Best of Ithaca
The best ice cream in Ithaca
Start with Cayuga Lake Creamery in Interlaken, on the lake (TCAT Route 30) for hard ice cream, Cornell Dairy Bar in Cornell campus for A sundae or a cone and Purity Ice Cream in Fall Creek for A sundae. Here are all 4, with what to get at each.
- Cayuga Lake CreameryInterlaken, on the lake (TCAT Route 30) · Ice cream
Get: Hard ice cream
Lakeside creamery near Ithaca, known for homemade ice cream with a view of Cayuga Lake.
- Cornell Dairy BarCornell campus · Ice cream
Get: A sundae or a cone
Made on site from Cornell's own milk. Campus spot at Cornell's food science building serving ice cream made by students, a cheap sweet study break.
- Purity Ice CreamFall Creek
Get: A sundae
Ithaca's ice cream maker since 1936, under new owners since 2021; a local staple for sundaes.
- Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream ShopDowntown (200 W Seneca St)
Get: A cone or a sundae
A classic mom-and-pop scoop shop, in the Cornell Sun's 2026 ice cream guide.
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Where is the best ice cream in Ithaca?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Cayuga Lake Creamery (Interlaken, on the lake (TCAT Route 30)), Cornell Dairy Bar (Cornell campus) and Purity Ice Cream (Fall Creek). All 4 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Cayuga Lake Creamery, get hard ice cream. At Cornell Dairy Bar, get A sundae or a cone. At Purity Ice Cream, get A sundae. At Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream Shop, get A cone or a sundae.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Ithaca: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Ithaca
Ice cream in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated November 14, 2026.