The Best Ice Cream Shops in New York City

Summer, fall, winter, or spring, these are the ice cream destinations you can't miss in (almost) all five boroughs (sorry, Staten Island and the Bronx).

1) Malai

Malai is, quite possibly, my favorite ice cream shop at the moment. Located in Cobble Hill, it highlights South Asian flavors in masterful combinations under the brilliance of founder Pooja Bavishi. Malai's motto is "A decadent blend of cream and culture," and it couldn't be more accurate. With options like baklava, carrot halwa, Turkish coffee, mango and cream, and rose with cinnamon roasted almonds (to name a few), I struggle every time I visit to pick just one option. They constantly rotate their flavors, so customers can have a unique experience every visit. If you're a cardamom enthusiast like me, make sure to order a cardamom cookie to eat with your ice cream, too.

Go-to order: Lemon cardamom ice cream

Location: Cobble Hill (268 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231)

2) Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is an institution that has been serving New Yorkers delicious ice cream for thirty years. Chinatown is the ultimate ice cream destination in New York, and this shop should be any ice cream lover's first stop. Excuse my Gen-Z language, but when I visited Chinatown Ice Cream Factory for the first time, the vibes were immaculate. Songs from the 2010s were blasting from the speakers and that first bite of taro ice cream made me fall in love. CICF also offer signature Chinese ice cream cakes with mouthwatering flavor combinations including lychee, red bean, mango, and green tea.

Go-to order: Taro/Ube ice cream

Location: Chinatown (65 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013), Flushing (135-15 40 Road, Flushing, NY 11354), Lower East Side (Essex Market, 115 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002).

3) OddFellows Ice Cream

According to their website, OddFellows is "a small-batch ice cream company with a creativity problem." Their name should be an indication that you're about to embark on a strange but amazing culinary journey brought to you by renowned pastry chef Sam Mason. Along with inventive sweet combinations, OddFellows also has an impressive collection of semi-savory flavors, including extra virgin olive oil. If you don't live in New York, OddFellows also ships nationwide.

Go-to order: Ricotta lemon sponge cake ice cream, strawberry basil lemonade sorbet, and exotic fruits sorbet

Locations: Brooklyn Bridge Park (334 Furman Street, Pier 5, Brooklyn, NY 11201), Williamsburg (40 River Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249), Dumbo (44 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201).

4) Taiyaki NYC

The first time I had Taiyaki NYC was an almost spiritual experience. A friend took me to try one of her favorite places after a grueling college competition. As we were walking back to our apartments and eating the ice cream and taiyaki, I could not shut up about how delicious it was. Every thirty seconds I commented on a new aspect I loved. The creaminess and flavor of the soft serve. The contrast between the cold ice cream and warm taiyaki. The crunchiness of the outside of the pastry and the custard-like interior. The sweet red bean filling. Taiyaki really is a culinary experience that I can't recommend enough. I have tried taiyaki and ice cream combinations throughout the world (Denver and London, to be exact), searching for the high I got trying Taiyaki NYC for the first time, but no other place has lived up to this shop. It is so much more than an Instagrammable sweet treat. Don't try it if you don't want your life to be changed for the better.

Go-to order: Sakura (cherry blossom) ice cream and taiyaki with red bean filling

Locations: Chinatown (119 Baxter Street, New York, NY 10013), Williamsburg (294 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249), Flushing (136-17 39th Ave, Queens Crossing Food Court, Flushing, NY 11354).

5) Whipped Urban Dessert Lab

I had wanted to try Whipped for a whole year before I finally had the opportunity. My friend was lactose intolerant and had eaten exclusively sorbets all summer. Whipped specializes in oat milk soft serve, so I made it my mission to take her there. We had to coordinate our schedules. One day we showed up and it was closed (they're only open Friday-Sunday). Another day the line to order was down the block. Finally, in May 2022, we were able to try it. It was worth the wait. The soft serve is impossibly light and creamy. There are only three soft serve options - sweet creme, chocolate, and swirl - but the bases are elevated by the natural crumb coats and sauces. At about $7 a serving, with each topping an additional $1, it's a little pricey. Still, Whipped, invented by Black-Female Owned lifestyle brand UrbanLuxe™, is a unique, modern ice cream experience that has New Yorkers and tourists queued for hours.

Go-to order: Sweet creme base with strawberry crumble

Location: Lower East Side (95 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002)

7) Sugar Hill Creamery

Have you ever ordered ice cream that didn't really match its flavor description? This will never happen to you at Sugar Hill Creamery. Their ice cream flavors are complex, unique, and taste exactly as they're described. With fun ice cream names and creative flavors inspired by the Caribbean, Midwest, and Harlem community, Sugar Hill Creamery is a must-stop destination in Harlem and Brooklyn. If you need a quick pick-me-up with your sweet treat, or want to make a DIY affogato, they also offer Nicaraguan and Guatemalan coffee blends from Gotham Coffee Roasters. Don't worry - Sugar Hill Creamery also offers delivery in NYC and ships nationwide.

Go-to order: Nunu's peach cobbler ice cream

Locations: Central Harlem (184 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY 10026), West Harlem (3629 Broadway, New York, NY 10031), Dumbo (Time Out Market DUMBO, 55 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201).