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Artisan Ice Cream Shops in Manhattan, NY

Artisan Ice Cream Shops in Manhattan, NY

Check out these totally eclectic and intriguing gelatos and ice-cream shops in Manhattan, New York.

Mo Gelato - Little Italy

This cute little scoop shop offers premium artisanal gelato that's "made the way it used to be".

Founder Marco Vighi would not have it any other way. Just like mama used to do, Marco and his staff of gelato-makers use only locally-sourced fruits, farm-fresh,hormone-free milk and natural ingredients to craft their product.

You won't find any artificial flavorings, colors or preservatives in these sweet treats. What you will find, though, is the good stuff like 100% organic milk, imported hazelnuts from Piedmont, Sicilian pistachios and vanilla beans that come all the way from Tahiti!

A native of Bologna, Italy, Marco launched the Mo Gelato brand in his hometown and then, after achieving incredible success in Italy, took his talents to NYC, opening his American flagship location on Little Italy's iconic Mulberry Street in 2011.

What, you may ask, makes Italian gelato so very special? Well, it's all in the process. Which, FYI, is a much-loved and respected centuries-old tradition.

Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream so less air enters the mixture, creating a rich and flavor-packed experience. Made with milk, rather than cream, gelato is also much lighter on the tummy and lower in fat content.

So, why wouldn't you want to try some? Once you do, you'll be addicted. Especially when you taste some of the amazing blends that Mo Gelato has in store for you such as the Bacio, which is made with quality Gianduia chocolate and roasted hazelnuts.

You will most certainly be in a Delirium, once you have your first spoonful of crushed Amaretto cookies that are mixed with chocolate fondue gelato.

We dare you to resist the temptation that is in the devilishly delightful Amaracord, an artful blend of Mascarpone and fudge. But you've been forewarned, so go ahead and double your pleasure with Monella, which mixes luscious cherries, almonds and hazelnuts with dark chocolate.

 

mo gelato

 

And, if all that wasn't enough, there are many more flavors for you to give in to, including Zabaglione which consists of custard and a touch of Marsala wine. We would be remiss if we did not mention the ciccolato al latte, which, in plain English is milk chocolate heaven!

Besides their scoops, Mo Gelato also has a wide variety of Frappes' on the menu as well as a superb Affogato, which, to the uninitiated, is simply gelato with a pour-over of hot espresso.

Party coming up? Mo Gelato will bring a fully staffed old-fashioned street ice cream cart to your event. Just check out their website for further details and leave everything to the folks at Mo Gelato.

Location and Hours

178 Mulberry Street

New York, N.Y. 10012

(212) 226-6758

www.mogelato.com

Hours

Sunday to Thursday 12 PM to 10 PM

Friday and Saturday 12 PM to 11 PM

Mikey Likes It Ice Cream - Lower East Side

The only thing that Mikey Cole, the personable founder of this cutting-edge ice cream brand, likes better than churning out one delicious flavor after another, is making people happy.

And, there's little doubt that you will leave Mikey's shop with a cone or dish of ice cream in hand together with a great big smile on your face. hey, that's just the way this master ice cream maker rolls!

With locations in both Harlem and on the city's Lower East Side, Mikey Likes It Ice Cream is trying to push the boundaries of what companies are doing with this All-American treat.

Mikey and his crew may not be attempting to reinvent the wheel. But they do want to come up with flavors and artisan toppings that will make your Instagram pop while you exclaim "wow !"

They must be doing something right. Mikey and his innovative brand have been asked by luminaries such as Jay-Z and Hillary Clinton to create custom ice cream flavors for their celebrations.

Having appeared on the Food Network's show The Kitchen, Mikey Cole has also been featured in publications like The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine and New York Magazine.

Mikey's ice cream is refreshing in more ways than one. The flavors are vibrant and just a little off the wall, but in a very good way.

Utilizing only the best locally-sourced ingredients, Mikey offers a constantly rotating menu of seasonal flavors and blends. They will also customize your order or as Mikey likes to say, "You name it and we'll make it."

What happens when you mix milk chocolate ice cream with semi-sweet chocolate chips and mini-chocolate marshmallows? A taste explosion called the Truffle Shuffle.

Another flavor that you'll be wanting more of is the Brady Bunch, where Banana pudding, Vienna Fingers and crushed vanilla wafers meet ice cream.

Bet you would think that Mikey Cole can't top THAT creation! Well, you'd be wrong. Just get a load of the Pink Floyd which melds double strawberry ice cream with cheesecake.

Another flavor you'll adore is Southern Hospitality. Butter pecan lovers; this one's got your name on it. Smooth and buttery pecan ice cream is mixed with chunks of pecan pie.

We could go on and on, but you get the idea. This is one special place.

 

mikey

 

In addition to the scoops and cups, there are a few specialties of the house that you need to check out now!

The Daddy Mac is a whole waffle ice cream sandwich that comes with your choice of ice cream and flavored waffle.

Go old school as in 1950's ice cream parlor style with the Milli Vanilli, a coke or root beer float served with not one, but two scoops of your favorite ice cream. It's a fantastic treat, but, we just can't figure out the name!

When you're in the mood for some nice, creamy hot chocolate and nothing else will do, then order the Ebony and Ivory. This is hot chocolate on steroids with a scoop of decadent ice cream (chocolate or vanilla) and a topping of home-made whipped cream.

Mikey Likes It Ice Cream; a place where imagination is the best topping of all.

Location and Hours

199 Avenue A

New York, N.Y. 10009

(212) 673-0199

www.mikeylikesiticecream.com

Hours

Sunday to Thursday 12 PM to 12 AM

Friday and Saturday 12 PM to 2 AM

Milk and Cream Cereal Bar - Lower East Side

Do you love both cereal and ice cream and can't decide which one you're in the mood for? Then it's time to live out your childhood fantasies at Milk and Cream Cereal Bar where you can get the very best of both worlds.

In short, the sweet menu that awaits you here is indulgence redefined.

Owner Cory Ng and his team strive to bring back your fondest memories and help create new ones. They serve nostalgia in every bite with a contemporary twist. Your morning bowl of cereal and milk was never like this!

First of all, the decor is as colorful and playful as you could want. With TVs in the background playing classic Saturday Morning cartoons, you're in the perfect setting to feel like a kid again.

Ordering your treat is as simple as, literally, one, two, three.

Step one; choose between an ice cream swirl in a cone or cup; a frosty milkshake or a bowl of cereal.

Then, choose your favorite cereal to blend in. And last, but certainly not least, it's topping time.

The prices here are more than reasonable and the portions are grand. Cereal bowls with all the fixings come in at only six dollars while ice cream swirls will set you back a mere $7. Milkshakes are a genuine bargain at just $ 8!

There are 14 different kinds of cereal to choose from including Cap'n Crunch, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, French Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms and so much more.

As far as toppings go, well, what DON'T they have? Fruit and nut options range from blueberries and sliced bananas to peanuts and toasted coconut flakes. The cookies and candy toppings include brownie bites, chocolate Teddy Grahams, cookie dough and chocolate chips.

What's ice cream without a good drizzle on it? Not as good as it could be, that's for sure! So knock yourself out and add a chocolate, caramel, strawberry or honey drizzle. It's free, so feel free to go to town!

Decisions, decisions. Don't we wish that they could all be this delicious?

You can also take indulgence to a whole new universe with one of their signature specials.

Available as a swirl cup or cereal bowl, live life the way it's meant to be enjoyed with the Chocolate Cocoa Crunch, a mix of cocoa puffs, ice cream, M & M's, white chocolate chips and chocolate sauce.

Another signature temptation is the Frooty Berry Bliss, a concoction made with Fruit Loops, Gummy Bears, Fruity Pebbles as well as juicy strawberries and fresh as can be blueberries.

 

milk and cream

 

Come on and cut loose. Leave all your cares at the door and feel what it's like to be really and truly alive, again! You know that you deserve it.

Location and Hours

159 Mott Street

New York, N.Y. 10013

www.milkandcreambar.com

no phone number listed

Hours

Sunday to Thursday 12 PM to 10 PM

Friday and Saturday 12 PM to 11 PM

The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory - Chinatown

Wouldn't a delectable dish of vanilla fudge, chocolate caramel or mocha chip ice cream sound good, right about now? You bet!

You can delight in those scrumptious flavors and a whole lot more when you visit the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

A family-run business that's now in its' second generation of ownership, the factory has been treating both local residents and tourists alike to their splendid creations for well over thirty years.

The secret to their success? As the owners say on their website, " Ice cream making is in our genes". Family pride is first and foremost when it comes to this brand of artisanal ice cream.

Legend has it that the frozen treat we all know and love just might have been invented by the Chinese, during the Tang dynasty.

Whether that's true or not may be up for debate. However, one thing that's undisputed is the fact that the family at the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is doing things with ice cream that no one could ever have imagined.

The fun starts with the brand's charming and whimsical logo which depicts a friendly, impish baby dragon enjoying a bowl of ice cream.

One of their most requested menu items is the Almond Cookie flavor. Authentic Chinese almond cookies straight from the famous Fung Wong bakery are blended into vanilla ice cream for a taste that's hard to beat.

Another one of a kind treat is the Zen Butter ice cream with peanut butter and toasted sesame seeds.

There are just so many temptations to choose from such as Coconut Fudge, Sweet Ginger ice cream, Red Bean, Pineapple Puree, Green Tea and Pumpkin Pie.

Why, there's even a Thai Iced tea flavored ice cream!

Change things up at your next special occasion party with a custom ice cream cake from the Factory.

Made with three decadent layers of ice cream, the Chinese version offers layer combinations like Lychee, red bean and mango.

You can even order a signature CICF Neapolitan ice cream cake with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors as well as a to-die-for chocolate cookie crunch layer.

The Chinatown neighborhood has been revitalized over the past few years and has become quite the foodie destination. Why not plan an afternoon or evening here, enjoy a meal at one of the area's fine establishments and then grab dessert at CICF?

Location and Hours

65 Bayard Street

New York, N.Y. 10013

(212) 608-4170

www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com

Hours

Monday to Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM

Morgenstern's - Nolita

Having opened its' doors in 2014, Morgenstern's is a new American ice cream parlor that is focused on serving small-batch ice cream with ingredient forward flavor profiles and textures.

Owner and founder Nicholas Morgenstern personally develop each recipe and is always working on something new and tantalizing.

A self-made restaurateur, Nicholas has years of experience working as a pastry chef in some of the city's most prestigious restaurants. As far as Nicholas is concerned, ice cream is a way of life.

 

morgensternnolita

 

Nicholas' dedication to his craft is obvious from the second that you taste one of his creations.

The integrity of the finished product is never compromised with additives or processed stabilizing.

A mainstay in the trendy Nolita neighborhood, Morgenstern's now has a second location, also downtown, at 88 West Houston Street.

It is way larger than the original Rivington Street scoop shop with more seating and a very charming sidewalk cafe. After all, Summers were made for enjoying a cone or a sundae outdoors at night, with the lights of the city twinkling in the background.

No matter what your taste in ice cream runs to, you'll find something that suits you to a "T" on Morgenstern's seemingly endless menu.

The Peaches and Cream flavor is smooth and satisfying as it sounds. You'll also write a rave review on the cherry-chocolate chip blend and the classic chocolate flavor.

Otherworldly is the only way to describe Nicholas' artful blend of passion fruit and strawberries, which makes for an unforgettable dish of ice cream.

One of the more unusual flavor profiles, but one that you should definitely try, is the olive oil chocolate orange creation. You wouldn't think that these disparate flavors would go together, but they do! Leave it to Nicholas to make things work!

Of course, the shop offers a variety of toppings including chocolate chunks, Luxardo cherries, pretzel crumbles, honeyed cashews and hot fudge.

Sundaes are something quite special at Morgenstern's. And they are available every day of the week. (get it? Ha-Ha !)

The Brownie A La Mode offering is comprised of Bourbon Vanilla ice cream atop a sinful chocolate brownie complete with whipped cream, crushed nuts and a maraschino cherry.

Despite its' long list of ingredients, the Strawberry Shortcake Sundae is surprisingly light. Two scoops of strawberry ice cream crown feathery soft angel food cake, alongside vanilla creme', strawberry compote', whipped cream and toasted almonds.

You won't want to miss out on the extraordinary Vietnamese Tiramisu.

Made with Mascarpone and Vietnamese coffee ice cream, this sensational dessert also features condensed milk, cocoa powder and shaved chocolate.

In case you're interested, (and you WILL be), Nicholas Morgenstern has come up with a banana split that is so big your eyes won't believe what they see!

Can't leave the office or your apartment? Or just don't feel like navigating the streets? Well, we've got some fantastic news for you. Morgenstern's now delivers via Caviar!

The next time that you want something that's totally different at your next office meeting or team-building event, look into Morgenstern's FInest office package.

Just choose your party size, choose your flavors and let the friendly ice cream experts here do the rest. Morgenstern's will provide all the cups, cones, napkins, spoons and toppings that you need, as well as a cooler and scoopers.

Doesn't that sound like fun? Why wait.? Email them right now at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and get all the details.

Now, the first time that you visit Morgenstern's you just might feel a touch overwhelmed by all of the choices before you. But there's no need to fret.

You will receive a free sample of any two ice cream selections. Simply ask and prepare to enjoy. Now that's how you make a customer for life.

Location and Hours

2 Rivington Street

New York N.Y. 10002

(212) 209-7684

www.morgensternsnyc.com

Hours

Sunday to Thursday 12 PM to 11 PM

Friday and Saturday 12 PM to 12 AM

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream - Lower East Side

It's hard to believe that, just over a decade ago, the founders of this burgeoning ice cream empire, with numerous shops in NYC and Los Angeles, were testing recipes and flavor blends in the Brooklyn apartment that they shared.

My, how times have changed for Laura O'Neill and brothers Pete and Ben Van

Leeuwen.

With pints of their addicting ice cream in scores of supermarkets and the wildly popular "Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Cookbook" to their name, there's no stopping this dynamic trio.

A classic All-American success story, the Van Leeuwen brand was born out of a desire on the part of Laura, Pete and Ben to find a tasty scoop of ice cream that was made with only quality,all-natural ingredients instead of fillers and artificial additives with names that you can't pronounce.

They launched operations back in the Spring of 2008, selling scoops out of a bright yellow truck, a nod to Good Humor and Mr. Softee. While going to college, Ben and Pete had, for a time, actually driven a Good Humor truck to earn some extra cash!

In no time at all, though, customer demand encouraged Laura and her cohorts to take the plunge, financially, and open a brick and mortar location. However, you can still grab a cone or a cup from one of their trucks.

Thus was born the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Shop and they haven't looked back since.

All of their ice creams are made in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The classic scoops are made with just a handful of ingredients; fresh milk and cream, cane sugar and egg yolks.

The brand has become known for their Vegan options, as well. So decadent, you wouldn't realize that they were Vegan, this ice cream is created with house-made cashew milk, organic coconut milk, organic extra virgin coconut oil, cane sugar, pure cocoa butter and organic carob bean.

As you can see, Laura, Ben and Pete take their mission to craft a better for you ice cream very seriously, indeed. Their goal is to use ingredients perfected by nature, not science.

But, if it didn't taste great, none of the above would really matter. Flavors like Pistachio, Peanut Butter Marshmallow Crunch, Salted Caramel, Cookies and Cream, Vanilla and Chocolate will make you a true believer!

And, if you're following a healthier lifestyle, their Vegan options will make your head spin. Get down with tantalizing flavors like Cookie Crumble Strawberry Jam, Mint Chip, Chocolate Cookie Dough and Toasted Coconut Blondie.

Among their storied topping line-up is Vegan chocolate sauce, peanut brittle dust, cocoa nibs, candied walnuts, Vegan coconut whip and, of course, sprinkles.

Location and Hours

172 Ludlow Street

New York, N.Y. 10002

(646) 869-2746

www.vanleeuwenicecream.com

Hours

Monday to Sunday 1 PM to 12 AM

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