With autumn right around the corner we all have to eat as much ice cream as physically possible before it gets too chilly to enjoy this sweet treat. With thousands of restaurants in NYC it’s no surprise that a good amount of them serve ice cream, after all, it’s the perfect thing to snack on when humidity’s got you down. So, here’s my pick for the best places to get ice cream in NYC (in no particular order) in case you don’t have the time to go to every place in town.
1. Stax Ice Cream
If you thought ice cream could only be sandwiched between cookies you would be dead wrong. The signature ice cream dish at Stax is their donut sandwich, which tastes just as good as you would imagine. With less than a dozen ice cream flavors they definitely don’t have the largest variety on this list, but that doesn’t make them any less great. Try the Cremella, their signature donut sandwich with earl grey ice cream and a honey drizzle if you want an awesome (but messy) ice cream experience.
2. Milk & Cream Cereal Bar
This fun ice cream bar takes classic flavors we all know and love and combines them with the cereals from our childhood. The result is a yummy soft serve with a lot going on. Pick any toppings and drizzles you like and you’ve got a tasty treat that will beg you to take photos of it.
3. Sprinkles
While primarily known for their cupcakes (the best in NYC in my opinion), you definitely shouldn’t miss out on the ice cream at Sprinkles. Try it in a red velvet cone or step out of the box with their Sprinkles sandwich, which is a scoop of ice cream between two of their cupcakes. Talk about a sweet treat, right?
4. Milk Bar
Probably the most well-known soft serve shop in New York, Milk Bar is the OG Cereal Milk™ spot and even has it trademarked. Led by Christina Tosi, who was recently featured on Chef’s Table, this is a must-visit if you’re in NYC. Try their classic soft serve for a taste of culinary history and don’t forget to try the iconic crack pie.
5. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream
One of the older spots on this list, Morgenstern’s is known for its amazing flavors and high quality ingredients. With five vanilla and chocolate ice creams on their menu at all times you’ll never get bored of the classics, and if you do, well they have plenty of other interesting flavors to keep you interested.
6. Soft Swerve
As the name implies, this place is all about soft serve. With new flavors coming out all the time, you shouldn’t pass up their classic ube ice cream, which is made with purple sweet potato and is just as pretty as it is tasty.
7. Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
There are a handful of Van Leeuwen’s across the city, so all you have to do is pick the one you want to visit. With what is commonly referred to as the best vegan ice cream in NYC, Van Leeuwen’s is the perfect place to snack at no matter what you’re dietary preferences are.
8. Ample Hills Creamery
Started from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, Ample Hills is now one of the most popular ice cream shops in NYC, regularly coming in at the top of most NYC ice cream rankings. Because they make their ice cream in small batches don’t expect to find the same flavors every time you visit.
9. Mike & Dave’s
Okay, this technically isn’t ice cream, but it might as well be. Mike & Dave’s makes all things nice, with “nicecream“, a riff of ice cream that is dairy-free and fruit-based. So feel free to indulge in as much as you want without feeling guilty!
10. Big Gay Ice Cream Shop
Putting the awesome name aside, Big Gay Ice Cream is one of my go-to spots for ice cream in NYC. When it comes to the actual flavors of their ice cream it’s pretty standard, but the toppings is where Big Gay shines. While most people go for the Salty Pimp (dulce de leche, sea salt, chocolate dip) I prefer the Mermaid (key lime curd, graham crackers, whipped cream), but no matter what you choose Big Gay is sure to please.
11. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
With more interesting flavors than you could count, this Chinatown staple is always busy, even in the dead of winter. Most of their flavors are Asian-inspired and this spot is also more affordable than some of the other spots on this list.
12. Ice & Vice
With some of the wackier flavors in town, Ice & Vice is one of those places you either love or hate. If you really want to get a cool ice cream shot this is the place to go as they seem to keep building their cones higher and higher.
13. Republic of Booza
One of the newest additions to the NYC ice cream scene, Republic of Booza specializes in booza, an Arabic dessert which is unofficially referred to as “the world’s first ice cream”. What makes this ice cream so interesting is its ability to stretch, something you’re going to have to see to believe.
14. Eight Turn Crêpe
Specializing in both sweet and savory crepes, this is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. Try their azuki berries crepe with matcha ice cream if you want something with an Asian flair or try their NY blueberry cheesecake flavor with vanilla ice cream for something a bit more classic.