Authors Ice Creams & Coffee — Restaurant in Virginia

Heard about this place through its mention in the 2024 Washingtonian issue about 50 Best Restaurants.

Drove out and sampled a few flavors: vanilla, cookies & cream, maple & pecan... all were tasty. I ended up picking two scoops (one vanilla, one strawberry) in a waffle cone (made in-house).

Verdict? I'm a big fan of Jeni's Ice Cream, in comparison, particularly those in their brick-and-mortar shops. To me, only in a select few high quality restaurants where waiters serve you with an actual knowledge of their menus do ice creams actually compete with Jeni's, and I've tried many local ice creams popularized by Google reviewers in VA, in MD, in DC, as well. In my opinion, Washingtonian was absolutely right in acknowledging that Authors is worthy of its readers knowing about them.

The creams were, yes, creamy, not sorbet-like, not soft-serve. The Vanilla and the Strawberry, particularly, were not overbearingly sweet nor were they bland. The Strawberry flavor actually tasted like they'd blended fresh strawberries into their creams to bring light, airy, and refreshing fruity notes into their rich and milky cream. In short, it tasted legit. I f'ing loved it. And their in-house made waffle cone was thick, crispy, and also delicious.

Furthermore, I bought an 8 oz cappuccino that was lovingly made with a great thickness in its espresso and a well-balanced frothing of steamed milk, topped off with skilled latte art. As far as cafés go, Authors also does espresso drinks superbly.

Atmosphere: The place was very simplistic in its design, very light in color palettes. They have a few tables where groups can sit inside and a few seating options outside.

I'll also note, for my trans and non-binary friends, I can confirm that there are two ALL-GENDER bathrooms 🚻🏳️‍⚧️ I know the bathroom issue is an anxiety-inducing experience and Authors at least helps neutralize the concern by making their restrooms gender neutral. That said, Authors is also located in Loudoun County, which can be somewhat traditional and conservative, and can affect perceptions of some in the LGBTQIA+ community. If Authors is open to the idea, I'd suggest putting up a Pride flag to express a greater sense of welcome.

Lastly, they also sell merch and pints of their ice creams. I didn't buy anything else during my visit, but was tempted to get a mug. They also offer return visit punch cards where, on your 10th or so visit, I assume you get a free ice cream.

Everything was cutely designed, the ice creams tasted AMAZING, and the coffee was delicious....

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Sweet Gem in Ashburn – Thanks to Aya!

If you’re anywhere near Ashburn and haven’t visited Author’s Ice Cream Shop yet, you’re seriously missing out. From the moment we walked in, the experience was nothing short of delightful—largely thanks to Aya, whose service was exceptional.

Aya went above and beyond to make our visit memorable. She patiently guided us through the flavor lineup, offering thoughtful suggestions and letting us sample as many as we wanted without ever rushing us. Her warmth and genuine enthusiasm made the whole tasting process feel like a personalized adventure.

And the ice cream? Absolutely divine. Every flavor was crafted with care, but the kulfi stood out as a masterpiece—rich, creamy, and perfectly spiced. It’s rare to find a place that nails both quality and hospitality, but Author’s...

The ice cream was great but I wasn’t so happy to see the one guy behind the counter take money from a customer at the register, then take over making me ice cream cone gloveless, and without washing his hands or even using a napkin to hold my cone. I pointed it out to the young lady that took my order before handing it over to him, and she quietly spoke to him. His answer was to simply wrap a napkin around the cone and keep scooping. She apparently saw the look on my face and said something else to him. He threw the entire cone in the sink, quickly rinsed his hands in water, dried them and put on gloves. He made a smaller cone for me and offered no response when I thanked him. So great ice cream but horrible customer service...