What is the best ice cream in Manhattan?

Our current #1 reflects a blend of editorial sourcing from Eater, The Infatuation, Time Out, and Grub Street, plus live community votes. The order shifts as votes come in — what is first today may not be first tomorrow.

Where is the most famous ice cream in Manhattan?

Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream on the Lower East Side has been the most-cited Manhattan ice cream destination since opening in 2014; Caffe Panna in Flatiron is the most-photographed gelato counter; Chinatown Ice Cream Factory on Bayard Street has been an institution since 1978.

What is the best gelato in Manhattan?

Caffe Panna in Flatiron makes its gelato in-house daily and the rotating soft-serve flavors (olive oil, miso caramel, espresso) sell out by 8 p.m. Il Laboratorio del Gelato on Ludlow Street has been making chef-driven gelato since 2002 and supplies several Michelin-starred restaurants.

How much does ice cream cost in Manhattan?

A two-scoop cone at Morgenstern's, Van Leeuwen, or OddFellows runs $7 to $10. Caffe Panna gelato runs $7 to $11 depending on flavor. Specialty sundaes climb to $15 to $20. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory remains one of the cheaper options at about $6 for a small.

Where is the best ice cream sandwich in Manhattan?

Davey's Ice Cream in the East Village builds an ice cream sandwich on a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie. OddFellows and Big Gay Ice Cream have done sandwich variations. Levain Bakery (technically a cookie shop) sells warm cookies that locals often pair with ice cream from neighboring shops.

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Ice Cream · verified Jun 10, 2026 · By Piyush Puri

Best Ice Cream in Manhattan

The 10 best ice cream shops in Manhattan, Morgenstern's flagship, Van Leeuwen, Caffe Panna gelato, Chinatown classics, and the new openings driving the 2026 surge.

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1
Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream
Lower East Side · $$ · 2 Rivington St
Also No. 9 on Best Dessert in Manhattan →
Map ↗verified 7w ago
Nicholas Morgenstern's flagship ice cream parlor at Houston and Wooster, opened in 2014 with an in-house batch program and a 1950s-styled scoop counter that has become the most-cited Manhattan ice cream destination of the modern era.
Because Morgenstern's set the Manhattan artisanal-dairy benchmark, over a hundred rotating flavors annually, the King David salt-and-pepper-pine-nut sundae, and a fat content per scoop that no other shop on this list matches.
Order A two-scoop cup with King David and Burnt Honey Vanilla.

Good to know

What is the best ice cream in Manhattan?: Our current #1 reflects a blend of editorial sourcing from Eater, The Infatuation, Time Out, and Grub Street, plus live community votes. The order shifts as votes come in — what is first today may not be first tomorrow.
Where is the most famous ice cream in Manhattan?: Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream on the Lower East Side has been the most-cited Manhattan ice cream destination since opening in 2014; Caffe Panna in Flatiron is the most-photographed gelato counter; Chinatown Ice Cream Factory on Bayard Street has been an institution since 1978.
What is the best gelato in Manhattan?: Caffe Panna in Flatiron makes its gelato in-house daily and the rotating soft-serve flavors (olive oil, miso caramel, espresso) sell out by 8 p.m. Il Laboratorio del Gelato on Ludlow Street has been making chef-driven gelato since 2002 and supplies several Michelin-starred restaurants.
How much does ice cream cost in Manhattan?: A two-scoop cone at Morgenstern's, Van Leeuwen, or OddFellows runs $7 to $10. Caffe Panna gelato runs $7 to $11 depending on flavor. Specialty sundaes climb to $15 to $20. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory remains one of the cheaper options at about $6 for a small.
Where is the best ice cream sandwich in Manhattan?: Davey's Ice Cream in the East Village builds an ice cream sandwich on a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie. OddFellows and Big Gay Ice Cream have done sandwich variations. Levain Bakery (technically a cookie shop) sells warm cookies that locals often pair with ice cream from neighboring shops.