fantastic gluten-free bakeshop with a handful of vegan options —hooray! They claim you’d never know their treats are gluten-free if they didn’t tell you; I guess you’ll have to be the judge of that! You’ll always find various options like donuts, sweet bread, cupcakes, and seasonal options.

Vegan-Friendly Ice Cream Shops in DC

Pressed

1431 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005
You might be thinking, wait, isn’t that a juice shop? Yep, sure is, but they also have a better-for-you plant-based soft serve made with coconut and oat bases. Start with one of their tasty flavors like acai, vanilla, or mint chip, then load it up with fresh fruit, granola, chocolate chips, nuts, and more!

bowl of vegan chocolate ice cream topped with peanut butter sauce, chocolate chips, and granola held above a side walk in washington dc

Jeni’s Ice Cream

Multiple locations throughout DC
You’re guaranteed to find at least a few outrageously delicious vegan flavors at this ice cream shop! Choosing between Texas Sheet Cake, Dark Chocolate Truffle, and Caramel Sticky Buns will be a challenge — I say don’t limit yourself; get all of them!

Dolci Gelati

1420 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
It’s always disappointing when the vegan option is just fruity sorbet — I mean, it’s not 1990 anymore! Vegans want more and Dolci Gelati heard that sugar-coated cry! While they have the good ole standby sorbets, you’ll also find a creative lineup of oat-based flavors like salted caramel, peanut butter, and toasted coconut.