NYC's 12 best ice cream shops (2024)

A family-run Chinatown institution for more than 45 years, this popular scoop shop sells durian, pandan, red bean and otherlesser-seenice cream varieties. The place is compact, so plan on taking this perfect treat for a walk through the neighborhood.

One of our favorite store-bought ice cream varieties also hasa brick-and-mortar shop in Cobble Hill. Founder Pooja Bavishi's Malai serves up egg-free flavorslike Golden Turmeric, Date Tamarind, Carrot Halwa, Cherry Black Cardamom and Butterscotch Butter Pecan.

Although it first came to fame as a fairly precious artisanal, local ice cream truck then a more widely known scoops chain,Van Leeuwen's more recent (and national) renown is for its successful stunts like a "limited edition" mac and cheese flavor. But it still offers options likechocolate, honeycomb and Sicilian pistachio, all churned from scratch.Van Leeuwenalso offers an array of vegan options.

This circus-striped ice cream spot has expanded into multiple locations, including Williamsburg's Domino Park. Chef-owner and WD-50 alum Sam Masonwhips upuniqueflavors like lemon thyme shortbread and matcha rocky road.

If you're searching for proof that New Yorkers love to pantomime simpler times, this old-timey soda fountain is the pudding. The antique-y spot evokes a Rockwellian universe, where sweethearts dip straws into a single egg cream and scrappy dogs lap up milk shake spills. Plus, there's an emphasis on seasonal, local ingredients—just like in the old days.

When only soft serve will do, Soft Swerve wildly improves on some old familiars of the form. Our favorite flavors include ube purple yam and Thai tea,which you can dress up with all the crunchies (toasted coconut, cookie crumbles) and drizzles (caramel, condensed milk).

This modern, industrial tasting room offers 40 flavors at a time, plucked from a 300-strong repertoire that includes wasabi, vanilla-saffron, avocado and a range of chocolate flavors, plus dozens of fruit sorbets.Its glass-walled production room is visible from the street for dessert and a show.

This is the brainchild of graphic-designer-turned-dessert-maven David Yoo, who's churning out all-natural sweet cream-based parlor classics like salted caramel and roasted pistachio, along with oodles of toppings. If it's one of those days wherea few scoops won't do, whole ice cream cakes are also available.