New places to chill, literally
ROUNDUP. Don’t bother telling Mandarin Oriental pastry chef Nelson Paz that his ice cream is good.
“Of course it’s good,” he shrugs.
It’s a fact as plain as the rain that’s poured down outside the Mandarin’s suave M Bar (776 Boylston St., Boston, 617-535-8800, 
www.mandarinoriental.com/boston/dining) since midsummer’s day, when Paz launched these freshly made ice creams.
Unusual though it may be, being a bar and all, M Bar is one of several new places to enjoy locally made ices during summer city strolls. Snuggle into one of the lounge’s banquettes or pull up a stool at the window counter (for some street-life) and create a sundae from wonderfully flavored ice creams (one scoop $3; two scoops $5; three scoops $7). There’s pert lavender-honey, creamy almond with Kirsch marinated cherries, and an unmissable tiramisu, with oodles of rich mascarpone laced with rum and Kahlua. Add handmade toppings — candied citrus peel, praline almonds, crunchy meringue — and fudge, or pureed fresh fruit sauces, perfect for pairing with Paz’s dairy-free — as they should be — sorbets. How about a delicate rhubarb-strawberry or dynamic green apple?
BiNA pastry chef Meghan Osman keeps the restaurant’s store-next-door, BiNA alimentari (571 Washington St., Boston, 617-357-0888, www.binaboston.com), supplied with half-a-dozen flavors of gelato and sorbet ($4.25; $8.50), including an exquisitely flavored classic hazelnut and zingy blueberry sorbet.
The new sister spot for the North End’s Gigi Gelateria (64 Cross St., Boston, www.gelateriacorp.com) is conveniently located by the Rose Kennedy Greenway at Cross Street and Hanover, two blocks from the original cafe. Gigi’s new walk-up window is all about the gelati ($4.95), available in various flavors from espresso to limoncello. It’s a perfect stop-off when ambling along the Greenway —which is now finally green!
Beacon Hill’s BoYO (175 Cambridge St., Boston, 617-227-2696, www.boyofroyo.com) has thick, creamy frozen yogurt, made fresh daily from Stonyfield organic nonfat yogurt and fresh fruits. A must-try is boYO berry, a blend of strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry. Add syrups — peanut butter, butterscotch, coffee — and toppings that vary from fresh fruit to M&Ms to granola. Don’t like frozen yogurt? There’s sorbet and gelato, too. All available in cups and pints ($2.75; $3.75; $5.95). boYO offers one-hour validated parking in the adjacent garage and free Wi-Fi, but there are no prizes for guessing that boYO stands for Boston yogurt.