The Best Ice Cream and Gelato in NYC

Ice cream in New York is a serious business. You are either eating something that came out of a truck playing a jingle on a loop, or you are standing in a 30 minute line for a scoop of black sesame and burnt honey. Both are valid. But when you want the latter, you need to know exactly where to go. This is a city of hyper specific frozen desserts. We have Italian trained gelato masters, Midwestern dairy purists, and chefs who treat a scoop like a composed dish.

New York's ice cream culture has fractured into brilliant sub-genres. There are spots dedicated entirely to soft serve, shops importing pistachios directly from Sicily, and local institutions that have been making ice cream the same way since the 1920s. The standard for a good cone is incredibly high. If a shop survives a New York winter, it means the neighborhood actually cares about it. We ignored the chains that treat ice cream like a photo prop and focused on the places making excellent, deliberate desserts.

Here is where to find the best ice cream and gelato in the city right now.

Caffè Panna

Gramercy · 77 Irving Place · $$ WebsiteMap

Hallie Meyer's Italian inspired shop operates with a relentless daily rotation of flavors. You might find a blackberry stracciatella on Tuesday and a pretzel pecan affogato on Wednesday. The base is exceptionally creamy, leaning heavily into high butterfat for a rich, lingering finish. Every cup gets a complimentary dollop of freshly whipped panna, a touch imported straight from Roman gelato culture. The Gramercy location has no seating, so expect to eat yours on the sidewalk or walk it to a nearby bench. Check the official site for the day's menu.

Go for: The daily special sundae. Know before you go: They only accept cards, and the line can stretch down the block by 8 p.m.

Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream

Lower East Side · 2 Rivington Street · $$ WebsiteMap

Nick Morgenstern moved the flagship back to its original Lower East Side footprint this year, trading a sprawling parlor for a tight, focused counter. It is a smaller room, but the texture driven approach remains exactly the same. The menu balances comforting classics with left field hits like pineapple salted egg yolk and caramelized creme fraiche. They serve late into the night, making it an easy addition to your Lower East Side itinerary. You can order pints for pickup on their website.

Go for: Olive oil chocolate sorbet or the raspberry kefir. Know before you go: It stays open until midnight every day.

Malai

Carroll Gardens · 268 Smith Street · $$ WebsiteMap

Pooja Bavishi translates South Asian flavors into incredible ice cream. The Carroll Gardens shop smells like toasted spices the moment you walk in. Cardamom, saffron, and rose water are the foundation here, built into an eggless base that lets the aromatics cut through clearly. The rose with cinnamon roasted almonds is a permanent fixture, but the seasonal options are always worth testing. It is a great stop if you are looking for Great Meals in New York for Under $20 and want to end the night properly. You can see the full flavor lineup here.

Go for: Masala chai or mango and cream. Know before you go: They recently opened a West Village location, but the Brooklyn original has the most space.

Anita Gelato

Upper East Side · 1561 2nd Avenue · $$ WebsiteMap

This global gelato boutique is loud, bright, and usually packed with people making difficult decisions. The display cases are piled high with massive waves of gelato, jammed with fresh fruit, crumbles, and thick ribbons of syrup. They rotate through dozens of options, from a heavy chocolate almond caramel to a sharp mixed berry pavlova. It is an intense, maximalist dessert experience that justifies the hype. Go on a weeknight after dinner to avoid the worst of the crowds, and add this to your Upper East Side guide list. Find their hours online.

Go for: The frozen yogurt with homemade jams. Know before you go: Sampling is heavily encouraged by the staff, so ask to try a few.

Superiority Burger

East Village · 119 Avenue A · $$ WebsiteMap

Brooks Headley runs a wildly popular vegetarian restaurant, but the gelato is a quiet star that deserves its own line. The flavors change constantly and are chalked up on the whiteboard above the dining room counter. Expect things like concord grape sorbet, roasted banana gelato, or whatever seasonal produce they managed to source that week. It is the best dessert in the neighborhood and fits perfectly into any East Village guide night out. See their site for location details.

Go for: Whatever gelato is on the board today. Know before you go: You can order a cup of gelato to go without sitting down for a full meal.

Il Laboratorio del Gelato

Lower East Side · 188 Ludlow Street · $$ WebsiteMap

Jon Snyder built this sleek, clinical space to function as a custom laboratory for the city's chefs. The retail counter offers a rotating selection of the nearly 300 flavors they produce in house. The texture is impossibly smooth, and the flavors are remarkably precise. You can find everything from black sesame to fresh basil and olive oil. It is a mandatory stop when exploring Where to Eat After Midnight in New York. View the flavor list on their website.

Go for: The savory or herbal fruit sorbets. Know before you go: The minimal white interior offers very little seating, so plan to walk.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Chinatown · 65 Bayard Street · $ WebsiteMap

The Seid family has been serving ice cream here since 1978. It is a genuine neighborhood institution that predates the modern artisanal dessert boom by decades. The menu leans heavily into Asian flavors like pandan, durian, red bean, and lychee, alongside standard American classics. The portions are generous and the waffle cones are crisp. It is an essential stop on any Chinatown guide crawl. Check their official site for pint orders.

Go for: Almond cookie or black sesame. Know before you go: They accept cash and cards, but cash moves faster when the line is out the door.

Gelateria Gentile

Williamsburg · 253 Wythe Avenue · $$ WebsiteMap

The Gentile family has been making gelato in Southern Italy since 1880. Their New York outposts, especially this Williamsburg shop, maintain that heritage with zero compromises. The gelato is stored in traditional covered pozzetti to maintain the perfect temperature and texture. The pistachio is dense, nutty, and savory, while the stracciatella is a textbook execution of sweet cream and dark chocolate. Read their history here.

Go for: The hazelnut or pistachio. Know before you go: They also serve excellent espresso and homemade Italian pastries.

Davey's Ice Cream

East Village · 309 E 9th Street · $$ WebsiteMap

Davey's makes everything from scratch using local dairy sourced from the Hudson Valley. The base is rich and heavy, and the flavors are nostalgic but highly executed. The peppermint chip and the strong coffee ice cream are flawless, offering deep flavor without relying on excessive sugar. The East Village location feels like a classic parlor updated for the present day. You can find their other locations online.

Go for: The French vanilla or a custom ice cream cake. Know before you go: They are open until 11 p.m. most nights.

The Social

Prospect Heights · 816 Washington Avenue · $$ WebsiteMap

Jackie Cuscuna and Brian Smith, the original founders of Ample Hills, opened this spot in 2021. It is a joyful, retro leaning parlor near Prospect Park that fully embraces the fun side of ice cream. The flavors are playful and loaded with mix ins, like monkey bread with coffee toffee or bubblegum with a marshmallow swirl. They have a party room and a viewing window where kids can watch the ice cream being churned. Check their website for seasonal flavors.

Go for: The Go Go Bananas. Know before you go: The space is large and very stroller friendly.

Cones

West Village · 272 Bleecker Street · $$ WebsiteMap

Argentinian brothers Manu and Mauro Teyssandier have been running this West Village shop since 1998. The focus is on dense, Argentine style artisanal ice cream, which falls somewhere between gelato and traditional American ice cream in texture. The dulce de leche is legendary, offering a deep, burnt sugar complexity. The sweet corn flavor is surprisingly addictive and dusted with cinnamon. It is a modest, old school room that focuses entirely on the product.

Go for: The dulce de leche with chocolate chips. Know before you go: Cash is preferred.

L'Arte del Gelato

Chelsea Market · 75 9th Avenue · $$ WebsiteMap

This pink kiosk in Chelsea Market turns out fantastic, small batch Sicilian gelato. The sourcing is serious, relying on ingredients like Piedmont hazelnuts and Italian lemons. It is a reliable, high quality sweet break if you are walking the High Line or navigating the market crowds. The texture is consistently elastic and smooth, never icy. Find their other locations on their official site.

Go for: The classic stracciatella. Know before you go: There is no dedicated seating, so expect to eat while you walk.

Sugar Hill Creamery

Harlem · 184 Lenox Avenue · $$ WebsiteMap

This family owned Harlem shop takes inspiration from Caribbean and Midwestern cultures. The flavors rotate daily and often incorporate local collaborations, resulting in a menu that feels deeply tied to the city. The space is warm and heavily integrated into the neighborhood, making it one of the Best Date Ideas in New York City if you want a low pressure afternoon. They also serve excellent ice cream sandwiches and host late night summer parties. See the flavor lineup online.

Go for: The seasonal fruit twists. Know before you go: They have a second location in Upper Harlem and run a cart in StuyTown.

Sedutto

Upper East Side · 1498 1st Avenue · $$ WebsiteMap

A fixture on the Upper East Side for over 40 years, Sedutto is an old school survivor that still pulls a crowd. The menu covers everything from hard ice cream to soft serve yogurt and wine infused pints. It has the distinct, comforting feel of a neighborhood shop that has not changed its formula because it works perfectly. It is a great place to stop after a walk through the park.

Go for: The mint chocolate chip. Know before you go: They are open seven days a week year round.

Eddie's Sweet Shop

Forest Hills · 105-29 Metropolitan Avenue · $ WebsiteMap

Eddie's is a century old time capsule that demands a visit. The pressed tin ceiling, marble counter, and cast iron stools have been here since the 1920s. The Citrano family makes all the ice cream and syrups from scratch. The sundaes are massive, served in metal dishes and topped with a heavy crown of homemade whipped cream. It is worth the trip to Queens, and easily one of the best nostalgic experiences in the city.

Go for: A classic hot fudge sundae. Know before you go: It is strictly cash only.

Soft Swerve

Lower East Side · 85B Allen Street · $ WebsiteMap

Mike and Jason, two childhood friends, built a massive following with their Asian inspired soft serve. The ube and black sesame flavors are the main draw here. The texture is flawless, holding its shape beautifully, and the color palette is bright. They offer a wide range of crunches and drizzles, from toasted coconut to condensed milk, to customize your cup. Find their other locations, including the new Queens Center Mall spot, online.

Go for: The ube and black sesame swirl. Know before you go: Portions are generous, so a small is often plenty.

The Shout NY Take

Ice cream is highly personal. You might prefer a heavy, custard based scoop or a light, icy sorbet. The rule in New York is simple: find a shop that respects its ingredients and skip the places leaning on gimmicks. A good cone should stand on its own, no dry ice or elaborate toppings required.