The 5 Best Ice Cream Places in New York for Kids

Ice scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream and thankfully, New York City is chock-full of delicious shops to get it! Let me tell you, having kids is a great excuse to start a quest for the absolute best ice cream parlor. The results are in, and here they are: the 5 best ice cream places in New York for kids!

1. Ample Hills

Prospect Height, Brooklyn
623 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

This old-fashioned shop in Prospect Height is super fun for kids! Not only does Ample Hills have a play area full of ice cream-themed toys, but there’s also an ice cream-churning bicycle that kids can ride! Host a birthday party there and guests can take turns churning their own ice cream.

Most kids probably think all ice cream is good, but Ample Hills has unique flavor combinations adults can really get behind (not to mention very reasonable prices, starting at $3.50). Try The Munchies (pretzel-infused ice cream with clusters of Ritz crackers, potato chips, pretzels and mini M&M’s) for the perfect combination of salty and sweet. But don’t take my word for it: this little shop has expanded and become a cult favorite, with multiple locations outside of Brooklyn.

2. CoolMess

Upper East Side, Manhattan
137 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

This ice cream parlor on the Upper East Side allows kids to make their own ice cream creations! Each table at CoolMess comes with its own ice cream maker. Guests choose their base flavors, mix-ins, and toppings and then go to work making unique “messipes!” This hands-on experience makes it perfect for parties, and one of the best ice cream places in New York for kids.

With artisanal toppings, kids’ masterpieces will actually taste good in addition to being fun to make. And, CoolMess gets bonus points in my book for working with Here-to-Here, a career pathway initiative in the Bronx. They’re currently teaching students what it’s like to start and run a business.

3. -321° Ice Cream Shop

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
288 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Kids dig this Williamsburg shop for its cool, science lab feel. At -321° Ice Cream Shop, they get to watch ice cream being made by way of liquid nitrogen right before their eyes!

Instead of reaching into a tub to scoop a flavor, the servers mix together all of the ingredients to create ice cream that has a custard consistency in flavors like mint chip, matcha, and peanut butter cup. Liquid nitrogen freezes it at a temperature of -321 degrees Fahrenheit, and new flavors come out seasonally.

4. Juicy Spot Ice Cream

Chinatown, Manhattan
33 Pell St, New York, NY 10013

Kids love when there’s a performance element to food, and this little ice cream spot in Chinatown is no exception. Customers at Juicy Spot Ice Cream choose their ingredients and then watch as the staff mixes them together with yogurt, pours the concoction onto a freezing cold plate, and then scrapes it all into ice cream rolls! No wonder this is one of the best ice cream places in New York for kids.

Juicy Spot Ice Cream was one of the first vendors to bring these Thai ice cream rolls, also referred to as stir-fried ice cream, to the states! Start by choosing a base yogurt (like chocolate or vanilla), add a flavor (dragon fruit, papaya, pineapple, and Oreo to name a few), throw in toppings (cookies, fruit, mocha, Pop Rocks, you name it!), and finish it off with a drizzle (Nutella, raspberry, or cookie butter among other options).

5. Eggloo

Chinatown, Manhattan
60 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013

Egg waffles, or gai dan jai, have always been a favorite of Hong Kong kids. They’re warm, sweet, and it’s fun to rip off each “egg” to eat. The only thing that makes egg waffles even better is stuffing them with ice cream and other sweet toppings, which is exactly what Eggloo in Chinatown does!

Choose from a chocolate, green tea, or original waffle. Then, pick your flavor of scoop or soft serve ice cream. Finally, select unlimited toppings and drizzles! Sugar rush!

Tell me, what’s your choice for the best ice cream places in New York for kids?