Best ice cream in New York

49 people recommend, 16 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC

Most people who weigh in recommend Caffè Panna, and many name it simply as their ice cream pick. One calls it the best ice cream they have had, one says quality stays consistently high despite frequent new flavours, one praises its sundae and whipped cream, and one mentions a key lime pie flavour. Views are mixed too: one says results are hit or miss, one finds it too fatty, one calls it overrated, one does not think it great on taste or texture, and one says a flavour fell short of the hype. Several mention queues, though one says the wait is worth it. Caffè Panna has a shop in Greenpoint and one in Manhattan; commenters mostly name the brand, one points to Greenpoint for shorter lines, and the address given is the Greenpoint shop.

Greenpoint

43 people recommend, 5 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Most people recommend the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, and many point to its unusual, often Asian-style flavours that are hard to find elsewhere. Several single out the almond cookie, a few name lychee, and some name black sesame. One commenter says it has over 100 flavours and calls it one of the city's oldest shops, and one found several flavours sold out on a visit. Several commenters describe it as the Chinatown shop; the address given is its Bayard Street shop.

32 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Most people who weigh in recommend Il Laboratorio del Gelato, and many say its flavours are wide-ranging and rotate often, with sorbets and unusual gelatos among them. One calls the lemon sorbet excellent, one the earl grey good, one recalls an excellent basil gelato, and one says the flavours are not overly sweet. A few note that the rotation means a given flavour is not always in stock, and one finds the mint weaker than another brand's. Commenters who place it name the Lower East Side shop, one saying it is near Katz's.

Houston

29 people recommendvia r/AskNYC, r/FoodNYC

Sundaes and Cones is recommended by many people. Several point to its tea-flavoured ice creams, including matcha-rose, and several praise the black sesame. A few praise the lavender and two the mint, two single out the corn, and one each a malt shake and its cakes. One commenter calls it their favourite ice cream shop, and commenters who place it name the East Village.

East Village

24 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain in Carroll Gardens is recommended by many commenters. Several praise the milkshakes, and three point to the hot fudge. Two mention the floats and two suggest a custom or brownie sundae, while one is addicted to the frozen hot chocolate. Caveats: one commenter who otherwise calls it amazing finds it more of a sundae shop with few flavours, and one says the ice creams vary through the week.

Carroll Gardens

24 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Many people recommend Sugar Hill Creamery, a Harlem-based shop with a few locations in upper Manhattan; the address given is its Harlem shop. Two praise the mango rice pudding flavour, one calls the vanilla excellent, and one says the Tuma Buna is possibly the best they have had. One finds the flavours notably cool and another likes the stories behind them, and one enjoys its vegan options. One commenter recommends the blueberry cheesecake while another found it grainy each time. A few say some flavours, such as bourbon pecan, orange blossom pistachio and the corn base, may be seasonal.

Harlem

24 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn, r/AskNYC

Most people recommend Malai, and several name flavours such as masala chai, cardamom, saffron and pistachio. Two praise the soft serve, and one says it is probably among the best ice cream they have tried. Two commenters place it in Cobble Hill, which is the address given. Views are mixed in places: one says it has strong ideas but only adequate execution, one never warmed to its flavours, one found the sweet corn saffron flavour subtle, one found a portion small, and one found the soft serve an afterthought.

Brooklyn

21 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn

Most people recommend Soft Swerve, a soft serve shop with Manhattan locations and a stand in DeKalb Market Hall in Downtown Brooklyn, which is the address given; two commenters point to the market hall. Several praise the ube soft serve and several the black sesame. One ranks it their best soft serve in the city, one found it beat SuperMoon on texture, and one praises the hojicha at its Allen Street shop. A few mention vegan options. Not everyone agrees: one found the flavours bland on a visit years ago, and one likes it but does not get the hype.

Dekalb Market Hall City Point Downtown Brooklyn

18 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn, r/AskNYC

Many people recommend Ample Hills Creamery, which has more than one shop; the address given is the Vanderbilt Avenue shop that one commenter names. Three single out the Peppermint Pattie, one the Oatmeal Lace, one the cotton mallow flavour at the Upper West Side shop, and one loves the ice cream flights. Three mention its cakes. One commenter calls the quality low next to another shop.

18 people recommend, 4 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Most people recommend Anita La Mamma del Gelato, and many name it outright when asked about gelato or ice cream. One calls it amazing, one praises its playful flavours, a couple say they prefer it to Caffè Panna, one found a special matcha flavour surprisingly good, and one notes big portions. Not everyone is convinced: one argues it is not authentic gelato, one finds it too sweet, one says it is denser and more like soft serve, and one found it very poor on a single visit. It has various Manhattan locations; commenters mostly name the brand, one names the East 82nd Street shop.

17 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Most commenters recommend Gelateria Gentile, and a few name it among their favourites. One says it is the closest they have found to Italian gelato, one calls the pistachio the best they have tasted, one praises the serving temperature, texture and covered tubs, one recommends the fior di latte and fondente, and two praise a grapefruit flavour. Gentile has several shops: commenters name Elizabeth Street, Union Square, Williamsburg and the Upper West Side, and the address given is the Upper West Side shop, where one says some of the fruit flavours may be granita.

Upper West Side

15 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Seed + Mill is a soft serve spot that many people recommend, often as a dairy-free or vegan option. Several praise its tahini soft serve. One describes a house sundae with sesame soft serve, tahini and halvah, and others praise the soft serve highly. Several commenters suggest it for dairy-free or vegan soft serve.

14 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Most commenters recommend Eddie's Sweet Shop, an old-school ice cream shop in Forest Hills, Queens. Several praise the hot fudge, two name the malted shakes, a few like its old-fashioned atmosphere, and one praises the fresh whipped cream and another a classic mint chip. A few commenters say it is a trek to reach, though two say it is worth the trip.

Forest Hills

13 people recommend, 4 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Most commenters recommend Salt & Straw, and many point to its unusual, seasonal flavours. One calls the vanilla outstanding, one calls the salt caramel addictive, and one loved a pistachio cannoli flavour at a pop-up. Not everyone agrees: one found the ice cream overly salty, one says most flavours do not work, one says the ideas are stronger than the execution, one found it very sugar heavy, and a couple mention long waits, one saying the line is not worth it. Commenters mention an Upper West Side shop, and one mentions a Brooklyn location; the address given is the Upper West Side shop, where one preview visitor was unimpressed.

UWS

11 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Many people recommend The Chocolate Room, and three name its Cobble Hill shop, which is the address given. A few point to the hot fudge: one calls the brownie sundae the best they have tasted, one suggests ordering a sundae with extra hot fudge, and one enjoys the house-made hot fudge at home. One calls the vanilla magnificent, one says the ice cream is their favourite nearby, and one adores the hot chocolate. Several recommendations name only the shop without saying which location they visited.

Cobble Hill

10 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn

Many people recommend L'Albero dei Gelati, and several name its Park Slope shop. Two single out the butter-and-salt flavour, one calls the Madagascar vanilla among the best ice creams they have had, and one notes a savoury flavour that tastes strongly of asparagus. One calls it a small spot.

Park Slope

9 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Many commenters recommend Sundae's Best, and several name it as a place for ice cream or gelato. One says it always has a few interesting flavours, one calls the injeolmi flavour really good, and one describes its flavours as Korean-inspired and not too sweet. Two place it in Koreatown, which is the address given.

Koreatown

9 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn

Many commenters recommend Softside, a soft serve shop, and one calls it far ahead of others, with high quality and very cold serving. One loves the pistachio-strawberry twist at the SoHo shop, which is the address given, one says The Riff is worth ordering despite its odd name, and one was pleasantly surprised by the rizz order on a whim. One places a Softside in Greenpoint, so it has more than one shop. Most mentions are short names without detail.

9 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Maiko Matcha Cafe is a matcha cafe with soft serve that many people recommend. One calls the hojicha soft serve excellent and another loves it, and one still thinks about a seasonal peach oolong soft serve. Commenters mention more than one city location, one of them in Rockefeller Center, which is the address given. One found the matcha slightly powdery.

Rockefeller Center

8 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC

Max & Mina's is an ice cream shop in Queens that many people recommend; three place it in Kew Gardens or nearby. Two point to its flavours as a great selection or unusually creative, one calls it really good and long-established, and one calls it the OG among the places mentioned. One says the cheese doodle marshmallow fluff flavour they had there was surprisingly delicious.

Queens

8 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/FoodNYC

Noona's Ice Cream is an East Village shop that many people recommend, mostly for its flavours. Two single out the banana pudding mochi, while one each names pandan and toasted rice, one names passionfruit and a Biscoff winter flavour, and one praises its toppings and Asian flavours. One commenter says the posted opening times were not always kept.

East Village

7 people recommendvia r/AskNYC, r/FoodNYC

Many people recommend OddFellows Ice Cream Co., though many remarks are short lists or one-word answers. One lists it among their mint chip favourites and one names the passionfruit apricot pistachio flavour as a standout. One commenter says it has locations near Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and in DUMBO; the address given is the Brooklyn Bridge Park shop.

6 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Six people recommend Marvel, and four commenters name its Astoria shop: one for its many flavours and toppings, one as a sundae pick, and two say it offers vegan soft serve, one of whom found the vegan swirl tasty. One praises the black-and-white malt but has not tried the Astoria shop, so that praise may not describe this one, and one says they keep thinking about it.

Astoria

6 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Many people recommend Nana's Green Tea, for its matcha and green tea flavours. Two call it really good or life changing as a soft serve pick, and one says the matcha soft serve at its K-Town location is good, which is the address given. It also comes up in a list of tea-flavoured ice cream spots.

6 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Several people recommend Rivareno Gelato. One calls it the authentic pick, one says it best resembles the Piedmont gelato mentioned in the question, one praises the pistachio and caffè flavours and notes that the flavours rotate and that it makes milkshakes, and one says it beats any ice cream they have had and gives the Spring Street address, which is the address given. One mentions it first, contrasting it with a denser soft-serve style.

6 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn, r/AskNYC

Commenters recommend Lady Moo Moo, a Brooklyn ice cream shop. Two say it carries black sesame, one calling it top-notch, two mention Earl Grey, one of them a seasonal lavender Earl Grey. Two say availability varies by day, and one says it has several strong vegan choices.

Bed Stuy

6 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Several commenters recommend Pamina Dolci e Gelato; one calls its Sixth Avenue and Eleventh Street shop under the radar, delicious and authentic, and one says it is their go-to gelato place. Two mention the pistachio gelato, one calling it excellent, and one notes the flavours rotate.

6th Ave 11th Street

6 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/nyc

Emack & Bolio's is recommended by commenters. One says it blends hard ice cream with air for a soft-serve-like texture and finds it divine, one says any flavour can be ordered as soft serve at the Upper West Side shop, which is the address given, and mentions vegan flavours, one says it makes better ice cream, one lists it for inventive flavours, and one calls it a good pick for hot fudge. Views are mixed: one thinks it is very good, one does not love the flavours but would order vanilla with hot fudge, one found it watered down, and one self-described soft-serve fan would not recommend it for soft serve.

6 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/Brooklyn

Most commenters recommend Davey's Ice Cream. One names the Peppermint Chip as their favourite flavour, one calls the peanut butter pie shake a favourite, and one says the Greenpoint shop often stocks vegan pops and flavours beyond sorbet; two list it among their ice cream picks. Two commenters name the Greenpoint shop, which is the address given. Two are less impressed: one found the cookies and cream bland and icy and wondered if quality had slipped, and one says a shake they used to love is no longer on the menu.

Greenpoint

5 people recommendvia r/FoodNYC

Lilo Creamery is an ice cream shop on First Avenue on the Upper East Side, recommended by five commenters. The praise is general: one says it is good, one loves the place, one names it when asked about blend-in ice cream, one urges others to support it, and one recommends it. Commenters do not name particular flavours.

1564 1st Ave UES

5 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/statenisland, r/FoodNYC

Ralph's is recommended as an ice cream spot on Staten Island by five commenters. Two name the Port Richmond shop, which is the address given, and one names the original location. One likes its custard-like soft serve. One commenter calls it overrated.