NYC’s hippest ice cream shops delight in creating exciting variations on this timeless treat, including gastro-molecular flavors and out-of-the-box combinations that will amaze. Don’t miss these spots if you want an unforgettable pleasure.
Kaylee’s is known for serving delicious homemade ice cream with unique Asian-influenced flavors like taro and Thai ice cream. Don’t just take their word for it, though: Instagrammers rave about Kaylee’s!
1. Odd Fellows
Lower Manhattan’s Artisanal Ice Cream Shop takes its ice cream seriously – using ingredients sourced from nearby farmers and producers. Artisanal Ice Cream offers delicious tasting treats like their signature hickory bacon flavor or buttery croissant vanilla flavor! As its name implies, Artisanal Ice Cream in Lower Manhattan takes its sustainability commitment very seriously; using locally produced ingredients ensures their artisanal ice cream tastes delicious, too. Try its mouth-watering hickory bacon or buttery croissant vanilla flavor!
Unbelievably, an ice cream shop founded in the 1950s would still operate today, yet that’s precisely what you’ll find at this Forest Hills favorite. Their classic parlor boasts chandeliers and vintage wallpaper, but what sets this shop apart is their delicious ice cream, which remains as decadent as today – their banana royal is an impressive heap of thick classic ice cream covered in colorful sprinkles. At the same time, their chocolate peanut butter treat will water your mouth.
Milk Bar Ice Cream Parlour in New York City is known for its technically perfect viennoiserie. It boasts innovative and intriguing flavors like salted egg yolk pineapple and cardamom lemon jam. There are also less Instagrammable treats like crack pie, which may not appeal to everyone.
Chinatown’s iconic establishment for delicious rolled ice cream serves some of the city’s best treats – think noodle-shaped frozen treats made to your exact specifications with ingredients and toppings such as Teddy Grahams, rainbow sprinkles, and fruity pebbles!
This vegan ice cream shop in NYC was one of the pioneers when it opened and continues to set trends with innovative flavors. Their vegan ice creams are made with coconut milk and feature toppings like pomegranate sorbet topped with apricot jam or their “Salty Pimps,” a salty vanilla soft serve covered in crushed Nilla Wafers.
2. Cloud 10
This ice cream shop near me is one of the top spots for vegan ice cream, boasting delicious flavors and creative toppings. They also have an incredible selection of other frozen treats, such as shakes, popsicles, and sundaes made with natural ingredients, and allergens are clearly labeled. Popular flavors include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, speculoos, and several toppings options, including toasted marshmallows, peanut butter cookie dough, and caramel sauce – make this your one-stop shop!
This spot is ideal for picky eaters or people who value completely controlling their food. Offering self-serve, customers can select from an extensive array of flavors and toppings to craft their perfect sundae or milkshake creation. Plus, each month sees unique edition flavors inspired by notable people; popular ones being Smoove Ube Jasmine Tea Matcha Green Tea are some of their other offerings!
This is it if you’re searching for a trendy, hip ice cream shop. It is a perfect destination for friends looking to share an indulgent treat and dates. While a bit pricey for the quality of the product, their unique flavors include Earl Gray and Black Coconut Ash!
Lower East Side Ice Cream Shop is a top-rated stop. They specialize in rolling their delicious liquid ice cream onto cold surfaces before adding toppings of your choice for an unforgettable rolled ice cream experience. Not only is the product creamy, delicious, and fun to do with friends or family, but you’ll never forget it.
3. Ample Hills
New York City may be best known for its bagels, pizza, and cheesecake, but its innovative ice cream offerings draw tourists. Thanks to proximity to upstate dairy farms and an abundance of creative foodie minds who bring unique ideas, NYC boasts some incredible ice cream flavors you won’t find elsewhere. CBS This Morning recently showcased Ample Hills Ice Cream Shop in Brooklyn. Their husband-wife duo has earned a cult following due to their delicious flavors and captivating stories behind their products.
Ample Hills Ice Cream in Prospect Heights opened its doors in 2011 and specializes in innovative flavors. What sets it apart is pasteurizing its ice cream base in-store, allowing it to create custom mixes such as the Munchies with pretzels, potato chips, and Ritz crackers, in addition to providing classic options like Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies & Cream, and Pistachio Brittle for customers to choose from.
One of the great things about Ample Hills is its dedication to catering to people with food allergies. Their offerings include nut-, gluten-, and vegan-friendly – Partly Cloudy is their seller ice cream flavor featuring blue cotton candy with marshmallows – making this establishment ideal for people with food sensitivities or allergies.
4. Emack & Bolio
Emack & Bolio is an iconic Boston spot that has expanded throughout the US and internationally, serving ice cream that rocks! A favorite among Boston music scene-goers, their violet ice cream tastes just like homemade pie; their peanut butter Oreo flavor surprisingly lives up to expectations; and there are vegan-friendly options for those with food allergies.
Their classic flavors are perfectly enhanced by their creative toppings and waffle cones, such as fruit loops, rice krispies, or Oreo cones with your choice of flavors – their Nutella rice krispie cone is delicious! Or try ordering one of their delectable sundaes or scoops of ice cream served in cups!
One of the great things about New York City is that its food culture is ever-evolving, particularly its ice cream scene, which has seen unprecedented innovation and creativity. There are so many unique and distinctive ice cream shops here it can be challenging to select just one!
Though some ice cream shops in NYC may be more Instagrammable than others, all provide delectable treats that will satisfy your cravings – from Ube ice cream to Thai Iced Tea; there is something deliciously refreshing for every palette! Be sure to stop in when needing an icy treat and visit these fun and unique establishments – you won’t regret it! For even more NYC dining recommendations, view this list of top restaurants.
5. Mikey Likes It
With its proximity to iconic upstate dairy farms and cutting-edge culinary minds, NYC boasts some of the finest ice cream in America. Not all ice cream spots offer equal experiences; some take this creamy dessert one step further.
Mikey Likes It has become one of the best ice cream shops in New York City with its pop culture-inspired flavors and celebrity clientele such as Hilary Clinton and Jay-Z as its customers. Situated in East Village, Mikey Likes It uses natural and organic ingredients for small-batch production, – including vegan options and gluten-free and dairy-free dairy-free ice cream to meet various dietary restrictions and restrictions. Mikey Likes It offers one flavor of the month, which features prominent figures who made an impactful statement through their actions or words about their character – or both!
At This place, the ice cream is served piled high and presented in a waffle cone to make it Instagram-worthy, while its distinctive flavors and toppings set it apart from other shops. A favorite dish at Daddy Mac Ice Cream Parlor is vanilla ice cream with melted butter on a giant waffle; other offerings include Black Sesame Ice Cream combined with red bean paste on another waffle and ConeChurro (soft serve rolled into a churro) featuring multiple toppings!
If you were around during the ’90s, you might remember Life Cereal’s iconic commercial featuring three boys and Mikey (John Gilchrist). Mikey still makes appearances today! The catchphrase he made famous, “He likes it, Hey Mikey,” still holds today – something John Gilchrist will always cherish from his time spent acting out Mikey. Today, he works in media sales but holds onto those memories fondly.