Best of New York City
The best ice cream in New York City
Start with Malai in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Caffè Panna in Gramercy and Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream. Here are all 5, with why each one is worth it.
- MalaiCarroll Gardens, Brooklyn · Ice cream
South Asian flavors, including masala chai and rose with cinnamon almonds, distinguish this Brooklyn shop.
- Caffè PannaGramercy · Ice cream
Italian-inspired scoops and elaborate sundaes built around seasonal fruit and rich whipped cream.
- Morgenstern’s Finest Ice CreamIce cream
A creative New York institution for an unusually wide range of ice cream flavors.
- Original Chinatown Ice Cream FactoryChinatown · Ice cream
Longstanding counter known for Asian flavors such as black sesame and egg custard.
- Sugar Hill CreameryHarlem · Ice cream
Harlem favorite with playful seasonal scoops, sorbets and inventive soft serve.
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Where is the best ice cream in New York City?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Malai (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn), Caffè Panna (Gramercy) and Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream. All 5 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for New York City: 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 New York City
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 October 25, 2026.