In the hotly contested debate of favorite summer sweets (popsicles, fruit cobblers, affogato and more) ice cream always seems to emerge as number one. It’s versatile, easy and often colorful, like our favorite go-to summer sundress. On top of that, it usually serves its purpose of hitting the sweet spot and making for the perfect Instagram photo all summer long. In celebration of the season and all the too-hot weather that comes with it, here are some of the best places to cool down with ice cream in New York City.
1) Ice and Vice: We tip our hats to this completely innovative and chic ice cream shop located on the Lower East Side. Their cones come in flavors ranging from funfetti (pictured below) to corn flower, and flavors include everything from champagne infused concoctions to the recent nostalgia-inducing bubble gum option. The menu and flavors change every few weeks.
2) Morgenstern’s: Consider it the cool crowd’s spot for ice cream in lower Manhattan. With inventive flavors ranging from cardamom lemon jam to banana curry, a long line out the door is to be expected on hot summer days. Last summer’s Kim Kardashian and Kanye West celebration saw Kanye themed ice cream cakes, a Kim K Thirst Trap Sundae and Yeezus chip toppings. The menu has boasted Maraschino cherries by Maison Margiela in the past, and done chic push-pop collaborations with cool girl cosmetic brand Glossier.
3) Jacques Torres: The famed French chocolatier (with locations throughout New York City and one in Brooklyn) also makes phenomenal ice cream. In honor of the summer season, the Lafayette Street location has been transformed into a summer ice cream parlor serving limited flavors including fig, strawberry balsamic and white chocolate raspberry. The store’s interior will make you feel like you stepped inside a magical chocolate factory.
4) Blue Marble: This organic ice cream spot is a neighborhood favorite (but well worth the trip across the bridge) with locations in Brooklyn. The flavors are simple but classic and extremely rich and creamy—with options ranging from strawberry and vanilla to peach sorbet and sweet cream. The understated décor pairs perfectly with a cone dipped in rainbow sprinkles.
5) Van Leeuwen: What once began as one of New York City’s most successful roving ice cream trucks is now one of the chicest ice cream spots in the West Village. All ice cream is made from scratch in Van Leeuwen’s artisan kitchen in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and flavors range from the traditional—hazelnut, vanilla, and chocolate—to the unique currants and cream or earl grey tea. Also available: small batches on rotation including flavors like bourbon and sweet sticky black rice. Van Leeuwen also has stores in Brooklyn and one in the East Village.
6) Davey’s Ice Cream: The founder of Davey’s Ice Cream, David Yoo, has a background in high-fashion advertising and it shows. It’s by far one of the most artistic ice cream shops in the city, with its rainbow colored sign, creative flavors and collaborations with local businesses. The store is open until 11pm and midnight on Saturday and sells flavors like ultra babka (one of the shop’s noted collaborations), whiskey cinnamon and black sesame—all of which are made on-site. A Williamsburg location also exists.
7) Milk Bar: Milk Bar is a new classic for ice cream lovers, as far as we’re concerned. With locations throughout the city and in Brooklyn, the soft serve cereal milk (a creamy, frosty, soft serve flavored like the leftover milk in your cereal bowl) has us hooked. It’s best served dipped in cornflakes, but seasonal flavors like root beer float and pink lemonade are also worth trying.
8) Victory Garden: The must-try concoctions at Victory Garden are sophisticated and complex. The spot specializes in flavored goat milk soft serve. The four main flavors include salted caramel, tangy goat milk, chocolate victory and minty—but seasonal options are also available at this West Village spot.
9) Magnum: It’s about as chic as a ice cream shop can get. Choose your base flavor (chocolate or vanilla) and then a few toppings (such as gold leaf, rose petal, yogurt coated sunflower seeds and more). Finally, an attendant will dip your choice into a chocolate (white, milk or dark), shake the toppings over, and you’ll have a final choice of one more chocolate drizzle. The whole process is fantastically dizzying to any ice cream fanatic–and makes for a great snapchat too. Head to the seasonal SoHo pop-up before they close in mid August!
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