Favorite NYC ice cream shops
We’re still in the dog days of summer and there is no better treat for beating the heat than ice cream. We’re blessed with an array of ice cream shops in the Big Apple. Here are some of my favorites:
Ample Hills Creamery: This Brooklyn based business has expanded to multiple locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Each location has a specialty flavor that is unique to that shop. You can also purchase their pints nationwide in select grocery stores. Salted Crack’d Carmel is their most famous flavors but my personal favorites are Cookie Au Lait which is a take on cookies and cream but with coffee-flavored ice cream and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.
Big Gay Ice Cream: My favorite soft serve in the city. What was a truck now has multiple stores throughout Manhattan. Due to COVID many of the locations are temporarily closed, but the Upper West Side location is currently open. Go get the Salted Carmel Pimp which is vanilla soft served infused with creamy dulce de leche and dipped in chocolate.
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory: This tiny shop in Manhattan’s Chinatown packs great flavor. They also have locations on the Lower East Side and Flushing. They have your typical American flavors of ice cream but go there for the amazing varieties that feature popular Chinese flavors such as Almond Cookie, Green Tea, and my personal favorite Taro.
Mikey Likes It: I’ve mentioned this shop before when I talked about my favorite banana desserts in the city. The Brandy Bunch ice cream that tastes like banana pudding is truly to die for. It’s also worth sampling Southern Hospitality which is like pecan pie in ice cream form and Foxy Brown which is a must for Mocha lovers. Their Harlem location is temporarily closed but you can visit their East Village location Thursdays thru Sundays.
Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream: The variety of flavors at this shop with locations on the Lower East Side and SoHo is impressive. If you are not in NYC you can purchase certain flavors on their website for nationwide delivery. My personal favorites are Strawberry Rhubarb, Vietnamese Coffee, and Lemon Curd Poppyseed.
Sundaes and Cones: This East Village parlor has been one of my favorites for years. Some of their flavors are seasonal such as the lavender. They have unique flavors like wasabi and corn. They have my favorite sorbet in the city which is grapefruit. It is icy tart perfection.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: This ice cream producer has expanded its presence across Brooklyn and Manhattan over the years with many locations. They also have multiple shops in LA. They sell their pints in grocery stores across the nation. They also have one of the best selections of non-dairy flavors that I’ve ever seen. The Earl Grey Tea is my favorite.
