14 Best Ice Creams in NYC

While the sound of ice cream truck jingles floating through the windows of our NYC apartments throughout the summer is irresistible, there are many other ways to enjoy ice cream around the city without chasing a car down the street.

National Ice Cream Day is the ideal occasion to treat yourself to a scoop, with everything from retro shops specializing in nostalgia to dairy-free havens serving delicious vegan options. Here are the top places to get the best ice cream in NYC so you can remain extra cool this summer before or after perusing the treats at The 5th Annual NYC Summer Ice Cream Blizzard.

Experience NYC like a true local by taking an immersive food tour of the vibrant neighborhoods and savoring delicious, handcrafted ice creams made with love!

#1. Ample Hills Creamery

With ten scoop shops spread throughout the city, this national brand that originated in Brooklyn and is a local favorite creates ice cream in a 15,000-square-foot plant in Red Hook. “East Village institution” is frequently used to describe Ray’s Candy Store, a 24-hour establishment whose adored proprietor and local legend. Ray Alvarez is most likely to be seen working the night shift.

Barhoppers and weekend warriors eager to fill up on savory and sweet delights alike have made this adult version of a candy store their go-to destination since it opened in 1974. So pick up a soft serve sundae or a popular item like beignets or deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos to satisfy your ice cream craving.

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#2. Big Gay Ice Cream

Big Gay Ice Cream began as an ice cream truck in 2009 and has since grown to include several shops throughout the city, including ones in the Upper West Side, South Street Seaport, and Madison Square Garden. The store’s hallmark item is a soft serve in traditional flavors, including Vanilla, Chocolate, and the Combo Twist. Order milkshakes and ice cream sandwiches in addition to the weekly specials and menu items like the Dorothy (vanilla with a dulce de leche rolled-in wafer cookies) and Strawberry Shortcake (vanilla with homemade strawberry sauce, wafers, and whipped cream).

#3. Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain

One of Brooklyn Farmacy’s numerous objectives when it initially opened its doors in 2010 was to provide Brooklyn with the best egg cream. The self-described soda “jerks” behind the counter will also give you additional treats like milkshakes, floats, and specialty sundaes with toppings like chunks of buttermilk biscuits or potato chips in addition to the egg cream, which comes in both Chocolate and Vanilla. With a variety of natural sodas in flavors, including Hibiscus and Old-Fashioned Cola, as well as a summery spin on a frose: a rosé float created with rosé and strawberry ice cream, you can satisfy your sweet taste even more.

From traditional favorites to innovative flavors – you’ll get to taste New York’s best.

#4. Caffè Panna

Because of its often-changing menu of Italian-inspired treats, Caffè Panna in Gramercy Park has become one of the most favorite among ice cream fans in NYC since it was founded by Hallie Meyer in 2019. While all other flavors are a mystery until entering, customers can expect a constant assortment of traditional flavors like Vanilla and Chocolate. Check out their Instagram feed for a glimpse of what to expect in the future. You can also get safe at-home bites with nationwide shipping on their website.

Best Ice Cream in NYC: #5. The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Since 1978, Chinatown has been served handcrafted ice cream by this famous, family-run business. The Lower East Side and Flushing locations and a rotating lineup of novelty flavors like Cherry Vanilla, Jelly Doughnut, and Banana Durian have made it simpler for customers to enjoy the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory’s standard flavors like Lychee, Pandan, Black Sesame, and others. Additionally, the shop offers a limited-edition taste known as the Kam Hing Strawberry Lavender Sponge Cake in association with Chinatown’s Kam Hing Bakery.

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#6. Creme and Cocoa Creamery

Astrid and Omar Thorpe, a husband-and-wife team, credit their Brooklyn ice cream company with giving them fond memories of their different childhoods in Haiti and Panama. The result is a variety of Caribbean-inspired tropical flavors at Creme & Cocoa Creamery, with standouts like the Island Gal and Nana Cookie. A selection of alcohol-infused dairy and non-dairy choices is also available, like the Southern Belle Went Yard (bourbon vanilla, hibiscus bourbon swirl).

Best Ice Cream in NYC: #7. Eddie’s Sweet Shop

Astrid and Omar Thorpe, a husband-and-wife team, credit their Brooklyn ice cream company with giving them fond memories of their different childhoods in Haiti and Panama. The result is a variety of Caribbean-inspired tropical flavors at Creme & Cocoa Creamery, with standouts like the Island Gal and Nana Cookie. Alcohol-infused dairy and non-dairy choices are also available, like the Southern Belle Went Yard (bourbon vanilla, hibiscus bourbon swirl).

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#8. Island Pops

Khalid Hamid and Shelly Marshall, a husband and wife pair from Trinidad, have been the proud managers of Island Pops since 2018. Island Pops initially began as a home project inspired by a desire to replicate the flavor of their own Trinidad. After years of refining the recipes in their flat, the Crown Heights shop currently produces an extensive range of frozen desserts with highlights like Honey Roasted Peanut, Soursop, and Vegan Caribbean Chocolate.

Visitors may expect flavors like Lemon Nutmeg Cookie and Cherry Blossom inspired by summer on their constantly evolving seasonal menu. In the coming months, in addition to their year-round online sales, they will also offer local and national delivery of a special seasonal box packed with their distinctive ice creams, sorbets, and toppings.

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#9. Lady Moo-Moo

From April through November, Lady Moo Moo sells its products out of a walk-up window in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, in small batches and limited amounts. This year marks their ninth summer season. In addition to their traditional flavors, including Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Butter Pecan, Cookies & Cream, a rotating menu set includes the well-liked Rooftop Honey produced with locally-sourced Brooklyn honey. They are only open from Fridays through Sundays. If you think your luck is in, try your luck at the gumball machine for your chance to win a golden gumball, which entitles you to a complimentary scoop.

#10. Malai

This Brooklyn-based ice cream shop serves eggless scoops made with ingredients from Southeast Asia. Malai ice cream shop was founded in 2015 by Pooja Bavishi with the idea that her favorite childhood spices (such as nutmeg and rose petal) might be utilized to make these cold delicacies. Since then, Malai has been well-known for its signature flavors, including Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and Masala Chai. In addition, various vegan ice cream options are offered, including limited-edition seasonal flavors like Pineapple Pink Peppercorn, for those seeking non-dairy options. Ice cream cakes and party boxes can also be shipped across the country in addition to pints.

#11. Max and Mina’s

Two brothers founded Max and Mina’s in 1997 after finding their grandfather’s ice cream recipe book. Since then, the Queen’s establishment has offered ice cream ingeniously flavored with everything from pickles to blueberry pancakes. Both the design of their business and the flavors of their ice cream are said to be inspired by various portions of cereal. Some of their most recent menu items include Louisiana Crumb Cake Pecan Meltaway and Cinnamon Toast Crunch Kit Kat.

Best Ice Cream in NYC: #12. Mikey Likes It Ice Cream

In addition to his original store in the East Village, Michael “Mikey” Cole currently operates ice cream parlors in Harlem and Gotham West Market. Through partnerships with cultural giants like Jay-Z or at neighborhood pubs like Thief in Williamsburg, Mikey Likes It frequently offers flavors that draw inspiration from pop culture. The Ice Ice Mikey, the Foxy Brown, and the Incredible Hulk are examples of signature scoops.

#13. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream

This “new American ice cream parlor” has a flagship shop on Houston Street and a storefront on the Lower East Side. Its menu features up to 55 flavors, with some of the most popular including Green Tea Pistachio, Burnt Honey Vanilla, Olive Oil Chocolate Eggplant, and Crème Brûlée. With a menu of specialty burgers that creator Nick Morgenstern spent two years preparing, Morgenstern’s also introduced a unique burger program last summer in addition to its range of cold delicacies. But when it comes to their famous ice cream, try the hottest new flavor of the season, pineapple salted egg yolk.

#14. Ray’s Candy Store

“East Village institution” is frequently used to describe Ray’s Candy Store, a 24-hour establishment whose adored proprietor and local legend. Ray Alvarez is most likely to be seen working the night shift. Barhoppers and weekend warriors eager to fill up on savory and sweet delights alike have made this adult version of a candy store their go-to destination since it opened in 1974. Pick up a soft serve sundae or a popular item like beignets or deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos to satisfy your ice cream craving.

Whether you’re looking for something unique, like vegan or Southeast Asian-inspired ice cream flavors, or a classic soft serve sundae, there’s an ice cream parlor in Brooklyn to meet your needs. From the inventive menu at Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream to the nostalgic Ray’s Candy Store, all of these establishments offer their own take on the classic summer treat. So if you’re looking for a relaxed and creamy way to beat the heat, head over to one of these spots in Brooklyn and indulge in some delicious ice cream.