As a longtime New Yorker with an insatiable sweet tooth, I’m spoiled for choice. Every year, like clockwork, summer marks the start of my hunt for the best ice cream in New York City, a list years in the making. Gelato, ice cream, soft serve. you name it, I love it. Having tried more than 30 local ice cream shops, here’s a roundup of my favorites.
The Best Ice Cream in New York City
(Click here for the table of contents)
Where to Find the best Ice Cream in NYC (Table of Contents)
..
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +3 to avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s my favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Supermoon Bakehouse
Website. Supermoon Bakehouse
Neighborhood. Lower East Side
Address. 120 Rivington St, New York, NY
Croissant butter soft serve
Supermoon Bakehouse is one of the best bakeries in NYC, so when they ventured into the world of soft-serve, locals knew to pay attention. The bakery’s signature croissant butter soft serve is something special.
Made with croissant butter (the best part of a croissant!), this food masterpiece strikes the ideal balance between salty and sweet. Crowned with a twice-baked croissant toast for a satisfying crunch, this my favorite soft serve in New York City.
L’Industrie
L’Industrie is a pizza joint first and foremost (dishing out some of the best pizza in NYC. To boot), but that doesn’t stop them from churning out the most exciting soft serve in New York City as well. There’s usually two flavors on offer, but the original olive oil flavor is the stuff of legends.
Made with extra virgin olive oil imported directly from Italy, the texture of the soft serve is irresistibly creamy and the boldness of the olive oil results in unique food experience you won’t soon forget. Don’t sleep on this spot, we take all out-of-town guests to L’Industrie for both pizza and ice cream and folks rave about it months after.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Website. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Locations.30+ locations
Not using artificial flavors and great vegan options.
What started as a humble food truck in 2008 expanded to brick-and-mortar shops across the country in less than a decade. Heck, Van Leeuwen has nearly 30 ice cream shops in New York City alone! Not hard to see why, this some of the best ice cream in NYC.
The shop’s adamant refusal to use artificial flavors and colors, keeps these frozen delights as natural as possible. Better still, the vegan options are nothing short of impressive, so add Van Leeuwen to your itinerary if you’re traveling with someone looking for the best vegan ice cream in NYC.
Life is short. eat dessert first, especially when you’re in New York City.
Emack & Bolio’s
Website. Emack & Bolio’s
Locations. Five ice cream shops in New York City
Fun flavors with creative toppings
Founded in Boston by a rebellious lawyer-turned-ice cream master, Emack & Bolio’s over-the-top flavors and fun toppings put them on the map. Made in small batches using quality ingredients, you can choose from traditional, vegan and kosher ice cream optionsoptions. After that comes the hard part, should the ice cream be dipped in fruity pebbles, topped with toasted marshmallows, or maybe smothered in Reese’s peanut butter cups? The adventure is up to you.
Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream
Website. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream
Neighborhood. Greenwich Village
Address. 88 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
Seasonal flavors
Morgenstern’s is reminiscent of those endearing old-school ice cream parlors from a bygone era. A popular neighborhood haunt, every detail oozes charm. From iconic tiled floors to friendly apron-donning staff, visiting Morgenstern’s is a must for anyone on the hunt for the best ice cream in New York City.
Home to 88 flavors, everything is crafted in small-batches with locally-sourced ingredients. The menu is a roll call of everyone’s favorites, from bourbon vanilla to brownie-clad chocolate. But the creative seasonal combinations is where this local ice cream shop truly shines (the yuzu strawberry ripple is a personal favorite).
Unpopular opinion. Unpopular opinion. the most overrated dessert in NYC is the cronut. These spots do it better.
Local tip. Between you and me, the seasonal menu is always better than the regular one. Ask what’s fresh today.
The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Website. The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Neighborhood. Chinatown
Address. 65 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
Asian-inspired ice cream flavors
Forget chocolate and vanilla, at the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory exciting Asian-inspired flavors (like lychee, black sesame, and ube) reign supreme. Scoop up swirls of red bean or indulge in the creamy comfort of don tot (Chinese egg custard). Every flavor is made in small batches daily, and crafted with fresh ingredients.
But the magic doesn’t stop there. Thisn’t just a typical NYC ice cream shop, this family-run business has been a staple in Chinatown for 40 years, it’s a business you can feel good about supporting.
You might enjoy reading.15 Exciting Things to Do in Chinatown (Local’s Guide)
La Newyorkina
Website. La Newyorkina
Neighborhood. Red Hook
Address. 61 Commerce St, Brooklyn, NY
Mexican ice cream bars, regular pop-up at the High Line
La Newyorkina is a favorite with locals for refreshing paletas (fruity popsicles), a quintessential frozen treat from Mexico. The passion project of Fany Gerson, a Mexico-born New Yorker on a mission to bring the her beloved childhood treats to the Big Apple, who started selling treats at pop-ups in food stores.
She finally opened her own shop (located in Red Hook) but makes frequent appearances with a pushcart on the High Line. It’s hard to think of a more refreshing ice cream in New York City during hot summer days.
Caffè Panna
Website. Caffè Panna
Neighborhood. Gramercy Park
Address. 77 Irving Pl, New York, NY
Caffe Panna is an Italian-inspired ice cream shop in New York City’s charming Gramercy Park. The popular parlor offers seven traditional flavors (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla) in addition to five rotating options that change weekly.
An ode to Italian gelato, this softly-textured ice cream is made with ingredients from the nearby Union Square Greenmarket and imported Italian ingredients like olive oil and pistachios. In additional to ice cream ice cream, Caffè Panna makes sorbets, sundaes and, my personal favorite, affogato (ice cream doused in espresso).
Sundaes and Cones
Website. Sundaes and Cones
Neighborhood. East Village
Best For. Asian-inspired flavors
Sundaes and Cones is a popular ice cream shop in the East Village. Founded in 2006, this the place to go if you’re looking for some of the most unique ice cream in New York City. Adventurous Asian-inspired flavors include wasabi, taro.
Oddfellows Ice Cream Co.
Website. Oddfellows Ice Cream Co.
Neighborhood. Five ice cream shops in NYC
Best For. Unique and innovative flavors
OddFellows Ice Cream is responsible for the most creative ice cream in New York City. This innovative shop is beloved by locals for pushing the boundaries by incorporating unusual ingredients and outlandish flavors make with hormone-free milk and locally-sourced ingredients.
From miso cherry (a balanced blend of salty umami with tart cherries) to vegan grasshopper (cashew-based chocolate ice cream made with chocolate & crème sandwich cookies), this place can satisfy the most ardent ice cream connoisseur.
Ample Hills Creamery
Website. Ample Hills Creamery
Locations. Five ice cream shops in New York City
Home to the largest ice cream production facility in the city (with pasteurization occurring on-site), you couldn’t find fresher ice cream in NYC if you tried. Ample Hills offers a rotating menu of over 24 flavors, all churned in small batches. I’m partial to the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake (thick chunks of St. Louis butter cake folded into creamy vanilla ice cream), but everything on the menu is bound to impress.
Gelateria Gentile
Website. Gelateria Gentile
Neighborhood. Four Ice Cream Shops in NYC
Authentic Italian Gelato
Gelateria Gentil makes the best gelato in New York City. Having spent last summer in Rome, I was lamenting to a friend about my cravings for authentic gelato when she recommended this spot. Offering a put together menu of homemade gelato made with imported ingredients, quality is the name of the game at this little gelato shop with roots that date back to 1880.
Morgenstern’s Bananas
Website. Morgenstern’s Bananas
Neighborhood. Lower East Side
Address. 2 Rivington St, New York, NY
Best For. Dairy free soft-serve
Morgenstern’s Bananas is a sister-shop to Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream (mentioned earlier). The twist? This location is completely dairy free and specializes in soft-serve exclusively. Everything is made from scratch (from the soft-serve base to boba and toppings) without the use preservatives or stabilizers. A friend dragged me here years ago and I’ve been a devoted regular ever since. You’ll understand why after one visit.
List of New York City’s Best Ice Cream (Post Summary)
In summary, here’s the best ice cream in New York City.
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
- Supermoon Bakehouse
- Emack & Bolio’s
- L’Industrie
- Sundaes and Cones
- Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream
- Oddfellows Ice Cream Co.
- Ample Hills Creamery
- La Newyorkina
- Caffè Panna
- The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
- Gelateria Gentile
Frequently Asked Questions. Best Ice Cream Shops in NYC
In brief, the best gelato shops in New York City include Gelateria Gentile, Venchi 1878 and L’Arte del Gelato.
The newly opened Morgenstern’s Bananas is where I send anyone looking for the best soft-serve ice cream in New York City.
Expect to pay anywhere from $3-$10 for ice cream in New York City, depending on the popularity of the place you’re visiting. Local favorites like The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory are charging up to $8 for a single scoop.
Eddie’s Sweet Shop in Forest Hills, Queens is the oldest ice cream shop in New York City. Serving customers since 1925, we’re only a year removed from their 100th anniversary!
Map of the best Ice Cream in NYC
New York City Dessert Guides
- Where to Enjoy More Sweets.12 Iconic New York City Desserts (Worth the Wait)
- The Best Desserts to Share With Kids. 15 Dessert Spots in New York City to Visit with Kids
- Best Black & White Cookies. 10 Best Black in White Cookies in New York City
- The Best Cheesecake. 10+ Tantalizing Cheesecakes in New York City (& One Spot to Avoid)
- Best Bakeries NYC. 10 Delicious Bakeries to Try in New York City
I hope this roundup of the best ice cream shops in NYC helps keep you cool! Try not to get a brain freeze. Cheers!
Still exploring? You should also see my 10 Tantalizing New York City Cookies (Local’s Guide). it’s a must-read for any NYC food lover.
I want to hear from you. If you could only eat one NYC dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What would you add to this list?
📌 Save this guide!
Leave a Reply